A Tribute to John Madden

It was the summer after my senior year at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. At least, I think it was. It had to be because we lived in the house I grew up in New Carrollton. I graduated¹ and had about a month and a half before I was due at pre-college at Hampton University. I was home alone. My brother was in the U.S. Army at this point. I started my day how I started every summer day at that point – EA Sports² Madden ’01 Franchise Mode.

I wasn’t addicted to gaming. I was addicted to Madden. I grew up a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan, and the only Super Bowls we were winning³ were because of me in Franchise Mode. I’m talking 30 seasons deep, at least. I ran the Cowboys organization better than Jerry, and Stephen Jones ever wished they could. And yes, for the record, my domination of Franchise Mode took place at the highest difficulty – All-Madden.

As I was playing a game or making decisions for a billion-dollar organization, I received a call from a friend whose real name I won’t use because they’re still my friend. Also, I don’t want anyone to judge them. We’ll call him something⁴ that no one would ever guess, Kyle. I probably had a Nextel at this time.

Keith: "Kyle, what up, brother?"

Kyle: "Nothing bro. What you getting into? You busy? I was going to ask for a ride somewhere."

Keith:"Same ole. Madden for breakfast. Actually, about to play my first-round playoff game right now. Where you need to go?"

Kyle:"Just up the street from you. Not far, but I can give you some gas money if you need it. I need to run over to Lanham to pick up something."

Keith:"What time?"

Kyle:"I'm waiting for my man to let me know he's home, then we can head out."

Keith:"OK, cool. Just hit me back when you ready. I'm a try to win my 11th consecutive Super Bowl in the meantime!"

Kyle:"Bet."

That was a conversation I’ve had hundreds if not thousands of times. The best thing about your youth is not knowing how your day would become and how your night would end. My 2002 Toyota 4Runner was as much a part of me growing up as my closest friends.

I won my first playoff game easily. Each game lasted around 30 minutes. Kyle had not called yet, so I jumped into the NFC Championship game. A few minutes into the first quarter, Kyle calls back.

Kyle: "My man just called back. They there now. Can you scoop me?"

Keith: "Yeah, give me like 45 minutes to an hour. Need to finish this game and hop in the shower."

Kyle: "Bro! You don't need to shower and pause the game!"

Keith: "One, the game is only going to take another 15 minutes (I lied). Two, I didn't shower last night, so I need to shower before I step out. I'm probably going to go see my girl after I drop you off."

Kyle: "You're killing me. Aight, hurry up. I don't want them waiting all day."

Keith: "How you gonna tell me hurry up and I'm doing you a favor! Just have that gas money ready. I don't need it, but I do need food."

I won the NFC Conference Championship and was on to the Super Bowl. Now anyone who has ever loved Madden knows exactly what happens next – I pressed start on the Super Bowl, of course! It was one of the only games with different intro graphics and a celebration after winning. Nothing in me would allow me to walk away at this point. Besides, what was another 30 minutes when I was on the verge of extending my dynasty to year 12, 13, or whatever it was. Sometime in the 2nd quarter, Kyle calls back. I mute the TV.

Kyle: "Young! What are you doing?!"

Keith: "My bad, I'm coming. I'll be there in 45 minutes."

Kyle: "You said that 45 minutes ago!"

Keith: "You right. I'll be there, though."

I won Super Bowl CXXV or whatever it was⁵ and jumped in the shower. I got out of the shower and had a text from Kyle that read, “my cousin is taking me. I’ll hit you later.” I got dressed. It was around noon, and I left to go see my girl. A few hours later, around 3pm I called Kyle when heading back home. No answer. I texted, “hit me. about to come back around the way.” No response.

I’m not sure what I did for the next few hours, but then my phone rang, and it was an unknown number. I answered, and an automated message stated, “would you like to accept charges for a collect call from Prince George’s County Jail from” then my man voice said “this Kyle pickup!”

Keith: "My n&$$a! Why are you in jail!?"

Kyle: "I'm about to get out now. Can you come scoop me?"

Keith: "I'm on the way."

The county jail was 20 minutes away in Upper Marlboro. This was my first time going there. Kyle was outside the gate waiting when I pulled up.

Kyle: "Man, I'm glad you didn't pick me up earlier! You would've been locked up too!"

Keith: "What? Why?"

Kyle: "So I was trying to buy some weed from this dude to sell, but I was going to just rob him instead. I put the pack in my cousin's car and told him to wait in the car for me. But he was sitting outside for so long a noisy ass neighbor called and reported a suspicious person sitting in a vehicle."

I was speechless. All I could manage was a “What?”

Kyle: "Yeah. So the police came. Searched the car and we all got locked up."

Keith: "Damn bro. That's… that's crazy."

I don’t remember saying anything the rest of the ride home. I let the music⁷ fill the silence. How calmly Kyle explained everything was a little unsettling. He wasn’t someone who was constantly in trouble with the law. He didn’t seem worried about the ramifications of the arrest and charges whatsoever. I was just unnerved by the simple thought of what if I wasn’t addicted to Madden. That would’ve been me. Even approaching my 18th birthday, the idea of disappointing my parents and having to explain that to them was terrifying.

Thank God for Franchise Mode.

1. Proudly, without any honors. [↩]
2. IT’S IN THE GAME! [↩]
3. And have won since [↩]
4. Super white! [↩]
5. In a blowout, of course! [↩]
6. Don't ask me about ounces or grams or pounds I don't know how much. I never sold drugs a day in my life. [↩]
7. Which I’m sure talked about selling drugs [↩]