LOS ANGELES — The stories people tell about John Madden are like the side dishes at Thanksgiving dinner.
They're memorable, comforting, warm and, though not meals in themselves, give you a flavor for this larger-than-life character who made the dizzying ascent from NFL coach to pop-culture icon.
Madden, who died three days after last Christmas, will be honored by the NFL on Thanksgiving, with special broadcast tributes during the games on CBS, Fox and NBC, all networks for whom he worked.
