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ESPN and EA bring you the Third Season of Madden Nation

by: Elliot -
More On: Madden NFL 08
ESPN2 will air another season of Madden Nation starting on October 9th at 11pm. The series shows pro Madden gamers in all their glory as they compete in weekly tournaments to decide a Champion and winner of $100,000.00. This show seems like a good look into the world or pro gaming. It must be a tough one... eat, sleep, Madden.

ESPN and EA SPORTS Present Third Season of Madden Nation

Matt Leinart, Larry Johnson and Steven Jackson Featured as Madden NFL Football Gamers Vie for $100,000 Prize

 

ESPN and Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) will present the third season of Madden Nation – a reality series taking fans inside the world of Madden NFL football competitive gaming.  Airing as back-to-back episodes on Tuesdays, beginning October 9 (11 and 11:30 pm. ET on ESPN2), the eight-episode series will pit the nation’s top 13 Madden NFL 08 gamers – each representing a real-life NFL player sponsor – against each other in elimination-style tournaments. NFL stars Matt Leinart, Larry Johnson, and Steven Jackson will be among the players featured during the gamers’ nine-city bus tour. The finale, which takes place in New York City’s Times Square, will be televised Tuesday, Oct. 30, with the Madden Nation winner claiming a $100,000 prize.

 

“After seeing the enthusiasm of fans from last year’s competition, we look forward to bringing them another action-packed series with this year’s Madden Nation, featuring more NFL players and some unforeseen plot twists,” said Ron Semiao, senior vice president, original events, ESPN Content Development.

 

With scenarios designed to test players’ skills, the tournament features the gamers competing in teams of two to maintain their place and make it to the next round of play.  However, each round-one player from the losing team must face a "free agent" vying for his or her spot on the bus and in the competition.  Tour stops include NFL cities Dallas, Kansas City, St Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Boston and New York – all en route to the finale in Times Square. 

 

“Madden Nation is a great window into the passion and spirit of competition that lives in the Madden community” said Brandon Barber, Director of Entertainment Marketing at EA.  “This year's Madden Nation is proof that video games can make great television and of the great collaboration between EA and ESPN in pursuing that goal." 

 

This year’s contestants were selected for the series from a pool of more than 7,000 applicants and the top levels of competitive gaming, including 2007 EA SPORTS Madden Challenge Regional Tournaments and online competitions. The 13 finalists represent nine states and feature the series’ first female contestant. Each gamer is matched with an NFL player and meets him along the tour.

 

Contestant

Hometown

NFL Athlete Represented

1.     Coach - Steve Williams

Sugarland, Texas

Roy Williams - Lions

2.     Houseshoe - Haaruwn Brown

Mobile, Ala.

Santana Moss - Redskins

3.     J. Rhoades - Jesse Rhoades

National Park, N.J.

Jonathan Vilma - Jets

4.     Delph - Brian Delph

Sandusky, Ohio

Shawne Merrimen - Chargers

5.     PG-13 - Sheila Barger

Fresno, Calif.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh - Bengals

6.     Jet - Jet Steele

Tampa, Fla.

Samari Rolle - Ravens

7.     Hollywood - Charles James

Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

Matt Leinart - Cardinals

8.     Prodigy - Van Bernardino

Napa, Calif.

JaMarcus Russell - Raiders

Free Agents

 

 

9.     Sirus the Virus - Ronnie Casey

Louisville, Ky.

Steven Jackson - Rams

10.  Panoramic - Marcus Phillips

Oakley, Calif.

Larry Johnson - Chiefs

11.  Problem - Eric Wright

West Covina, Calif.

Devin Hester - Bears     

12.  Raf - Rafael Andrada

Converse, Texas

Reggie Wayne - Colts

13.  Marc Dog - Marcus Carr

Bowie, Md.

Kellen Winslow Jr. - Browns

 

 

For additional footage and show information, please visit: www.espnvideogames.com