John Riordan: Jim Sherwin and John Madden sign off in unison and leave behind unique legacies

Many who came of age in the 80s and 90s in Ireland and the US were inspired by contrasting commentary icons

END OF AN ERA: Jim Sherwin commentates on his last rugby game for RTÉ, the 2004 Six Nations match between Ireland and Scotland at Lansdowne Road. He died earlier this week, aged 81, following a short illness. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

Winter 2009 brought a freak snowstorm that completely shut down a totally ill-prepared London and I was forced to impose myself for one extra night at my cousin Paddy’s house in Maida Vale.

The reason for the trip was a lads excursion to a scoreless draw at Loftus Road between QPR and Reading on the Saturday afternoon which preceded Sunday’s freak weather event. Thankfully the weekend ended with a much more memorable sporting occasion played out over 4,000 miles away: The last ever John Madden Super Bowl.