25 1/2 Reasons We Love Madden Other Stuff

1. You can change things up in owner��s mode by promoting ��Dollar Rib Sandwich Night!�� at the TWA Dome in St. Louis.

2. Rich Gannon��s sidearm delivery.

3. You roll out of the pocket with your QB and see your tight end covered by a linebacker. Finally, the defender charges, and you float the ball over his head to the wide-open TE. First down.

4. Playmaker control.

5. Playing someone you know and exposing every single flaw, character or otherwise.

6. Busting a 78-yard TD run after being held to 19 yards on 15 carries (Barry Sanders, anyone?).

7. Busting your hump with your interior defenders for three quarters and finally earning a sack with your DT on a game-saving third and long.

8. Winning a game by running up 160 yards and two TDs with Michael Vick, while passing for only 60 yards.

9. Your opponent dives for the pylon to tie the game, but you force a fumble at the goal line. Ball rolls out of the end zone. Touchback. Your ball at the 20.

10. Joining in on the Tai Streets bidding war to drive up the price on the third-string receiver, just to screw up another team��s salary cap.

11. Zipping a frozen rope through that last golden ring in the QB Precision Passing minicamp.

12. The words ��user pick.��

13. Because one time��and one time > only��you felt justified in using a Madden Card to attempt a last-second, game-tying desperation field goal from 94 yards away. And without guilt, you celebrated like mad when you banged it in off the upright to send the game into OT.

14. Biting your fingernails to sawdust because your favorite player is on the cover of the game and you��re just waiting for the Madden Curse to end his season prematurely. Or he might just start to suck.

15. The defensive strafe button.

16. Thinking the soon-to-be-released version of Madden won��t be capable of toppling the previous year, only to find out it makes the previous year feel more outdated than the Broncos�� blinding orange jerseys from the Elway-did-it-himself era.

17. Your 15th overall draft pick, a strong safety out of Texas Southern, winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

18. Even though you went an unexplainable 1-15 (without simming one game) in your franchise season, you��re all smiles: You just won the first pick overall in next season��s draft!

18 1/2. Trading up to get that first pick after going 3-13 and missing out on the top spot.

19. As cheesy, as canned, as predetermined as it is��when you pop someone��s top and his helmet goes skyward, it rules!

20. The crowd peaking when your running back cuts into the open field.

21. Using C-Port��s breakneck speed in the Ground Attack minigame on a cutback that leaves three defenders in the dust.

22. The fact that Old Man Wide Receiver Jerry Rice looks just like Old Man Wide Receiver Jerry Rice.

23. Moving Miami��s beloved Dolphins out of Florida and into the tropical paradise of Toronto.

24. Forcing a wobbly duck by cracking the QB��s backside right as he releases the ball.

25. Playing online versus your favorite gaming pal who moved to the other side of the world.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine.