Every year at this time, as the end of summer approaches and the NFL season slowly gets under way with the preseason, something very special happens. This year it happened last Tuesday, Aug. 14.

“Madden ’08” hit the shelves. Just like last year, the year before that, and every year as far back as I care to remember, the release of John Madden Football was a beautiful, beautiful thing.

While I’m now a married man with a kid, the appeal of “Madden ’08” was still too much. I told myself I’d hold off, but I lasted only until Wednesday, when I laid down 60 bucks for the game.

It was soooooo worth it.

Here’s to dads who play Madden, and wives who let them slide.

Here’s to the start of football season. â€" Matt Driscoll