CALL SHOW `MONDAY NIGHT MADDEN'.

Byline: Tom Hoffarth Staff Writer

It happened so fast, John Madden didn't even get a chance to run any of it past his mother.

``She called me this morning and told me that I now had the ultimate job in broadcasting,'' ABC's newest ``Monday Night Football'' analyst told a group of reporters Thursday. ``I said, 'Thanks, Mom, sorry I forgot to call you.' ''

One day he's calling the Super Bowl for Fox with Pat Summerall. The next, he's calling Al Michaels his new partner and has his Sundays free.

And equally as fast, Dennis Miller, Dan Fouts and Eric Dickerson have their Monday nights open.

Before agreeing to a four-year, $20-million deal with ABC and ESPN, Madden's representatives at International Management Group received the release by Fox that they had asked for earlier in the week.

After working at Fox for all eight seasons of their NFL coverage, Madden had one year left on a $7.5 million contract, but Fox allowed him to pursue this opportunity, which also got the network off the hook financially.

``It was made very clear to us by IMG that John's wish for a long, long time has been to work on `Monday Night Football,' '' David Hill, the chairman of Fox Sports Television Group, said in a statement.

``I was going to be with a new partner anyway and the chance to work with Al, who's the best, you can't beat that,'' the 65-year-old Madden said. ``I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have this come up.

``It never quite lined up for me (to join `Monday Night'). This time, it was there and it happened.''

From the time Fox gave him his release to his signing the ABC deal, Madden estimates only six hours elapsed. But Madden said he left Fox on ``very good terms.''

``I'm numb,'' Madden said. ``But I said, 'Doggone, this is what I want to do' and I jumped at it. This is where I want to finish.

``I just wish the season started right now.''

If it did, it would be without Fouts, Miller or Dickerson as part of the ``MNF'' crew.

Fouts likely will end up on ABC in college-football coverage. Miller, the comedian who shook up things with his introduction to the mix two seasons ago by former producer Don Olhmeyer, told the network he'd just as soon not be involved any longer.

Dickerson, the former Rams great hired to report from the sidelines with little broadcasting experience, just wasn't working out, ABC Sports president Howard Katz said. Melissa Stark will remain on for field reports.

Katz said each of them took their dismissals well.

Michaels will become only the second person to work with Madden on a broadcast in more than two decades. He doesn't foresee any hitches trying to mesh their styles.

``He has a tremendous knowledge of football and of television,'' Michaels said. ``I can't imagine the blending not working almost perfectly from the first telecast.''

Especially if Madden brings a six-legged turkey with him into the booth to help turn around a two-year ratings slide on the prime-time show.

``I think that'll be put to bed now,'' Madden said of his Thanksgiving Day creation for years at CBS and Fox. ``There is a trade-off. It looks like that tradition is over.''

And a new one has begun.

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(color) JOHN MADDEN

ABC will give him a four-year, $20 million deal to team up with Al Michaels in the `MNF' booth.