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The Daily Madden: 49er Matchup Should Be Good Measuring Stick For Manning

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The Raiders play the Lions at the Coliseum Saturday and the 49ers travel to Denver to face the Broncos Sunday.

"Universally, every year the third pre-season game, this weekend, they call it dress rehearsal," John Madden told the KCBS morning crew. "That if you're going to look at your team and kind of see where you are, you do it this weekend."

Coming off a serious nerve injury that sidelined him last season, all eyes will be on Denver QB Peyton Manning.

"This has to be a test for Peyton Manning too, to see where he is," the former coach said. "Everything that I've seen, he looks pretty good to me."

Thursday night, 65-year-old former major leaguer Bill 'Spaceman' Lee became the oldest pitcher to win a professional game Thursday night, going the distance in the San Rafael Pacifics 9-4 win.

"That's a pretty good story, (just) being able to get up there and stand on the mound and get it to home plate," Madden said. "Some of these old players, it's funny how quickly they lose it. You'll see them bring back an ex-player to throw out the first pitch of the game. He used to be a strong-armed shortstop or outfielder or pitcher or whatever. He can't even reach home plate anymore."

The Petaluma Nationals advanced to the U.S. championship game in the Little League World Series Thursday with an 11-1 victory over San Antonio.

"I'm jumping on the bandwagon," John said. "Go Petaluma. That's where I'm from...I'm by where they are." (8:25)

Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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