Interesting ESPN article on the early history of the now video game behemoth EA's Madden NFL. They originally wanted Joe Montana. Instead they got coach Madden. Madden was later offered the option of purchasing EA shares at the IPO price when it went public. He turned it down.
From 1989 to 1999, EA's share price went from $7.50 to $70. Madden laughs. "That was the dumbest thing I ever did in my life."