As was posted earlier by another fella, I'm buying a PS3 at the end of this month...and the one game I'm picking up with it is The Show.
And, baseball is not my number 1 sport, football is.
Of course, the primary function for the PS3 will be as a BluRay/DVD upconverter, but that's besides the point!
I've been playing way more HC 09 than Madden 09 so far (waiting for patches and final rosters at season start before going Franchise with my 'Hawks in Madden), but from what I can tell in my single "Play Now" games, Madden is a LOT better than it's been in years.
Still not NFL 2k5...but it's in the mail! Watch for good things in next year's that it might be able to lace up the gloves to try to box 2k5 for supremacy (but man....2k5's details and gameplay and atmosphere/presentation?? That'll be tough to topple!).
For me, best sports games I've played so far PERIOD are (in no particular order...these are all Elite).
---NFL 2K5 (Xbox...still playing!)
---NHL 98 on PS (OMG...so much fun and balanced...with best intro EVERRRRRR! I watched it EVERY time I booted up the game)
---World Series Baseball (Sega Saturn)
---MVP Baseball 2005 (Xbox)
---Tiger Woods 2004 (Xbox)
---NASCAR Racing 2003 (PC)
I'm hoping The Show gets added to this list!
And FWIW...I rated this thread as top notch because I DON'T think this is an unfair comparison. I think we are discussing the differences between a game close to the top of it's potential (Show) and another franchise that's taking good steps towards it's own potential (Madden) and what we believe are the things that can help it get there.