Sports

One of the most eloquent sportscasters – Jim McKay – died this week. McKay was 78 years old and died from natural causes at his farm in Monkton, MD. He was the host of ABC’s most influential sports show “Wide World of Sports” and stayed for over 40 years. The series opened viewers eyes to many sporting events that were both compelling and very different from what most of us are used to.

McKay—understated, dignified and with a clear eye for detail—also covered 12 Olympics, but none more memorably than the Summer Games in Munich, Germany. He was the anchor when events turned grim with the news that Palestinian terrorists kidnapped 11 Israeli athletes. It was left to McKay to tell Americans when a commando raid to rescue the athletes ended in tragedy. “They’re all gone,” McKay said.

During his years as sportscaster he managed to win a sports and new Emmy Award when he covered the Munich Olympics. Later he was also awarded the George Polk award. He was the first sportscaster to win an Emmy Award. He managed to win 12 the last one being in 1988.

“In the long run, that’s the most memorable single moment of my career,” said McKay, an Emmy Award winning broadcaster who was also in the studio for the United States’ “Miracle on Ice” victory over Russia. “I don’t know what else would match that.”

“He had a remarkable career and a remarkable life,” said Sean McManus, McKay’s son and the president of CBS News and Sports. “Hardly a day goes by when someone doesn’t come up to me and say how much they admired my father.”

“There are no superlatives that can adequately honor Jim McKay,” said George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN and ABC Sports. “He meant so much to so many people. He was a founding father of sports television, one of the most respected commentators in the history of broadcasting and journalism.” Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports and Olympics, worked with McKay for six years at ABC Sports.

“He was truly the most respected and admired sportscaster of his generation and defined how the stories of sports can and should be covered,” he said in a statement. “While we all know what an absolute titan he was in his chosen field, I will always remember him as an extraordinary human being guided by a strong moral compass.”

U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth said McKay set a standard for sports journalism. “Jim is synonymous with the Olympic Games.” he said. “As host of ABC’s Olympic coverage, he brought into our homes the triumphs and struggles of athletes from around the world.” McKay left his mark on countless colleagues. Bob Costas called McKay a “singular broadcaster.”

“He brought a reporter’s eye, a literate touch, and above all a personal humanity to every assignment,” Costas said. “He had a combination of qualities seldom seen in the history of the medium, not just sports.”