Jim McKay, born James McManus, was the quintessential voice of American sports for better than two decades from the early 1960s well into the 1980s. McKay hosted the incomparable ABC Wide World of Sports program that introduced viewers to a range of sports often not covered by other media including newspapers. McKay broadcast many sports including golf, horse racing, auto racing, football, soccer, tennis, and many Olympic sports. McKay had his greatest moments and professional accomplishment among one of the world's greatest tragedies when he reported from the Munich Olympics in September 1972 while Palestinean terrorists kidnapped and murdered eleven Israeli athletes participating in the games. In an age where there was no internet or satellite/cable television, McKay was the sole voice for the better part of a day reporting on the shocking tragedy which was to be named the Munich Massacre. McKay was lifelong supporter and sponsor of horse racing, and he worked hard to assist the sport financially with publicity and promotion. McKay was also a minority owner of the Baltimore Orioles in his later years. Jim McKay received numerous professional and journalistic honors and recognition during his long career. A great Sunday or Saturday when I was a youth was having the privilege of watching a sports program, with the ABC sports personnel in their mustard yellow sportcoats in which McKay was hosting or announcing, for a least a part of an hour if not longer. His hallmark words can be heard in the minds of many still to this day:=
"Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition… This is ABC's Wide World of Sports!"
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McKay leaves his wife, Margaret, a daughter, a son - Sean McManus, currently president of CBS Sports and News -, and three grandchildren.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_McKay
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http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20080608_Philadelphia_native_Jim_McKay_dies_at_86.html
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http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-me-mckay8-2008jun08,0,4039195.story
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