Pioneer Sportscaster Jim McKay Dies At 86

Veteran Commentator Was Host Of "Wide World Of Sports," Reported Hostage Drama At 1972 Olympics

(CBS/AP)  Jim McKay, the venerable and eloquent sportscaster thrust into the role of telling Americans about the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics, has died. He was 86.

McKay died Saturday of natural causes at his farm in Monkton, Md. The broadcaster who considered horse racing his favorite sport died only hours before Big Brown attempted to win a Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes.

He was host of ABC's influential "Wide World of Sports" for more than 40 years, starting in 1961. The weekend series introduced viewers to all manner of strange, compelling and far-flung sports events. The show provided an international reach long before exotic backdrops became a staple of sports television.

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.

The terse, haunting comment was replayed many times through the years when the events of Munich were chronicled.

He won both a news and sports Emmy Award for his coverage of the Munich Olympics in addition to the prestigious George Polk award.

"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."

Jim McKay, born James Kenneth McManus, was a veteran of the U.S. Navy in World War II. He began his broadcasting career in 1947 as the first on-air television broadcaster in Baltimore, Maryland. He later worked on a CBS variety show in New York before joining ABC Sports.

McKay was the first sportscaster to win an Emmy Award. He won 12, the last in 1988. ABC calculated that McKay traveled some 4½ million miles to work events. He covered more than 100 different sports in 40 countries.

"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."

"Jim was a regular guy who wrote and spoke like a poet," said Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company (which owns ABC). "He loved sports. To him, sports defined life - full of drama, adventure, accomplishment and disappointment. The thrill of victory for some, the agony of defeat for others. Jim was as likable off camera as on, a true friend to all those who worked with him or watched him."

CBS Sportscaster Jim Nantz said, "Jim McKay was the broadcasting hero of my youth. I hung onto his every word and wrote him letters when I was a kid. I feel like one of the greatest joys of my life was having the chance to get to know him as a friend and father figure. There will never be anyone who can match his genuine heartfelt delivery of a story. His kindness and warmth came through on every telecast. A true reflection of one of the greatest gentlemen the world will ever know."

McKay's first television broadcast assignment was a horse race at Pimlico in 1947. It was the start of a love affair - horse racing captivated him like nothing else.

"There are few things in sport as exciting or beautiful as two strong thoroughbreds, neck and neck, charging toward the finish," he once said.

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."

Al Michaels described McKay as the "personification of class and style."

"His enthusiasm permeated every event he covered and thus always made it far more interesting," he said. "I always thought of him as a favorite teacher."

Mike Tirico, covering the NBA finals in Boston for ABC and ESPN, worked four British Opens with McKay. He said McKay held a special place in his household while growing up in Queens in New York.

"Dinner wasn't served on Saturday night until 'Wide World of Sports' was over," Tirico said.

Besides his son Sean, McKay leaves his wife, Margaret, daughter Mary Edwina and, as CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian noted, "a hole in the heart of journalism that will never be filled."

[blackwater66-2009]

Listened to him all the time for years, he was one of the best as far as I am concern. My condolence to his family.

RIP JIM .......

[del-jones]

MUCH MORE THAN SPORTS
James Kenneth McManus
September 24, 1921 %u2013 June 7, 2008

We heard the, "thrill of victory,
and the agony of defeat"
We all knew when he said it
That, we%u2019d be in for a treat.

Through the, "Wide World Of Sports"
He showed us places, never seen
From the North Pole to the South
And all of those, in between.

He spent years spanning the Globe
And brought us news and sports
And from the Olympics in Munich
He gave us all, those sad reports.

His passion was the sport of kings
Founder of the, "Maryland Million Day"
His love of horses and their races
Lasting, until his final day.

A legend in the sports industry
But, he left us so much more
Showed, it%u2019s how you play the game
It%u2019s not how much, you score.

This World will be a lesser place
Without his great charm and wit
Yes, he surely will be missed
Much more, than just a little bit.

Del "Abe" Jones
06.08.2008


"Mankind%u2019s greatest accomplishment is not the revolution of technology it is the evolution of creativity " copyright Del "Abe" Jones 1984

[michellem99-2009]

9It may surprise ye when I was a child in the 60s alot of Maine used outhouses and yes put a bucket under the hand pump in Gramma''s back yard. Yep them were the days. It used to be a decent nation. This gent and vets didn''t fight so we could say as we please when it comes to defaceing public items. SLADER99.Yer last words are so TRUE is scary.
I never knew who he was as I have a reason but I will say the values once taught is lost. I don''t alot about him. In the old days we signed a sp book and they are there still. I learned a lesson on this board I was dressed down by a person who knew the person in the news and I did not.I knew better. Yes I still will in frort of other thank a military person in uniform. The same with vets. We need to think of his family who may read this site.

[Renegade.Rivers]

I never seen or heard McKay''s Olympic broadcast, I was in Vietnam during that incident. I do remember the Wide World of Sports, but never watched it much. He was one of the premier racing voices for the Indy 500, and thats about all I remember of him. I wasn''t into the Olympics much. Sports voices I remember much more are those of Jack Buck, Harry Carey, Curt Gowdy, Phil Rizzuto, and Mel Allen.

Another voice I aways loved to hear on the radio was Lowell Thomas. I loved his closing, "So long until tomorrow."

My those were some good days, even with outhouses, and going to the pump for water, I''d go back in a minute if I had the chance.

[j_flood]

While this comment section is pretty censor free - I''m amazed at the c*r*a*p that some people come up with - like defacing the looks of a nice building with graffiti. A good man died and comments of his passing are peppered with off-the-wall statements. To me a page like this is the closest I get to signing a book of condolences - and to see what some of the people write - they should be ashamed. But the rot they show is part of free speech - and Mr. McManus would be all for it.

[slader99]

One of the last few class acts on tv. Some people say he shouldn''t be recognized. I say he does. Was he brilliant? He was decent enough. And to remind people of whats still up front and decent - in whatever vehicle it happens to come by - is a good thing, considering the dangerously arrogant society we live in today.

[michellem99-2009]

It is military vets that can handle it and not run.
SkyFive I am a daughter of a vet that served this nation. I am not a vet. We owe our gratefulness to the vets. Yes they gave us the rights we have. It is military vets that are great.

[michellem99-2009]

I had no idea of who the man was. His voice entered our home means of TV. So yes he made a difference..And HE WAS A WW2 VET. He earnt the honours this nation can bestow on him. Did ye raise yer paw to join the service to nation. I feel they should bring bsck the draft like they did in VAM days. Sure people die daily. Ye have the galls to talk ills od a vet.

[harp1963]

He always seemed like a really decent guy.

[o_nolan1]

And a thousand other people died today that contributed more to society that did Jim McKay and they didn''''t make the news.

Posted by SkyFive

But no one knew who they were outside their local community. It wasn''t that Jim was a great sportscaster, he was a great person. Sorry he doesn''t meet your strict criteria.

[michellem99-2009]

Yep I had to play the visal and growing up mind ye I am not in sports love baseball. That so long my late aunt used as well. It is better than bye bye. Yes ye will find way and means to homour this gent. I like what what his son Sean said of his Dad. To him it is Dad. I can TELL his Dad taught him the business. Family first. Ye Dad was as my Dad would say good people..And I see him as a Grandpa kind of gent. His voice was why I said a Grandpa. I am so sorry ye lost a jem of gent. Maybe the young can learn from the elders.

[ratchow1962]

The broadcasting world has lost a legend.

Jim Mckay was a class act,he was one of the best in the business.

Rest in peace Jim and thank you for all the great memories that you gave us from the sporting world.

[rushlimpdrug]

Farewell Jim.

And so the world turns to china for the olympics.

Will the NBA be playing there?

[fredmel--2008]

How fortunate we are to have had a man like Jim McKay there at the beginning. A true founding father of modern broadcasting, he set a standard of erudition, sensitivity, and genuine enthusiasm for sport that will light the way for generations to come. Condolences to Sean and the rest of his family. He was a true giant.
-Fred Melamed

[monkfellow]

I was also at home glued to the set when Jim McKay was basically the ONLY on-camera host who sat through the ENTIRE ordeal of the kidnapping of the Israeli athletes and their deaths at the hands of Arab terrorists. I recall when the German authorities were babbling away describing their "rescue efforts",the abomination at the Munich airport had already transpired, and McKay was forced to tell the world, you''re hearing lies-they''re all gone...they''re all gone.
I mark the day the War On Terror began against Western culture as that day.

[haoli25]

"The thrill of victory.... and the agony of defeat"

[michellem99-2009]

I have always wondered who voice I heard on the world wide of sports was. TV was not something I *watched * years ago as it was not allowed in the home.. I love baseball. RIP. *welcome to the world wide of sports* is the line I ''member. I have seen his son on TV. It is also sad when a ww2 vet passing away. I have met a few. I am honoured to stand in front of their person and shake their paw as I am 53. Thank ye sir and may ye be put to rest in honour. His son Sean I am sorry ye lost yer Dad.Always love him as he is still with ye only in a better place. Peace. Barbara Ann

[barbaraf4]

The end of an era.

[l00ker]

You know, you really start to hear the sound of their voices, when you find out that you won''t be hearing from them again. McKay, Gowdy, Cosell were like life during the 60s and 70s, and it''s amazing how they became part of a person''s life; Keith Jackson is the last pillar of sports broadcasting that we have left, so stick around a while longer Keith, please.

Class is the only word that can come close to describing this great sports announcer. He really shined at the tragedy in Munich in 1972. He will be missed.