Jim McKay has died

[ifiok25]

I don't know if this has been posted yet, but broadcaster Jim McKay has died at the age of 86.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3430672

[nyisles16]

Re: Jim McKay has died

RIP. I can remember him being a part of my Saturday afternoons.

Also have a "Best Sports Moments" tape that he hosts (old one).

Thanks for the memories

[Blzer]

Re: Jim McKay has died

Not sure who he was. I was first thinking of Nick McKay. Big nobody.

R.I.P.

[JayBee74]

Re: Jim McKay has died

A legendary sportscaster synonymous with Wide World of Sports. RIP.

[RAZRr1275]

Re: Jim McKay has died

RIP

[ifiok25]

Re: Jim McKay has died

We're going to miss him. Wide World of Sports was incredible.

[pinnacleguy2]

Re: Jim McKay has died

Damn, I hope I live to 86!

R.I.P

[SPTO]

Re: Jim McKay has died

R.I.P.

If memory serves he anchored the whole situation during the '72 Munich Olympics when the Israeli athletes were killed. He had a long and very distinguished career.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: Jim McKay has died

"They are dead. They are all dead." I'll always remember his voice uttering those words when I think of the '72 Olympics.

[daflyboys]

Re: Jim McKay has died

Class reporter who did his job without and self-aggrandizement. A true pioneer in sports announcers.

[pk500]

Re: Jim McKay has died

"They are dead. They are all dead." I'll always remember his voice uttering those words when I think of the '72 Olympics.

It was "They're all gone," and it was said only once.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Jim McKay has died

McKay was the benchmark for professionalism, composure and class during sports broadcasts, especially his finest hour during the Munich massacre.

“They’re all gone.”

McKay's on-the-air description of the Israeli athletes who were murdered at Munich. Perhaps the most eloquent, understated and haunting words ever uttered by a TV sports announcer.

Nearly every sports broadcaster and host working today should watch tapes of McKay to see how it's done. Guys like Berman, Nantz and Costas can't even hold his microphone.

The great thing about McKay is that he let the events speak for themselves. From all accounts of people whom I've talked with today who worked with him at Indy, McKay was about as selfless of a TV superstar who ever lived. He never considered himself the star or above anyone else on the crew.

That was obvious in his work. He had a keen eye for detail and shared those details with his viewers, while his understated, concise words and delivery complimented the pictures being shown rather than trying to usurp them, as so many loudmouths on ESPN do today.

Jim McKay didn't need catch phrases or buzz words. He simply reported on what he saw eloquently and with a reporter's instincts.

Can you imagine some blowhard from NBC or ESPN handling the Munich massacre with such skilled reporting and deft touch? Neither can I. Can you imagine Chris Berman or Bob Costas covering a "fringe" sport with the same passion and instincts as a major event? Neither can I.

Jim McKay was the best ever at his profession. RIP to an absolute giant in his field.

Take care,
PK

[SPTO]

Re: Jim McKay has died

Can you imagine some blowhard from NBC or ESPN handling the Munich massacre with such skilled reporting and deft touch? Neither can I.

We almost got a taste of that in some form though. Cosell begged Roone Arledge to let him anchor the events of '72 but Arledge wisely chose to go with McKay. IIRC though Cosell did some fine reporting during that crisis but if he were to anchor the coverage his ego would've showed up at some point.

Actually I think McKay, Cosell and other sports broadcasters of that era could've definitely crossed over into news with relative ease which is something you can't say about any of today's crop of buffoons. The only sports broadcaster who carved out any kind of news credentials was Bryant Gumbel and even then it was purely fluff on the NBC Today show.

[pk500]

Re: Jim McKay has died

Damn good points and historical perspective, SPTO.

Take care,
PK

[joshuar9476]

Re: Jim McKay has died

The only sports broadcaster who carved out any kind of news credentials was Bryant Gumbel and even then it was purely fluff on the NBC Today show.

if you're a left wing news junkie like me that is ....