Jim McKay …..The Sports Icon Who Made Sport’s Broadcast Journalism A Thing Of Integrity !
Noted sport’s journalist Jim McKay died today at the age of 86, having retired from the realms of sport’s broadcasting with the accolades and the praises of his peers. The thirteen Emmy’s won over the course of his illustrious career is a testament to the esteem with which he was held.
Veteran sport’s broadcaster and ABC icon Jim McKay whose death today stunned the sport’s world. picture courtesy of abc.com/sports…………….
But the thing that he may well be most remembered for, was his coverage of the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis. At the request of Roone Arledge the programming director at the time he was asked to go on carry the programming content as the events unfolded. That day the Palestinian terrorist group “Black September “ took several members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage at the Olympic village in Munich. His on air stint 16 hours none stop became the stuff that legends are made of as he gave the watching world a concise description of what was unfolding in Munich over the course of the next 24 hours.
A member of the Black September terrorist group looks from the balcony where several Israeli Olympic athletes were being held hostage. picture courtesy of usatoday.com/olympics/munich…………….
His mark on the world of sport’s broadcasts and that of sport’s journalism won’t be easily surpassed in terms of the integrity with which McKay brought to his work. His son Sean McManus the head of CBS Sports followed in his father’s footsteps in terms of the business. But his talents lied elsewhere as he rose through the ranks of CBS.
McKay seen here presenting ABC’s Wide World of Sports where he was covering the Olympic trials for track and field in 1964. picture courtesy of abc.com/wideworldofsports..
McKay’s other claim to fame was that he also hosted ABC’s Wild World of Sports and the fact that they brought to us a wide range of sports that the nation would at times be enthralled. Many of the sport’s events that we saw then have now become a staple of ESPN and many of the other numerous sports and cable networks where sports plays a major part in their programming. The commanding authority that McKay brought to his broadcasts made you all the more appreciative of his talents on the air.
World Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali seen here on the ABC’s Wide World of Sports where an interview was conducted between the champion and Mckay. picture courtesy of nytimes.com/sports/ali/mckay …………..