(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. Read more here
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1 lajitas // Jun 7, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Sports has lost a legendary figure in broadcasting. From the early days of ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” covering such events as barrel jumping and cliff diving from Mexico, to the early television broadcasts of the Indy 500, he brought a human side of sports to the viewers at home. When the world was introduced to terrorism in it’s most heinous form at the ’72 Olympics, Jim McKay was thrust into the uneviable role as the person that told the story as it unfolded. His voice resonated the senslessness and tragedy of it all as no other could. Some time back, HBO Sports did a special featuring Jim, with him telling his own story about his life in broadcasting, and what his most vivid memories were. Hopefully, they will air it again. It was a fine testimony to his life, and anyone who loves sports should watch it. Thanks for the memories, and R.I.P.
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