In Memoriam: James Kenneth McManus (AKA Jim McKay), 1921-2008

[thatcrazycajun]

The man who brought us "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" for a quarter-century—including the terrifying real-life drama of the 1972 hostage crisis at the Munich Olympic Games—has died. Jim McKay, known the whole globe over as the voice of ABC Sports and host of its Wide World of Sports series for decades, passed away of what is being reported as "natural causes" at his Maryland country estate at the age of 86. NPR News has his obituary here.

He set the standard for sports reporting in the television age, and for journalistic courage and integrity in any medium. Farewell, sir...and from one of the millions who grew up watching you make "the human drama of athletic competition" that much more exciting, many thanks.

Comments

[luscious-words.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine starting a career with covering the drama of the 1972 Olympics. For me, he'll always be the face and voice of the 1988 Olympics. It was so sad to see the news of his departure.

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

I'd briefly entertained the thought that Big Brown somehow perceived Jim's passing, because the TV coverage of the Belmont began with the sad news.