Tweet

Jim McKay Passes Away

Veteran Sportscaster Was Longtime Host of ABC's Wide World of Sports

By B&C Staff -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/7/2008 1:26:00 PM

Veteran sportscaster Jim McKay passed away Saturday at the age of 86.

McKay was the longtime host of ABC’s Wide World of Sports and also was on the anchor desk when America found out about the 1972 Munich Olympic tragedy.

He was the father of CBS News and Sports chief Sean McManus.

"There are not many men who achieved what Jim McKay achieved both professionally and personally," McManus said in a statement Saturday morning. "He had a flawless reputation and was a legendary figure in the history of sports television. However, with all his achievements the most important thing in his life was his family." (

McManus spoke with B&C on Thursday

, prior to his father's death, for a wide-ranging interview.)

"There are no superlatives that can adequately honor Jim McKay. 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," ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer said in a statement posted on the ESPN website.

"For more than 60 years he brought sports into the homes of Americans on Wide World of Sports, the Olympics and many other programs that captured the essence of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

"Jim was the ultimate colleague, having helped generations of people who have now taken his mantle. He was also a warm and devoted family man. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Margaret, Sean and Mary for their loss. And I know that countless people, around the world, have been touched by this great man. We will miss him."

Tweet

Talkback

» Submit Feedback

• 
  

  When I was a teenager back in the 60's, Saturdays would not be complete with out me and my dad watching Wide World of Sports, with Jim Mckay and Bill Fleming and the other wonderful Sportscasters. It was a pleasure and joy every Saturday. It didn't matter if it was a Mohammad Ali fight, or a NASCAR race. These people are the fondation of of Sportcasting today.
  I would love to see some of those programs now, though I don't have my dad to enjoy them with.
  My prayers go out to the family and friends, who I am sure are many of such a wonderful man as Jim.

  
  

  
  Jim Knisley - 6/8/2008 2:29:00 AM EDT
» Submit Feedback

Related Content

• Topics
• Author
• Most Popular Pages

No related content found.

Also by this author

• Editorial: The Sword

• Editorial: The Shield

• Media Buyers Praise, Pan New Series From ABC, CBS

• Fox Hopes to Roll Out VOD Dynamic Ad Insertion on Comcast

• Analytics Company Uses Social Media to Gauge the New Broadcast Series

Also by BCST Staff

Most Popular Pages

No Top Articles

• Resource Center
• Browse Categories
• Browse Companies

Featured Company

• Digital Rapids

  

  Digital Rapids provides market-leading software and hardware solutions, technology and expertise for transforming live and on-demand video to reach wider audiences on the latest viewing platforms more efficiently, more effectively and more profitably. Empowering applications from..more

---

Most Recent Resources

• The New Normal for Promoting Tune-in
• Achieving Operational Freedom in Digital Media Workflows