James Kenneth McManus(September 24, 1921 – June 7, 2008), better known professionally asJim McKay,was an American television sportsjournalist.
Jim McKay | |
|---|---|
 McKay in the 1970s | |
| Born | James Kenneth McManus September 24, 1921 |
| Died | June 7, 2008(aged 86) Monkton, Maryland,U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Sportscaster,sportswriter,actor |
| Years active | 1955–2000 2002 2006 |
| Spouse |
Margaret Dempsey (m.1948) |
| Children | Seanand Mary |
McKay was best known for hostingABC'sWide World of Sports(1961–1998). His introduction for that program has passed into Americanpop culture,in which viewers were reminded of the show's mission ( "Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports" ) and what lay ahead ( "the thrill of victory and theagony of defeat"). He is also known for television coverage of 12Olympic Games,and is universally respected for his memorable reporting on theMunich massacreat the1972 Summer Olympics.
McKay covered a wide variety of special events, including horse races such as theKentucky Derby,golf events such as theBritish Open,and theIndianapolis 500.McKay's son,Sean McManus,a protégé ofRoone Arledge,is the former chairman ofCBS Sports.[1]
Early life
editMcKay was born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania,and raised in theOverbrooksection of the city in anIrish AmericanCatholicfamily. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School andSaint Joseph's Preparatory School.[2]When McKay was 14, he and his family moved toBaltimore, Maryland,where he attended Loyola High School (nowLoyola Blakefield). He received a bachelor's degree fromLoyola College in Marylandin 1943.[3]DuringWorld War II,he served in theUnited States Navyas the captain of aminesweeper.[4]
In 1946, McKay returned to Baltimore and took a position withThe Evening Sunas a police reporter. He was promoted to aviation reporter instead of getting a raise. During this time, he also met Margaret Dempsey, his future wife.[5]
Television
editIn 1947, McKay gave up his job as a reporter forThe Evening Sunto join that same organization's new TV stationWMAR-TV.His was the first voice ever heard on television in Baltimore.[5]McKay remained with the station until 1950. In January and February of 1950, McKay broadcast the first ever televised network college basketball games for CBS, calling seven games featuring Navy in Annapolis, Maryland, using his birthname, Jim McManus.[6]Later in 1950 with CBS he hosted a variety show, calledThe Real McKay,which necessitated the changing of his on-air surname.[1]From 1958 to 1960, McKay served as host and commentator on the CBS television daytime programThe Verdict Is Yours.Through the 1950s, sports commentary became more and more his primary assignment for CBS. In1956-57,McKay teamed withChris Schenkelto callCBStelecasts ofNew York Giantsfootball. He was originally tabbed to be the lead broadcaster of thenetwork's coverageof the1960 Winter Olympics,but had to be replaced byWalter Cronkiteafter suffering amental breakdown.[3]McKay recovered in time to host the1960 Summer Olympicsfrom the CBS Television studio inGrand Central Terminal.[7]He had a six-episode stint as host of thegame showMake the ConnectiononNBCin 1955.
He moved on to ABC in 1961, and was the host of ABC's influentialWide World of Sportsfor 37 years.[3]
McKay was known to motor racing fans as the host of the ABC's annual delayed telecast of the Indianapolis 500. Over the years, McKay worked with race drivers in commentary, including tripleFormula OneWorld ChampionJackie Stewart,triple Indy 500 winnerBobby Unser,andSam Posey.
While covering theMunich massacreat the1972 Summer Olympicsfor ABC, McKay took on the job of reporting the events live on his only scheduled day off during the Games, substituting forChris Schenkel.[4]He was on air for fourteen hours without a break,[4]during a sixteen-hour broadcast.[8]After an unsuccessful rescue attempt of the athletes held hostage, at 3:24 a.m. Central European Time, McKay came on the air with this statement:[8][9][10]
When I was a kid my father used to say "Our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized." Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They have now said there were 11 hostages; two were killed in their rooms this morn-- yesterday morning, nine were killed at the airport tonight. They're all gone.
— McKay, 1972
Although McKay received numerous accolades for his reporting of the Munich hostage crisis (including twoEmmy Awards,one for sports and one for news reporting), he stated in a 2003HBOdocumentary about his life and career that he was most proud of a telegram he received fromWalter Cronkitethe day after the massacre praising his work.
McKay also hosted from the studio the1980 Winter OlympicsinLake Placid, New York.A happier result came when the U.S. hockey team defeated the Soviet Union in theMiracle on Ice.During the broadcast wrap-up after the game, McKay compared the American upset victory to a group of Canadiancollege footballplayers defeating thePittsburgh Steelers(the recentSuper Bowlchampions at the height of theirdynasty).
In 1994, he was the studio host for theFIFA World Cupcoverage, the first ever held on American soil. McKay also covered the2006 FIFA World Cupfor ABC. In 2002, ABC "loaned" McKay toNBCto serve as a special correspondent during theWinter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.In 2003,HBOreleased a documentary by McKay calledJim McKay: My World in My Words,tracing his career and outlining McKay's personal and professional accomplishments.
Film
editMcKay appears in the 2024 filmSeptember 5through archive footage of theMunich massacreat the1972 Summer Olympics.
Personal life
editAn avid horse racing enthusiast who raised thoroughbreds, McKay foundedMaryland Million Day,a series of twelve races designed to promote Maryland's horse breeding industry. The day-long program has grown to become a major racing event in the state of Maryland, second only to thePreakness Stakesday atPimlico Race Course.It has spawned more than twenty other similar events at United States race tracks such as theSunshine Millions.
McKay and his wife purchased a minority share in theBaltimore Oriolesin 1993. He participated in the effort to bring the2012 Summer Olympicsto Baltimore and Washington.[5]
In 1995, McKay had heart surgery and was forced to miss thePreakness Stakes.
McKay died on June 7, 2008, fromnatural causesat age 86. He was survived by his wife Margaret, son Sean, daughter Mary Guba, and three grandchildren. McKay died on the same day as the running of theBelmont Stakes(won byDa'Tarathat year, withDenis of Corkplacing second).[3]
Honors
edit- McKay won numerous awards, including theGeorge Polk Awardfor his sports and news coverage of the1972 Munich Olympics.
- McKay was the first sportscaster to win anEmmyAward and won thirteen Emmys in his lifetime.[11][12]
- 1987:American Sportscasters AssociationHall of Fame, inducted along with veteran bo xing and horse racing announcerClem McCarthy.
- 1988:U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
- 1993:TV Guidenamed McKay the best sportscaster of the 1970s.[13]
- 2001:Paul WhiteAward,Radio Television Digital News Association[14]
- McKay was inducted into theTelevision Hall of Fameduring its 11th induction.[15]
- He was selected as the inauguralDick Schaap Award for Outstanding Journalismrecipient in 2002.
- TheNBCbroadcast of the2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremonywas dedicated to McKay, per a message at the closing of the broadcast.[16]
- TheNational Collegiate Athletic Associationhas dedicated a scholarship for college athletes for postgraduate study in McKay's honor.[17]
- The ArmoryinNew York Citydedicated a high school track meet in his name on December 12, 2008.
References
edit- ^abKent, Milton (May 15, 1998)."In his son, McKay has his biggest thrill".The Baltimore Sun.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
- ^Schudel, Matt (June 8, 2008)."Philadelphia native Jim McKay dies at 86".The Philadelphia Inquirer.Archived fromthe originalon June 11, 2008.Retrieved2008-06-08.
- ^abcdLitsky, Frank;Sandomir, Richard(June 8, 2008)."Jim McKay, Pioneer Sports Broadcaster, Dies at 86".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
- ^abcHiestand, Michael (June 8, 2008)."Jim McKay's wide world spanned eras".USA Today.
- ^abcZurawik, David; Keyser, Tom; Fenton, Justin."Jim McKay dies at 86".The Baltimore Sun.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
- ^https://archive.506sports /wiki/1949-50_College_Basketball_Season
- ^Sandomir, Richard (July 19, 2009)."Amid Blizzard, Cronkite Helped Make Sports History".The New York Times.
- ^abHale, Mark.5 Questions for Jim McKay.AmericanSportscasterOnline.
- ^Kelly, Christopher (7 January 2006)."Modern Munich lives with its contradictions".Statesman.Archived fromthe originalon 7 June 2011.
- ^Abramson, Alan (5 September 2002)."Black September".Dallas Morning News.Archived fromthe originalon 23 October 2005.
- ^"Longtime ABC announcer McKay dies at age 86".ESPN.7 June 2008.RetrievedJanuary 8,2019.
- ^"Jim McKay".Bio.2015.Retrieved2015-03-26.
- ^TV GuideApril 17-23, 1993.1993. p. 61.
- ^"Paul White Award".Radio Television Digital News Association.Archived fromthe originalon 2013-02-25.Retrieved2014-05-27.
- ^Hall of Fame Archives & Honorees.Accessed 26-03-2015.
- ^Olympics 2008 Opening Ceremony Intro and Ending **Courtesy of NBC**onYouTube
- ^"NCAA Creates Scholarship in Honor of Jim McKay".TVWeek.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-23.Retrieved2008-11-12.
External links
edit
- "Loyola Remembers Jim 'McKay' McManus of the Class of 1943," Loyola College in Maryland, Monday, June 9, 2008.
- Jim McKay-Hometown Hero
- Jim McKay on covering the 1972 Munich Olympics,1998 interview by EmmyTVLegends.org (on YouTube)
- Jim McKayatThe Interviews: An Oral History of Television
- Jim McKayat theTeam USA Hall of Fame