Jim McKay
Submitted by marc on June 9, 2008 - 1:17pm.
We lost a great voice on the air last weekend with the death of Jim McKay. He was a gentleman of the airwaves in radio and television. I will never forget, no one who heard it will ever forget, Jim McKay’s broadcast during the 1972 Munich Olympics when the Israeli athletes were kidnapped and murdered by Palestinian terrorists. He was off that day, but came in, and in his gentle, deeply human manner walked the world through the terror and impending tragedy of that moment.
I remember being so deeply moved by him and I remember my joyful anticipation almost exactly ten years ago, on May 29th, 1998, as I was about to interview him for the first time. He was as unassuming in person as he was humble on the air. What a lovely human being he was. We did not stay in close touch but we talked from time to time.
His life has a lot to teach us about how to behave on the air and as human beings. He was a Baltimorean and a Marylander.
He loved his family, his horse and his work. We will miss him. Our sympathies go out to all in his family.
-marc
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Fond memories of Jim McKay
Many fond memories of Jim McKay. Especially for people who grew up in Baltimore. Mr. McKay kept up with his strong ties to Baltimore and the schools. Jim McKay visited and spoke at Loyola College, which I remember well. His speech at the 1981 Loyola College commencement was more than the usual keynote speaker. At Loyola College, here in Baltimore, Jim McKay was Jim McManus, fellow alumni. We welcomed him back with open arms.
And he did travel far and wide. The Wide World of Sports had some difficult and incredible years. Jim McKay was there to bring it back to the hometown, right on our living room TV. Always good, solid, honest work and integrity. Whether we were student-athletes and non-athletes, sports fans, or occasional spectator, his blending of sports and the intellectual was inspiration to many people. Jim McKay kept it all in perspective. RIP
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