“Olympics haven’t been the same since Jim McCay left.”
The Thrill of Victory, and the Agony of Defeat.
James Kenneth McManus (Jim McKay)
Hosted Wide World of Sports for 37 years.
Covered 12 Olympics including the 1972 Munich games and the massacre of Israeli athletes. McKay remained on the air for 14 hours.
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
Captained a minesweeper during WW2.
Married Mary Dempsey in 1948 and remained married to her until his death.
McKay was the first voice heard on television in Baltimore on station WMAR-TV.
Founded the Maryland Million Day. Twelve races over one day to promote horse racing in Maryland.
They don’t make’em like that anymore.
Yes he was great.
It doesn’t hurt for me that he loved the horses - he had his own operation here too. Always love having him on racing broadcasts. Along with Al Michaels (also solid on horses)!
So glad I can have those memories - ABC super team Michaels and McKay on Olympics AND horse-racing. The things I loved most.