Just heard this from a friend.
Shame. Nice man and a strong advocate for horseracing. Sure we’ll see some sort of tribute on the Belmont telecast today.
RIP Mr. McKay.
Sorry to hear this. I grew up watching Wide World of Sports. RIP, Mr. McKay.
A giant in his profession, rest in peace.
“They’re all gone.”
Wow, I haven’t thought about Wide World of Sports in ages. It was really one of the better sports programs out there.
RIP, Mr. McKay.
He brought common sense and common decency to his work, something which seems to be mostly lost in today’s broadcasting. He has been missed from his profession and now he will be missed by his fellow man.
I never missed “Wide World of Sports” as a kid, God Bless Jim McKay, may he rest in peace.
Aw, what a shame. I had the pleasure of meeting Jim McKay a couple of times. My uncle was GM of Whiteface Mountain during the 60’s and when McKay came up to cover events in Lake Placid, they would have dinner together at a steak place in Wilmington. As the “kid”, my uncle would toss me a bone once in a while and invite me along. I remember lots of laughter at those dinners...and cigars.
Real name was Jim McManus.
His son, Sean McManus has been president of CBS Sports since 1996 and of CBS News since 2005. (Combining the two as his mentor Roone Arledge did at ABC)
Responsible for the Katie Couric fiasco.
His famous line from Munich:
” . . . they’re all gone”
Now the great Jim McKay is gone. RIP.
Oh dear.
Godspeed and thanks, Mr. McKay.
“Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport...the thrill of victory...and the agony of defeat...the human drama of athletic competition...This is ABC’s Wide World of Sports!”
RIP Mr. McKay.
Too bad. He was a great guy.
To me growing up, Jim McKay was the Olympics. I can’t stand NBC’s coverage. ABC with McKay was so much better.
RIP Mr. McKay.
That’s a shame. I liked his coverage of the Games.
Rest in Peace Mr. McKay, I grew up with Wide World of Sports too. A tribute to him, I can still remember his voice.
I remember McKay reciting AE Housman’s “To an Athlete Dying Young” at the memorial to the slain Israeli olympians in 1972. I thought it was a touch of class unusual in the pedestrian world of televised sports, and showed a sensitivity that was fitting for the occasion.