Author Topic: Sportscaster Jim McKay dies at 87  (Read 1901 times)

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Offline bijou

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Sportscaster Jim McKay dies at 87
« on: June 07, 2008, 12:23:42 PM »
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NEW YORK (AP) — Jim McKay, the venerable and eloquent sportscaster thrust into the role of telling Americans about the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics, has died. He was 87.

McKay died Saturday of natural causes at his farm in Monkton, Md. The broadcaster who considered horse racing his favorite sport died only hours before Big Brown attempted to win a Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes.

He was host of ABC's influential "Wide World of Sports" for more than 40 years, starting in 1961. The weekend series introduced viewers to all manner of strange, compelling and far-flung sports events. The show provided an international reach long before exotic backdrops became a staple of sports television.

McKay — understated, dignified and with a clear eye for detail — also covered 12 Olympics, but none more memorably than the Summer Games in Munich, Germany. He was the anchor when events turned grim with the news that Palestinian terrorists kidnapped 11 Israeli athletes. It was left to McKay to tell Americans when a commando raid to rescue the athletes ended in tragedy.

"They're all gone," McKay said.

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http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfdn2uoYJwOEdiYCzfkvC52PmF7wD915BRBO0



Offline Flame

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Re: Sportscaster Jim McKay dies at 87
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2008, 07:38:12 PM »
I grew up watching him.  RIP, sir.

Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: Sportscaster Jim McKay dies at 87
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2008, 12:54:43 PM »

RIP, Jim McKay.