Jim McKay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim McKay
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
James Kenneth McManus
September 24, 1921 |
| Died | June 7, 2008 (aged 86) Monkton, Maryland, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Sportscaster, sportswriter, actor |
| Years active | 1955–2000 2002 2006 |
| Spouse(s) |
Margaret Dempsey
(m. 1948) |
| Children | Sean and Mary |
James Kenneth McManus (born September 24, 1921 – died June 7, 2008), known to everyone as Jim McKay, was a famous American television sports journalist. He was a familiar face and voice for many years.
McKay was best known for hosting ABC's Wide World of Sports from 1961 to 1998. His opening words for the show became very famous. He would remind viewers of the show's goal: "Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports." Then he would hint at what was coming: "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." He also covered 12 Olympic Games. He is especially remembered for his calm and respectful reporting during the sad events of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Jim McKay covered many different sports events. These included horse races like the Kentucky Derby and golf tournaments like the British Open. He also reported on the exciting Indianapolis 500 car race. Jim McKay's son, Sean McManus, later became the chairman of CBS Sports.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Jim McKay was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the Overbrook area of the city. His family was Irish American and Catholic. He went to Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School and Saint Joseph's Preparatory School. When Jim was 14, his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland. There, he attended Loyola High School (now Loyola Blakefield). He earned a bachelor's degree from Loyola College in Maryland in 1943. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. He was the captain of a minesweeper ship.
In 1946, McKay returned to Baltimore. He started working for The Evening Sun newspaper as a police reporter. He later became an aviation reporter. During this time, he met Margaret Dempsey, who would become his wife.
A Career in Television
In 1947, Jim McKay left his newspaper job. He joined The Evening Sun's new TV station, WMAR-TV. He was the very first voice heard on television in Baltimore! McKay stayed there until 1950. Then he moved to CBS in New York. He hosted a variety show called The Real McKay. This show is why he changed his on-air name to Jim McKay.
From 1958 to 1960, McKay hosted The Verdict Is Yours on CBS. During the 1950s, sports commentary became his main job. He worked with Chris Schenkel to announce New York Giants football games for CBS. He was supposed to be the main announcer for the 1960 Winter Olympics. However, he had to take a short break due to a health challenge. Walter Cronkite filled in for him. McKay recovered in time to host the 1960 Summer Olympics from the CBS studio.
Hosting Wide World of Sports
In 1961, Jim McKay moved to ABC. He became the host of ABC's very popular Wide World of Sports. He hosted this show for an amazing 37 years!
Motor racing fans knew McKay well. He hosted ABC's yearly broadcast of the Indianapolis 500. Over the years, McKay worked with famous race car drivers. These included Formula One World Champion Jackie Stewart and Indy 500 winner Bobby Unser.
Reporting the Munich Olympics
Jim McKay was covering the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich for ABC. It was his day off, but he stepped in to report live on the Munich massacre. This was a very serious and sad event. He stayed on air for 14 hours without a break. He reported the difficult news with great calm and professionalism.
McKay received many awards for his reporting of the Munich crisis. These included two Emmy Awards, one for sports and one for news. He was most proud of a telegram he got from Walter Cronkite. Cronkite praised his excellent work.
Other Olympic and Sports Coverage
McKay also hosted the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. A happier moment came when the U.S. hockey team beat the Soviet Union. This was known as the "Miracle on Ice". After the game, McKay compared the American victory to a college football team beating a professional team.
In 1994, he was the studio host for the 1994 FIFA World Cup coverage. This was the first time the World Cup was held in America. McKay also covered the 2006 FIFA World Cup for ABC. In 2002, ABC "loaned" McKay to NBC. He was a special reporter for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. In 2003, HBO released a documentary about his life. It was called Jim McKay: My World in My Words.
Personal Life and Interests
Jim McKay loved horse racing. He even raised thoroughbred horses. He started Maryland Million Day. This is a series of 12 races to help Maryland's horse breeding industry. This event has become very important in Maryland. It is second only to the Preakness Stakes day. It has also inspired similar events across the United States.
In 1993, McKay and his wife bought a small share in the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. He also helped try to bring the 2012 Summer Olympics to Baltimore and Washington.
Jim McKay died on June 7, 2008, from natural causes. He was 86 years old. He was survived by his wife Margaret, his son Sean, his daughter Mary Guba, and three grandchildren. He passed away on the same day as the Belmont Stakes horse race.
Honors and Awards
Jim McKay received many awards for his amazing career:
- He won the George Polk Award for his reporting of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
- McKay was the first sportscaster to win an Emmy Award. He won 13 Emmys in his lifetime!
- In 1987, he was inducted into the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame.
- In 1988, he joined the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
- In 1993, TV Guide magazine named McKay the best sportscaster of the 1970s.
- In 2001, he received the Paul White Award.
- McKay was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
- He was the first person to receive the Dick Schaap Award for Outstanding Journalism in 2002.
- The NBC broadcast of the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony was dedicated to Jim McKay.
- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) created a scholarship in his honor. It helps college athletes study after graduation.
- The Armory in New York City named a high school track meet after him in 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Jim McKay (periodista) para niños
