Remembering Jim McKay, a sportscasting legend
I had an opportunity to meet ABC sportscaster Jim McKay while on an ABC press trip to Sarajevo,
I had grown up listening to McKay as the voice of ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” and the Olympics. I fondly remember his “spanning the globe” intro for “Wide World of Sports,” with the ski jumper crashing out of control. His professionalism was unparalled. His coverage of the massacre at the Munich Olympics showed he could handle hard news with the same ease as a sports event. He set the standard for sports news coverage. Many sportscasters today strive to be another Jim McKay.
Here are comments on McKay from two others who rank among the best in sportscasting:
Al Michaels: He was the personification of class and style. There has never been a more respected individual in the business and deservedly so. His love for life could only be matched by his love for Margaret. His enthusiasm permeated every event he covered and thus always made it far more interesting. I always thought of him as a favorite teacher. He was so into whatever it was he was doing that he drew you into every event he covered.
Bob Costas: Jim McKay was a singular broadcaster. He brought a reporter’s eye, a literate touch, and above all a personal humanity to every assignment. He had a combination of qualities seldom seen in the history of the medium, not just sports.
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Since “comments are closed” on your Bill Walton post, I’ll just respond here, since no one but you will read it anyway. That’s probably the first time anyone has quoted Bill Walton not as a joke. Here are some other Walton quotes you may wish to consider:
“Tracy McGrady is doing things we’ve never seen from anybody – from any planet!”
Exchange between he and Tom Hammond: “John Stockton is one of the true marvels, not just of basketball, or in America, but in the history of Western Civilization!” Tom: “Wow, that’s a pretty strong statement. I guess I don’t have a good handle on world history.”
“Kenyon Martin is the 2nd best player in the Eastern Conference.”
“Greg Ostertag is one of the top centers on this planet!”
“Eric Piatkowski makes perhaps the greatest defensive play in Clipper history!”
“Tony Parker just made the worst pass… in the history of Western Civilization!”
On the ’72 Lakers: “Way back when, I was a sophomore in college at UCLA when a truly remarkable aggregation of professional talent actually exceeded the hype and hope of a world searching desperately for authenticity.”
“Show some respect to this living legend, this hall of famer…Arvydas Sabonis.”
“…In order for Orlando to be successfull tonight the offense MUST go through Danny Schayes”
“When I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven in the age of the romantics.”
“If Eric Piatkowski continues playing at this level, he’s going to replace Jerry West on the NBA logo.”
“dirk nowitzki”s shot is like a gazelle,flowing through the swiss alps”
“In order for the Kings to win, they must find a way to outscore the Lakers”.