Jim McKay
James Kenneth McManus (September 24, 1921 – June 7, 2008), better known professionally as Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist.
Jim McKay | |
|---|---|
McKay in the 1970s | |
| Born | James Kenneth McManus September 24, 1921 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | June 7, 2008 (aged 86) Monkton, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Sportscaster, sportswriter, actor |
| Years active | 1955–2000 2002 2006 |
| Spouse |
Margaret Dempsey (m. 1948) |
| Children | Sean and Mary |
McKay was best known for hosting ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961–1998). His introduction for that program has passed into American pop culture, in which viewers were reminded of the show's mission ("Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports") and what lay ahead ("the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat"). He is also known for television coverage of 12 Olympic Games, and is universally respected for his memorable reporting on the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
McKay covered a wide variety of special events, including horse races such as the Kentucky Derby, golf events such as the British Open, and the Indianapolis 500. McKay's son, Sean McManus, a protégé of Roone Arledge, is the chairman of CBS Sports.