RIP Jim McKay

[pindude]

I remember as a young kid in the 60s, when I was home on Saturdays at 4 pm and not skiing or involved in some team sport activity, running inside to catch ABC's Wide World of Sports. Through that show, and other sports programs Jim McKay anchored, he introduced me to an incredible variety of outdoor activities and locations, some of which I've tried and/or traveled to. As a sportscaster, he humbly, simply, and effectively communicated what it was like to be involved in those activities. Some were obscure, and included:

 

* Acapulco cliff diving

* Vanuatu vine jumping (precursor to bungee jumping)

* Iditarod dog racing

* Olympics - skiing

* horse racing

* Little League World Series (I played Little League and other ball in Seattle) - who remembers underdog Kirkland finally beating Taiwan in the finals in the early 80s?

* rock climbing even - I missed this one: but my mom saw on WWOS someone climbing on Monkey Face, also in the 80s, and giving her a little more understanding of what I was into.

 

His voice was THE voice of sports through all of my life, and still resonates. Knowing he was a big thoroughbred racing fan, I'm surprised he didn't stay with us long enough to know how Big Brown did today.

 

To Jim McKay

 

[builder206]

Hear, hear. I watched the Wide World of Sports too and also remember his work during the Olympics, particularly the 1972 massacre of the Israelis. I always enjoyed his commentary regardless of the event.

[tvashtarkatena]

Had I only known how many times I would experience the Agony of Defeat when watching that flailing skier as a child....

[rmncwrtr]

I grew up watching WWS in the 70s. Loved the show and all those Olympics ABC and Jim McKay covered over the years. RIP, Jim!

 

LGeqSYXQdnA

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 8, 2008 by rmncwrtr