Jim McKay: Remembered and Appreciated

Millions of words will be written about Jim McKay, and his great abilities, if they haven’t been already.

What will be under-emphasized will be the uncanny ability he had to be able to relate to the average viewer. He didn’t talk up or down to people. He just talked like a friend or relative would. People liked that.

He came across as someone you wish you were related to. Not for material gain, but because he seemed like someone you could go to with a personal problem, for advice, or just to get something off your chest. And he appeared to be the type who would understand, and give you constructive feedback in response.

Since we changed centuries a few years back, icons have been disappearing at a rapid rate. Bob Hope, Bo Diddly, and Johnny Carson are just a few familiar names that we’ve had to say goodbye to recently. Now we must add another. The song “Time Passages” by Al Stewart comes to mind.

Jim McKay is burned permanently into America’s minds, memories, and consciences. His marathon coverage at the tragic Munich Olympics in 1972 will never be forgotten. Happy moments at places like Lake Placid, Los Angeles, and Churchill Downs will rank among sports broadcasting’s finest hours.

It would be apropos if the American Broadcasting Company, the International Olympic Committee, the US Olympic Committee, or the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences would find something fitting to name in Jim McKay’s honor. It would be a great way of keeping his memory with us.

Jim McKay showed what sports broadcasts can be, and should be.

And we were lucky to be able to see it.