An Ode to a Legend

There must be a really big story in heaven today, and God needed to have one of the greatest journalists ever known to mankind to cover it.

This morning legendary sportscaster Jim McKay passed away at the age of 86.

The ubiquitous voice that transcended all of the sporting world has been silenced forever.

I will never forget the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. While I was only seven years of age, I remember the sadness in Jim's voice when he told the whole world that Israeli athletes had been slaughtered by terrorists. The line that sticks with me to this day was when Jim said "they're all gone". How this passionate family man was able to hold his poise and grace while telling the story is incomprehensible, but Jim knew that sometimes people do bad things to other people, and it was part of his job description to tell the story.

Jim excelled in all areas of his trade. He was a presence on the screen, and his writing skills were unparalleled. He had the innate ability to tell a story. While his professionalism was unmatched by his peers, Jim also possessed the sense of humor that made you feel as though you were his best friend. I remember the time that Jim hit a golf ball over the Great Wall of China. You could see that he was having fun doing this piece. He attempted this golf shot on live TV. No one knew how it would turn out, but it didn't matter, because at that moment, Jim was just stopping to smell the roses. Of course he knocked the golf ball over the wall, and he ended the piece by saying "by George I've done it".

The next time you happen to see an old rerun of the Wide World of Sports, remember how Jim's voice put into perspective the phrase "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". Yet another example of Jim's ability to bring the human side of sports.

Thanks for sharing your talents with us Mr. McKay. You will not be soon forgotten.

May you rest forever in peace. Take care and be well in heaven.


Ahh.....the beauty of a legacy that will go on forever.