Jim McKay, American sportscaster and journalist (d. 2008)
James Kenneth McManus (September 24, 1921 – June 7, 2008), better known professionally as Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist.
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.
1921Sep, 24
Jim McKay
Choose Another Date
Events on 1921
- 15Feb
Helsinki
Kingdom of Romania establishes its legation in Helsinki. - 20Mar
Versailles Treaty
The Upper Silesia plebiscite was a plebiscite mandated by the Versailles Treaty to determine a section of the border between Weimar Germany and Poland. - 11Jul
William Howard Taft
Former President of the United States William Howard Taft is sworn in as 10th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, becoming the only person ever to hold both offices. - 29Oct
Sacco and Vanzetti
United States: Second trial of Sacco and Vanzetti in Boston, Massachusetts. - 11Nov
Arlington National Cemetery
The Tomb of the Unknowns is dedicated by US President Warren G. Harding at Arlington National Cemetery.