Legendary Sports Journalist, Father Of CBS News Pres., Jim McKay Dies

By Chris Ariens 

Jim McKay, one of the nation’s most well-known sports journalists, has died. McKay may be best known for anchoring coverage of the massacre at the 1972 Olympic games. He was the voice of 12 Olympics as well as the host of ABC’s Wide World of Sports from 1961 to 1998.

McKay was the father of CBS News and Sports president Sean McManus. McKay, born James Kenneth McManus, anchored coverage of the Triple Crown when ABC had the rights to horse racing. Expect ABC to memorialize McKay today during their coverage of the Belmont Stakes. McKay was also a part of NBC’s coverage of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

Jim McKay died today in Maryland of natural causes. He was 86.

Advertisement

Advertisement