20080607 NBC's Bob Costas pays tribute to Jim McKay

[HattieLovesCattie]

I read a few years ago that Jim was supposed to host the Winter Games in Squaw Valley in 1960 but had a nervous breakdown so Walter Cronkite had to take over.RIP Jim.

[emerson24]

There is a reason why Costas now does the Olympics. He also has very eloquent speeches. He's a very smart individual and good speaker.

[WellHiFoLLLks]

He da mensch. Good work, Mr. McKay.

[buffalobraves9]

He was THE finest broadcaster...no one else even comes close.

[tallykniffen]

Wonderful tribute to Jim Mckay by NBC. I wonder if ABC paid any tribute to Jim?

[5kdamian]

Yes, they did. At the end of the broadcast of The Belmont Stakes which Rick Reilly paid an eloquent tribute to Jim McKay...

[cyberob12]

Mckay was brilliant and so is this tribute.

[mdumas43073]

It's ironic that the best McKay tribute would come from a rival network (although Jim did contribute to NBC's broadcast of the '02 Winter Games in Salt Lake).

Unfortunately, by the time he passed away his old employer ABC Sports had been taken over by ESPN, which doesn't seem to know how to do tributes or anything else that doesn't involve promoting its brand.

[straightandkink917]

0:37 Mr. McKay began his career....

I think it would be more accurate to say Mr. McKay began his BROADCASTING career (or his career in broadcasting) in 1946.

Jim captained a minesweeper during WWII, so he was no stranger to the position of command, even when he started out in broadcasting.

[kevindayhoff]

You are correct and I wholeheartedly agree... I wish I had written it that way... Thanks a bunch for calling that to my attention. KED