20080607 NBC's Bob Costas pays tribute to Jim McKay

NBC's Bob Costas pays tribute to Jim McKay

June 7, 2008

NBC Sports journalist Bob Costas eloquently remembers Jim McKay and puts Mr. McKay's life's work into perspective for us.

Mr. McKay passed away last Saturday, June 7, 2008, on his horse farm in Monkton, in northern Baltimore County. He was 86 years-old.

This video is the combination of two of the best video tribute for the legendary sportscaster, both done by NBC.

Mr. McKay was born James Kenneth McManus on Sept. 24, 1921 in Philadelphia. His family moved to Baltimore when he was 15 years-old.

Mr. McKay began his career as a police reporter for Baltimore's Western District, in 1946, for The (Baltimore) Evening Sun.

In 1947, A. S. Abell Company, the publisher of the Baltimore Sunpapers at the time, started the 11th television station in the country, WMAR -- TV.

The television station began on Oct. 27, 1947 with a live broadcast of "two horse races at Pimlico."

A Baltimore Sun article noted "the first words heard on television in Baltimore were spoken by Mr. (McManus) McKay:

"This is WMAR-TV in Baltimore, operating for test purposes."

www.kevindayhoff.net

Note: Content owner: NBC Universal (Sports) Type: Audiovisual content

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Dayhoff
• Baltimore
• WMAR
• NBC
• Costas
• McKay
• sports
• television

[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

[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.

[5kdamian]

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

[tallykniffen]

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

[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.