Jim McKay - R.I.P.

[ethurst2]

Howard Cosell, Chick Hearn, Myron Cope, Henry Barrow, Dick Shaap, Jack Buck, Curt Gowdy and now Jim McKay.

And yes, even Gordon Solie.

It's sad that the Sports world are losing true journalists and broadcasters who called the action so good that it had you riveted to your seat.

Jim McKay was one of the best sportscasters I've ever heard of. From Wide World of Sports, to the Olympics, this man could call any sport and make you feel as if you were there. It's safe to say that McKay "pioneered" the broadcasting of extreme and alternative sports on the Wide World of Sports that led to channels like ESPN. The difference was that back then, if you didn't understand the sport, McKay had a way of teaching you about the sport at the same time.

Because of Jim McKay, I found myself wanting to be a guy named Franz Klammer, the downhill skiier who captured Gold Medals in 1976 or the Worlds Strongest Man (I forgot the Russians name,V something). No matter what your background, race or color was, McKay had a way of broadcasting an event which left an impression upon you forever about that sport or event.

Most of the sportscasters from my childhood are getting up in age. I miss Edwin Pope's insightful articles on the Miami Dolphins.

Even though Cosell pioneered "sports entertainment" he was still fun to listen to. If you compare the Monday Night Football broadcasts to what Cosell did, it doesn't even come close. That magic formula has elude ABC ever since they fired him.

In a world in which sports reporters and broadcasters think that louder is better and that calling athletes nicknames that they haven't really earned is "cool", McKay was well respected by journalists and people all over the world for being warn and gracious. He broadcasted an event as if you and your Dad were at the game. He was very into what he did and projected it to the audience.

I'm starting to really miss some of these guys. They were my favorite broadcasters.

R.I.P. Jim McKay. You did a great job.

By the way, who is the worst broadcaster/journalist in sports that you have ever heard or read and who is the best broadcast/journalist that you have ever heard or read?

[Phishfan]

I agree McKay was one of my favorites during childhood. I wish ABC would bring back Wide World of Sports, but they could never replace that man.

[SportsChick]

To answer your question, for me, Johnny Most

RIP Jim and thank you for an amazing career

[Sunstroke]

I can't narrow it to one broadcaster, but I think three of my "favorites" growing up would be Vin Scully, Keith Jackson and Hal McCoy.

And my father, Harry Stevens, of course.

[MaineDolFan]

Ken Coleman.