It was quite a weekend… Big Brown could not deliver. He just didn’t want to run on Saturday. He is a great horse,  but not a legendary horse. If you win 2 of the 3 big ones you had a great triple crown season. It was just a bizarre race, and one I won’t forget anytime soon.  Nevertheless, it left me feeling empty. But hey… that is why they play the games. That is why sports is such a great drama;  at the end of the day it is completely unpredictable.  Big Brown demonstrated how hard it is to  earn  the triple crown.  

Now, to the real story of the weekend, the passing of  the great Jim McKay. As a sports broadcaster, I  have always found it compelling to study the history of my profession. I am also someone who has immense civic pride, and when someone from my community reaches the heights, regardless of the  vocation, it gives me the greatest feeling. And that is precisely what Jim McKay did.

Plain and simple,  Jim McKay changed sports broadcasting  in America forever. Sports was essentially covered just locally before ABC, led by a genius - Roone Arlidge - created the Wide World of Sports. From around the world, that show brought the “human drama of athletic competition” into American living rooms.

At one time ABC sports had McKay, Keith Jackson, Al Michaels, and Howard Cosell,  who remains  one of my all time favorite broadcasters. 

McKay was smooth. His writing was incredible. And his story telling ability was second  to none. People who knew him have recounted the personal stories about how good he was at his job, and they have made clear that he was such a good of man.

All I can say is he was an absolute giant in the field and there will never be anyone like him again.

Posted on Monday, June 9th, 2008 at 1:00 pm.
Categories: 1300 News.
Track comments to this post: RSS 2.0.

POST A COMMENT  |  TRACKBACK