On the passing of sports broadcasting legend Jim McKay, I want to express my condolences to the McKay/McManus family. In addition, I’d be remiss not to extend a most sincere “thank you” to the man whose example led me to pursue a career in the profession that he represented so wonderfully.

Jim McKay is on my personal Mount Rushmore of sportscasters. As a kid in the 1970’s and 80’s, I was captivated by sports on television and especially drawn to the quadrennial presentation of the Olympics on ABC. Jim McKay was the face and voice of those Olympics to me and millions of others. Without knowing it then, while taking in McKay’s presentation, I was learning a lesson in a sincere and professional manner of broadcasting. Jim was foremost knowledgable, credible and in control, but he managed that while coming across as genuine, down-to-earth, and almost folksy. He not only made me care about what he talked about, he made me want to meet him, and sit and talk sports with him (an honor I actually realized in my adult years). I wanted to become a sportscaster myself, and by his example- I wanted to be like Jim McKay.

Well, I’ve accomplished nothing to the level of the late, great Jim McKay, but thanks to his example I’ve carved out my own humble place in the wide world of sportscasting, with his influence working within me. When I had the honor of meeting Jim McKay, I was delighted but not the least bit surprised to find he was just as genuine and nice as he came across on network TV. In fact, in one of the greatest thrills of my career (if not my life), as I approached Mr. McKay following a speech he made in Baltimore, he reached out his hand and said, “Hello, Mark. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve been watching you.” I had been working at Channel 11 here in Baltimore for a few years at the time, and I had approached him to introduce myself. He beat me to the introduction. So humbling, so flattering….so Jim McKay.

On another occassion, while doing the radio show at Orioles spring training in Ft. Lauderdale, I visited with Jim while he showed his grandson around the Orioles facility. Again, one of the greatest TV personalities of my lifetime was just a baseball fan, just a loving grandfather, just a good man.

It’s sad to know that Jim McKay won’t be around for us on television, at the ballpark, at the race track, around Baltimore. But like all good people, Jim McKay remains a part of our community and part of the broadcasting profession. He was a great influence in my life and I’ll continue to attempt to live up to his example. Thank you, Mr. McKay.

Posted on Saturday, June 7th, 2008 at 4:39 pm.
Categories: Opinion.
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