'Wide World of Sports' Host Dead at 86
Host of ABC's 'Wide World of Sports' and 12 Olympics Has Died in Maryland
June 7, 2008
Jim McKay, 86, a longtime television sports journalist, has died of natural causes in Maryland, according to a statement from the McKay family.
ABC's legendary sportscaster has died.
McKay is best known for hosting "ABC's Wide World of Sports" and 12 Olympic Games.
McKay won numerous awards for journalism, including the George Polk Memorial Award and two Emmys -- one for his sports coverage, the other for his news reporting -- for his work at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which were tragically affected by the Black September terrorists' attack on the Israeli athletes in the Olympic Village.
"Jim was a regular guy who wrote and spoke like a poet," Bob Iger, president and chief executive of The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement. "He loved sports. To him, sports defined life -- full of drama, adventure, accomplishment and disappointment. The thrill of victory for some, the agony of defeat for others."
ESPN and ABC Sports president George Bodenheimer said there are "no superlatives that can adequately honor Jim McKay."
"He meant so much to so many people," Bodenheimer said in a statement. "He was a founding father of sports television, one of the most respected commentators in the history of broadcasting and journalism.
"For more than 60 years he brought sports into the homes of Americans on Wide World of Sports, the Olympics and many other programs that captured the essence of the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
"Jim was the ultimate colleague, having helped generations of people who have now taken his mantle. He was also a warm and devoted family man. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Margaret, Sean and Mary for their loss. And I know that countless people, around the world, have been touched by this great man. We will miss him."
In 1968, McKay won the first of his 13 Emmy Awards, becoming the first sports commentator to receive that honor.
His 12th Emmy, in 1988, was not for his talents as a broadcaster but as the writer of the openings for ABC Sports' coverage of the 1987 Indianapolis 500, the British Open and the Kentucky Derby. He is the only broadcaster to have won Emmys for sports and news broadcasting and for writing.
In 1990 he was the recipient of the first-ever Lifetime Achievement in Sports award from the Academy. In 1992 he was the recipient of an Emmy Award in the Individual Achievement category for the ABC Sports special, "Athletes and Addiction: It's Not a Game."
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Justine Henin Retires at twentyfive
Justine Henin calls it a day
LIMELETTE: Top-ranked Justine Henin retired from tennis on Wednesday at the age of 25, ending a career in which she won seven Grand Slam titles.
“This is the end of a child’s dream,” Henin said in announcing her immediate departure from a sport she has dominated for the past two years. “This is a definitive decision. Those who know me know it is serious.”
Henin’s surprise decision came less than two weeks before the start of the French Open, a tournament she has won four times, including the last three years.
Form slump
Henin won 10 tournaments last year, but has been in one of the worst slumps of her career this season. She was upset last week in the third round of the German Open and pulled out of this week’s Italian Open citing fatigue.
“I thought long about this,” Henin said at a news conference, her voice cracking and eyes watering. “I started thinking about it late last year. I was at the end of the road. I leave with my head held high.”
Henin’s retirement came a day after Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam — winner of 10 women’s golf majors — announced that she was quitting at the end of the season.
Last year, Belgium’s Kim Clijsters — a former No. 1 player — retired at 23. She has since married and become a mother.
Henin, who has battled through injuries and a divorce, had a standout season in 2007, winning two Grand Slams, eight other tour titles and more than $5 million.
The Belgian had one Australian Open (2004) four French Opens (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) and two U.S. Opens (2003, 2007) amongst her 41 career singles titles.
She also took home a career prize money of $19,461,375.
However, after winning her home tournament in Antwerp in February, she has been on one of the worst skids of her career, failing to go beyond the quarterfinals at any event.
Poor start
Henin’s year began with a 6-4, 6-0 loss to Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January, followed by a 6-2, 6-0 drubbing by Serena Williams at the Sony Ericsson Open in April, the worst loss for a top-ranked player in nine years.
At last week’s German Open, Henin lost 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 to Dinara Safina. — Agencies
LIMELETTE: Top-ranked Justine Henin retired from tennis on Wednesday at the age of 25, ending a career in which she won seven Grand Slam titles.
“This is the end of a child’s dream,” Henin said in announcing her immediate departure from a sport she has dominated for the past two years. “This is a definitive decision. Those who know me know it is serious.”
Henin’s surprise decision came less than two weeks before the start of the French Open, a tournament she has won four times, including the last three years.
Form slump
Henin won 10 tournaments last year, but has been in one of the worst slumps of her career this season. She was upset last week in the third round of the German Open and pulled out of this week’s Italian Open citing fatigue.
“I thought long about this,” Henin said at a news conference, her voice cracking and eyes watering. “I started thinking about it late last year. I was at the end of the road. I leave with my head held high.”
Henin’s retirement came a day after Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam — winner of 10 women’s golf majors — announced that she was quitting at the end of the season.
Last year, Belgium’s Kim Clijsters — a former No. 1 player — retired at 23. She has since married and become a mother.
Henin, who has battled through injuries and a divorce, had a standout season in 2007, winning two Grand Slams, eight other tour titles and more than $5 million.
The Belgian had one Australian Open (2004) four French Opens (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) and two U.S. Opens (2003, 2007) amongst her 41 career singles titles.
She also took home a career prize money of $19,461,375.
However, after winning her home tournament in Antwerp in February, she has been on one of the worst skids of her career, failing to go beyond the quarterfinals at any event.
Poor start
Henin’s year began with a 6-4, 6-0 loss to Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January, followed by a 6-2, 6-0 drubbing by Serena Williams at the Sony Ericsson Open in April, the worst loss for a top-ranked player in nine years.
At last week’s German Open, Henin lost 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 to Dinara Safina. — Agencies
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