The Real McKay: My Wide World of Sports [Paperback]

Jim McKay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999

Jim McKay, one of the first ever television hosts, is best-known as the long-time lead anchor on ABC's "Wide World of Sports," the show that became the benchmark for sports television programming.

McKay won an Emmy for his sensitive coverage of the tragic hostage crisis at the 1972 Munich Olympics, and he recounts that unprecedented 15-hour broadcast in harrowing detail. But McKay still believes in the purity, beauty, and glory of sports, and the book is filled with the wonderful events he covered in his sparkling 50-year career. He rates the greatest moments and the greatest athletes in his "Jim McKay Rankings." Among his favorites are down-to-the-wire finishes in Triple Crown races, Bob Beamon's record-breaking long jump at the 1968 summer Olympics, the celebrated battles between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, and many more. With his trademark warmth and humor, McKay also shares never-before-told stories from the world of sports and the early days of television. The Real McKay is an uplifting and inspiring picture of sports and a testament to the triumph of the human spirit.

"Jim McKay is a great gentleman and one of America's best ambassadors in the world of sports. He has a fascinating story to tell--don't miss it!" --Jack Nicklaus

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Decades before the term "extreme sports" was born, Jim McKay was introducing the world to sports like cliff diving, big wave surfing, and barefoot water-skiing. For nearly 55 years, the ubiquitous McKay was the host of ABC's Wide World of Sports. As the Saturday afternoon master of ceremonies, McKay was always adept at pointing out the wealth of human achievement as well as the "agonies of defeat." His autobiography details many of the more memorable moments in a lifetime of sports. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Longtime host of ABC-TV's Wide World of Sports, McKay has been reporting sports for 50 years and in this anecdotal autobiography conveys to readers "the joy of victory and the agony of defeat." Born Jim McManus in Philadelphia, he enjoyed a happy childhood surrounded by loving relatives. After duty in the Navy in WWII, he got a job as a police reporter on the Baltimore Evening Sun, which soon acquired a TV station where McManus became an on-air personality covering everything from wrestling to religion. It was in Baltimore that he met his wife, Margaret, and soon Manhattan beckoned with a variety show on CBS-TV called The Real McKay, forcing McManus to change his name. Soon he was acting in a courtroom drama called The Verdict Is Yours, but was dissatisfied with his career. It was at this point he suffered a nervous breakdown. He is candid in discussing this as well as his difficult recovery. In 1961, at the behest of Roone Arledge, he moved to ABC-TV to anchor Wide World of Sports, originally scheduled to be only a summer replacement show. McKay discusses the many Olympics he has covered and rates his top events, with number one being the victory of the U.S. Olympic hockey team over the Russians in 1980. He also rates his favorite golfers, jockeys, race horses and racing car drivers. His minute-by-minute replay of the tragic events at the 1972 Olympics in Munich where Israeli athletes were slaughtered by Arab terrorists is the most gripping chapter in the book. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Plume (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452280257
• ISBN-13: 978-0452280250
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,577,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous McKay, March 13, 2001

By 

"usc503" (Hunt Valley, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Real McKay: My Wide World of Sports (Paperback)

Jim McKay's autobiography doesn't start with backstory of his early life but with a remarkable minute-by-minute description of the crisis at the 1972 Olympic Games. McKay, now 27 years after that event, recalls it with such detail that it seemed to have happened last evening. For someone who was born after this event happened, it was amazing to read the story of what happened by a guy who was actually there.

This is one of my highlights in the book. McKay, not his real name - which is a funny story - takes the reader through his life. How he was a newspaper reporter turned song-and-dance man and to how he became one of the best sports reporters in televsion history.

If you've ever heard a sporting even called by Jim McKay, the atmosphere is set so wonderfully, it's almost like you're there. The same is true for this book. Pick up a copy. [e-mail]

P.S. It won't be the same watching the Kentucky Derby, Preakness (McKay's favorite race) and Belmont without Jim McKay - we miss you already!

5.0 out of 5 stars Jim, we'll miss you., June 7, 2008

By 

P. J. Merrill "PJ in NH" (Belmont, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Real McKay: My Wide World of Sports (Paperback)

I remember reading this book years ago and enjoyed it very much. It brought back to mind that horrible period during the 1972 Munich Olympics when those Iraeli athletes were tragically killed and Jim said those now famous words "they're all gone" -- so simply said but oh so meaningful and emotional.

It is now June 7, 2008, and today Jim has gone to join those honorable athletes. God bless you, Jim. We'll remember you always. Sports won't be the same without you. Hopefully those that followed in your footsteps will learn from you and your legacy.