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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Jim McKay Dead at 86

ABC sportscaster was first to win Emmy

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(Newser) – Veteran sportscaster and TV journalist Jim McKay has died at age 86 of natural causes, ESPN reports. McKay is most famous for hosting ABC’s Wide World of Sports, and for covering the tragic 1972 Olympics in Munich, which were marred by the Black September attack on Israeli athletes. McKay won one of his 13 Emmys for his coverage of that event.

“There are no superlatives that can adequately honor Jim McKay,” said ESPN and ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer. “He was a founding father of sports television, one of the most respected commentators in the history of broadcasting and journalism.”

This 1980 file photo originally from ABC-TV shows Jim McKay.
This 1980 file photo originally from ABC-TV shows Jim McKay.   (AP Photo/ABC)
ABC Sports commentator Jim McKay, seen here on June 23, 1964. The veteran sportscaster died Saturday June 7, 2008. He was 86.
ABC Sports commentator Jim McKay, seen here on June 23, 1964. The veteran sportscaster died Saturday June 7, 2008. He was 86.   (AP Photo)
A 1984 file photo of Jim McKay. McKay, the veteran sportscaster thrust into the role of telling Americans about the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics, died Saturday, June 7, 2008. He was 86.
A 1984 file photo of Jim McKay. McKay, the veteran sportscaster thrust into the role of telling Americans about the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics, died Saturday, June 7, 2008. He was 86.   (AP Photo)
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