From today’s b, the paper

Over the past 48 hours, you’ve probably seen the news that legendary sports broadcaster and Marylander Jim McKay died Saturday.

What a wonderful life he lived!

From his early days in Philadelphia and formative years in local radio and television to his role in the baby boomer’s most famous broadcasts during the Munich Olympic tragedies in 1972, McKay’s story was of an everyman who became the eyes, ears and voice for a generation of sports fans in America. I was one of those kids who never missed “Wide World of Sports” on Saturdays during a time when sports wasn’t a 24/7 “on demand” proposition.

Jim McKay showed this kid from Dundalk the world in my television each week.

I’ve been in sports media since I was 15, and there was no larger figure who carried himself with more dignity, integrity and expertise than McKay. If you wanted to grow up to “be somebody” in the business of sports journalism, aiming toward McKay’s stature was the right way to go. No one commanded more respect.

Over the years, I had the good fortune to meet McKay many times around Baltimore, which he called home for years despite spending time all over the world covering the world’s most exotic sports. If there was a sport being played or a major event anywhere in the world, chances are McKay covered it. From hitting golf balls over the Great Wall of China to covering the Iditarod dog race in Alaska, McKay’s resume was massive. He did it all and was the most versatile broadcaster and journalist of his generation.

He owned horses and became involved in a minority ownership of the Baltimore Orioles when Peter Angelos’ group bought the team in 1993. His son, Sean McManus (also McKay’s real last name), grew up to run CBS Sports and now runs the news division. McManus talked Sunday about his father’s devotion to family, but he was also dedicated to helping people.

One time, back in 1997, he walked into my studio and did an hour of radio with me — and it turned out he was a listener to my show as well because he loved the local teams just like the rest of us. I don’t know that I ever had a bigger compliment or thrill as a young broadcaster.
You’ll probably read many stories on the Web about what events he covered and how his broadcasts from Munich, Germany, kept a nation together during a massive worldwide tragedy that brought the word “terrorist” into the American lexicon.

But you might not read what an incredible gentleman and good guy he was, especially to young journalists like me. He was always friendly, helpful, good natured and encouraging.

He was a wonderful man and will be sorely missed.

I will be the first to admit that I’m the epitome of a fair-weather soccer fan. I love the World Cup. I love it when the USA plays. But I don’t have the time, patience and energy it takes to be a daily soccer watcher.

The Euro Cup started Sunday, and a group of spirited friends and I are taping games each day and trying to watch them in delay in the evenings without getting results ahead of time. I’ll let you know how it goes (especially after my column two weeks ago regarding “spoiler” texts). And the treat last night with the USA-Argentina friendly was also well timed.

I’m wondering whether I should feel more ashamed that I don’t devote my life fulltime to soccer like most Europeans, or whether I should just be a “hit and run” fan who gets my kicks from the big events. But right now, we’re expecting a big few weeks on the pitch and pretending to be “real” fans. It works great during the World Cup every fourth year.

Then again, most fans only watch hockey during the playoffs, right?

Nestor Aparicio, owner of WNST-AM 1570, writes about sports and more. His column appears Mondays and Fridays. For more, go to wnst.net.

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