Award winning journalist, writer, and commentator Jim McKay has died of natural causes. The eighty-six year old noted golf and horse racing fan first achieved fame as the host of ABC’s Wide World Of Sports, which saw him jet around the world and report on a wide variety of events from the Monte Carlo Grand Prix to the British Open.

Perhaps McKay’s most storied contribution to journalism came at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Only prepared to give a short report, he stayed on the air for sixteen straight hours, updating America on the tragic hostage crisis before somberly revealing all eleven Israelis had been killed. Legend has it, curmudgeon Walter Cronchite was so impressed with his coverage he sent him a telegram saying he did himself proud.

According to ESPN, ABC Sports President George Bodenheimer released a statement saying, "There are no superlatives that can adequately honor Jim McKay. He meant so much to so many people. He was a founding father of sports television, one of the most respected commentators in the history of broadcasting and journalism." Amen.

We here at Cinema Blend send out our thoughts to McKay’s family, as well as all those touched by his loss. He truly was an inspiration to me, and I will always fondly remember his beautiful way with words and wry smile. He will never be forgotten.