TV star with no EGO

2 comments

June 10, 2:21 PM

by Brenda Carl, Baltimore Media Examiner

 

 

To hear people praise the man, his work, and his love of family, brought tears to my eyes and made me realize not everyone in the broadcasting industry shares the same pride in their work, the same passion for the craft, as Jim did.  Some get into television, or radio, or newspaper writing, because it is their calling, its what they were meant to do, it fulfills their purpose in life, as it did for Jim McKay.  But for far too many others, this media business is only a way of making themselves seem important,  a way to elevate themselves above the regular folks.  A platform, a soapbox, for some with self esteem issues to become important, to themselves, at least.  We have all seen or heard the over-inflated ego.

Perhaps some on-air people start to believe they are extra-special from the time they are labeled "talent" which is what you are called when you do the reading of the words in front of a camera or microphone.  That doesn't always mean you HAVE talent, its just a handy word, for your part in a much larger operation. Some people lose sight of that; that the news business is a team effort, with each persons role being equally important, that no one should get more credit that others, when it comes to producing a broadcast, whether its news, or sports, or a radio program.  Jim McKay's work spoke for itself. He was no Ted Baxter, and at his memorial service the praise was evidence of the deep and authentic respect the public and colleagues felt for this man.

We should all be so lucky to be remembered not for our looks or some other superficial measure of worth. But to be valued for showing compassion, for weaving words into wonderful word pictures.  At the memorial service one speaker recalled the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words....but when it came to Jim McKay....his words, were worth a thousand pictures."  High praise coming from others in the biz, from people who use words to tell stories, whether its on television, radio, or in print.  Combining the right words, with the right pictures, looks so easy, but when its done right, its hard work.  Jim McKay made it look so easy and thats the definition of a professional.  And his work reflected his belief that less is more when it comes to descriptions,  and he will always be rememebered for his line from the ABC "Wide World of Sports"  "The thrill of victory..the agony of defeat..."

A turn of a phrase, no easy task in front of the unblinking eye of the televsion camera, on a world wide stage. To Jim McKay it wasn't about him, it was about the story. Period.  For a man who worked words into carefully structured phrases for over 40 years,  there was one word that was not in his vocabulary:  ego.  An inflated feeling of pride and superiority in one's own  worth.  A word far too many broadcasters build their careers on.  Too bad, because its the one thing that won't be praised at their memorials.  Jim McKay is an example of what "everyman" can acheive. Keeping focused on family values, and doing the right thing, Jim is proof you can be a star, without having an over inflated ego.

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