Passings of 2008

His 71-71-69-72-283 won by four over Gary Player, prompting Bolt's friend Ben Hogan to say it was "possibly the finest golf ever shot in a United States Open."

As Bolt retells in his book, "The Hole Truth," Hogan had been behind Bolt's ball-striking skill, giving him a grip change in the 1955 off-season that helped eliminate a hook. If not for Bolt's on-course antics and lack of mental toughness, Hogan thought Bolt "could have been the greatest who ever played."

Bolt had mellowed enough by the late 1960s to write a book, "How to Keep Your Temper on the Golf Course." Considering the source, it was tough to take the advice seriously, but it was a fun read and Bolt got to kid the by-then retired Hogan with the inscription: "To Ben Hogan, the only teacher I ever had. So who's kicking?"

Combining Bolt's on-course antics, his admirable fashion style, and his shotmaking talent, he had the hall of fame look but he could have had a better hall of fame record. His one major, two Ryder Cups and 15 tour victories were followed by five U.S. National Senior Association Open (precursor to the USGA Senior Open) victories, the 1969 PGA Seniors and two Australian Seniors. But when the Senior PGA Tour came along in the early 1980s, Bolt was already in his 60s and was more of a curiosity piece due to his old reputation.

His biggest moment was when he and partner Art Wall lost a brilliant six-hole playoff to Roberto De Vicenzo and Julius Boros in the 1979 Legends of Golf, a thrilling event whose success gave direct life to the senior tour. Bolt and Wall won the Legends the following year.

In his calmer golden years, Bolt had one common lament: "As the years pass by, I do wish people would sometimes think of my ability to play rather than just my temper," he told Golf Digest in 1993. He got his wish in 2002 at his hall of fame induction, but couldn't resist a last quip: "I want to thank the members of the committee for nominating me...so quickly. If they'd waited 15 to 20 more years, I might have gone back to drinking."

Other Bolts from the blue:

> "I had a face that looked like I should break clubs."
> "I've always had a temper, but they haven't made as many golf clubs as I've been accused of throwing."
> "I never threw a club that didn't deserve it."
> "I never cussed much. That's a bunch of bull----."
> Referring to the newspaper story that listed his age as 49 when he was really 42: "Typographical error, hell! It was a perfect 4 and a perfect 9!"

MCKAY
THE THRILL OF VICTORY

McKay as the real McKay in 1951. Photo: Getty Images

Even if you assessed Jim McKay's career in stages, each one would earn him broadcasting greatness, whether it was voicing "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" line for "ABC's Wide World of Sports," or his 1972 Munich Olympics work in the face of tragedy, or his body of work as a multisport expert. But add to it that McKay, along with the late Dave Marr, were arguably the finest anchor and analyst team in TV golf history, you can see why his death on June 7 at 86 is an immense loss.

McKay's golf heyday coincided with ABC's when the network was superior in all aspects and held all the major cards but the Masters. An ABC U.S. Open broadcast intro from 20 years ago can still thrill as a snippet on youtube.com with three key elements: an aerial flyover of the course, McKay's voiceover set-up of the action, and "Love's Theme," arguably the most stirring intro music ever for a golf telecast.

McKay was the calming influence, the lead guy who took viewers through the ups and downs of a round, bringing in the broadcasting extras for appropriate commentary. He was steady and reassuring, and gave the impression that he was one of us but with the gift of a storyteller able to pull the golf drama along over several hours. If anyone could be called the Walter Cronkite of the sports world, it was McKay. In traveling more than 4 million miles to showcase sports in 40 countries, McKay broadened our understanding and appreciation of all sports, educating viewers on everything from cliff diving to the Kentucky Derby.

Born James McManus, he developed these talents starting with debate and drama activities at Loyola College in Baltimore, then in 1947 as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun and soon after with the paper's TV station WMAR. He learned to fill TV time with a three-hour afternoon show, "The Sports Parade," which featured songs, interviews and reports. In 1950, he was hired to do a daytime variety show for WCBS in New York, "The Real McKay," a play on the phrase "the real McCoy." McManus changed his public name to McKay to match the show and it stuck with him as his career took off.

McKay actually worked the Masters for CBS in the late 1950s before Roone Arledge at ABC hired him in 1961 to lead a risky new program, "ABC's Wide World of Sports." The show and host went on to make broadcasting history and he was a multi-Emmy winner.

Of single sports, golf was the game he was most closely associated with and he had a great appreciation for it, although he also raised thoroughbred horses in Maryland. "Golf is, in fact, the best game anybody has thought of up to now," he said. He played it as a 19-handicapper at Baltimore Country Club at Five Farms, Timonium, Md. His favorite broadcast moment was the 1972 British Open, where Trevino held off Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin, and his final golf telecast was also at the Open, in 2000 at St. Andrews.