Anticipation

Just 24 hours to go.

The Marc Steiner Show will be back on the air in 24 hours. I can hardly wait. This long running radio show was abruptly cancelled back in February, much like the beloved Colts leaving in the night years ago. I don't like losing my favorite things.

This show is important to the community because Marc covers a variety of topics that are of local interest. He interviews people who would otherwise never have their voices heard. He is willing to ask the tough questions in a way that never insults his guests or his listeners. He covers a wide variety of topics. Politics are always prominently featured and during local election campaigns, he will not only interview the candidates who are front runners, he will interview the candidate without a snowball's chance as well. He regularly has guests with ideas as to how we can fix the drug or crime problems in our city and what to do about our schools.

The show has found a new home on WEAA "The Voice of the Community". This is the radio station of Morgan State University, a top notch HBC in our city. I cannot think of a better place for Marc to land as his show has long been the voice of the community. It is a perfect match. For the summertime the show will air every Wednesday, beginning tomorrow, from 9 am to 10 am. In September the show will have a daily slot. You can find WEAA at 88.9 on the FM dial. You can also listen via the web which is what I will be doing since I will be listening from work. I hope tomorrow is a quiet morning at the office!

It feels like part of my brain has been in hibernation, I am looking forward to waking it up.

Jim McKay

Jim McKay passed away on Saturday, June 7th. How ironic that he should leave this world on the day of the Belmont Stakes, on the day there was a possibility of a triple crown winner. Jim McKay was known for covering horse racing, well, every sport really. He was the host of ABC's Wide World of Sports from 1961-1998. I grew up with this program because my brothers and father loved to watch sports, any sports. Surely you remember "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". This was a fantastic program for introducing people to sports other than football, baseball and basketball. You might see swimming or skiing or gymnastics.

He was the sportscaster who covered the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He was by the pool when he learned of the hostage situation and he was on the air within an hour, wet bathing suit still under his clothing. He was on the air covering the situation for 16 hours straight without a break. At the tragic end he simply stated, "They're all gone."

He was born in Philadelphia as James Kennth McManus on September 24, 1921. His father was transferred to Baltimore when he was fifteen years old. He attended Loyola High School and then Loyola College and then served in the Navy during WWII. He returned to Baltimore to work as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun. They recruited him to work at the new TV station, WMAR because he was involved in the drama club in college. His voice was the first ever heard on television in Baltimore.

He changed his last name to McKay when he moved to New York to host a show they wanted to call "The Real McKay". He didn't argue with anyone about it, he accepted it as part of the job. He had a talent for making it seem like he was talking directly to you over the air. He won several awards for his broadcasting and is in the sports broadcaster's hall of fame. He was known as being a very modest person. He died at his home in Monkton, MD of natural causes.