Jimmy Magee

Jimmy Magee (born 1935 in New York City, United States) is a longstanding Irish sports broadcaster. Known as 'the Memory Man', he has spent over half a century in sports broadcasting.

Biography

Jimmy Magee was born in New York CityMcGoldrick, p. 1.] in the United States in 1935. The son of Patrick (Paddy) Magee and Rose Mackin, the family returned to Ireland shortly after his birth. Magee and his three siblings were subsequently raised in Greenore, County Louth. As a child Magee was influenced by the sports commentary of the legendary Gaelic games broadcaster Michael O'Hehir. He recalls commentating as a seven year-old for his next-door neighbour on a variety of imaginary games that the young Magee was also playing in.

After being educated locally Magee secured a full-time clerical post with British Rail. He married his wife Marie on 11 October 1955. Together they had five children together - Linda (b. 1959), June (b. 1961), Patricia (b. 1962) and Mark (b. 1970). [McGoldrick, p. 7.] Magee's eldest son, Paul, was a former player with Shamrock Rovers F.C., winning the League Cup in 1977. He died of motor neuron disease, aged 51 years in May 2008. Citation
last = Murphy
first = Sean
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title = Jimmy says Goodbye
newspaper = Irish Daily Star
pages = 2
year = 2008
date = Friday, 9 May 2008
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Broadcasting career

While still working with British Rail Magee began his broadcasting career. He started out as a reporter for the Radio Éireann programme "Junior Sports Magazine". On leaving British Rail, Magee presented a number of sponsored radio programmes before concentrating on sport. 1966 saw Magee cover his first World Cup for RTÉ Radio. He did likewise for the 1970 World Cup before transferring to television for the 1974 World Cup finals. In all he has provided commentary at eleven World Cups - his latest commentary coming in 2006 in Germany. Magee has also been a staple of RTÉ’s coverage of the Olympic Games. Beginning in 1968 in Mexico City, he has attended the ten subsequent Olympic games as a commentator with RTÉ.

Magee’s broadcasting career also saw him provide commentary for over 200 international football games, 30 European Cup finals, multiple Tour de France cycle races, World Athletic Championships, boxing and numerous All-Ireland finals in both hurling and football.

In 1972 Magee won a Jacob's Award for his radio sports commentaries. In 1989 he was the subject of a special tribute show on "The Late Late Show". His late son Paul played for Shamrock Rovers between 1975 and 1978 winning the League Cup in 1977.

Quotations

Some of Magee’s one-liners in commentaries have become famous or infamous (what are affectionately known in the broadcasting industry as "Colemanballs" after the famed commentating clangers of BBC broadcaster David Coleman).

"Ardiles strokes the ball like it was a part of his anatomy."" – a typical Magee gaffe during the World Cup.

"And there it is, the international symbol of peace – the pigeon!"" – another Magee clanger during the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

" This is the 671st game in World Cup history, starting all the way back in 1930 in Uruguay ... and no I haven't seen them all.""

"...Jim ‘the Blue Panther’ Rock..."" – Magee’s mistaken description of Jim 'The Pink Panther' Rock live on RTÉ Pro Box live in 2007.

"They’re going for silver, they’re going for gold. John Treacy has one hundred metres to go. In the past Ireland have won bronze medals with John Caldwell, Freddie Gilroy, ‘Socks’ Byrne, Jim McCourt, Hugh Russell. They’ve won golds with Pat O’Callaghan twice, Bob Tisdall, Ron Delaney. They’ve won silvers with John McNally, Fred Tiedt, Wilkins and Wilkinson and for the thirteenth time an Irish medal goes to John Treacy."" – Magee’s emotional commentary as John Treacy wins a silver medal the Olympic Games in 1984.

"Different class … DIFFERENT CLASS!""

References & footnotes

ources

*Seán McGoldrick. "Jimmy Magee: The Official Biography - I Remember it Well". Dublin: Blackwater Press, 2000. ISBN 1841314943.