This ABC telecast of Day 9 of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games was hosted by Jim McKay….as he starts the program off with a wonderful review and interview by Donna de Varona of the incomparable 400m hurdler USA Edwin Moses….who entered these games with a record of never losing a race for nine years, nine months and nine days…when he literally blew away his competition….for this was a day that Bone Daddy was at the Los Angeles Coliseum to see this incredible athlete win his gold medal….a day he refers to often as one of the great moments in his journal of outstanding athletic achievements that he has seen live.
McKay then covers the medal ceremony for track’s womens 100m dash….as USA Evelyn Ashford receives the gold….USA Alice Brown the silver…..and Jamaica Merlene Ottey the bronze….before he passes the program baton to Howard Cosell at the boxing venue for the bout between featherweights USA Meldrick Taylor vs. MEX Beto Camacho in a well fought bout that Taylor won by decision on his way to winning the featherweight gold medal.
After Jim McKay puts his magic touch of elegance and eloquence to the many events in process on this Day 9 of the Games….he sends the viewers to Bob Beattie and Kirk Kilgore at the volleyball venue for the womens match between the USA vs Peru….a match that proved to be more competitive than was expected.
The volleyball is then followed by an Austin KVUE Channel 24 News Brief….which the ABC affiliate did often throughout these Olympic Games….that featured a story on the passing of Actor Richard Burton….before moving to Pauly Pavillion and sportscaster Jack Whitaker for the finals of womens gymnastics uneven bars with CHI Ma Yanhong….the reigning world champion on this discipline and USA Mary Lou Retton….the darling of the 1984 Summer Games….followed by the finals on the beam featuring USA Kathy Jordan and ROM Simona Pauga.
All in all, this was just another outstanding Day 9 of coverage of the L A Games….which makes this video well worth the watch….especially for all fans of the Olympic Games.
