Tag Archives: Israel

Munich Massacre 40 years later: Remembering ground-breaking coverage and profound impact on a boy’s Jewish identity

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Forty years ago this week, I was a 12-year-old who was obsessed with sports.

I went to Hebrew school at a Reform synagogue and was somewhat aware that there were people in the world who didn’t like Jews. But that barely registered on my radar compared to watching my White Sox, led by Dick Allen, battle Oakland and Reggie Jackson for first place during the summer of ’72.

Naturally, my sports obsession had me locked in on the Summer Games in Munich. These were the first Olympics where Roone Arledge and ABC really hit on the up-close-and-personal approach.

Those Olympics were huge. Mark Spitz won a bunch of gold medals. Olga Korbut thrilled the world with her feats. Great stuff.

Then on Sept. 5, 1972, I awoke to hear the news from Jim McKay that something terrible had happened in Munich.

You have to remember this was 1972. What’s a Palestinian? Terrorism? Why would anybody want to kill Israeli athletes? It was all new to many of us back then, especially a 12-year-old in the Midwest.

I remember watching ABC all day. It was landmark live coverage of a story unfolding in front of our eyes. No less than Walter Cronkite sent McKay a telegram, congratulating him for showing such grace under pressure.

In his book, The Real McKay, McKay wrote:

“Another thing entered my mind looking back on Sept. 5, 1972: I understood more clearly the tremendous power of television. On that day, the people of the United States were indeed united in their reaction to what happened. It stirred their emotions in a way that only live television reporting can.”

Indeed, the drama played out in a surreal fashion. There were deadlines passed and scenes of police dressed as athletes, carrying guns in preparations for the raid that never happened.

On that day, we were introduced to a Middle East correspondent named Peter Jennings, who was filing reports from inside the athletes’ villages. For all his bombast, Howard Cosell showed his journalist prowess with his updates. We saw images of the Palestinian terrorist with his face covered staring out over the balcony.

We were lifted by an initial report that Israeli athletes were safe at the airport. But it was wrong, as McKay provided the sobering update, saying “All hell has broken loose.”

Finally, there was the news we all feared. McKay uttered his immortal words: “They’re all gone.” It still gives me chills every time I see the video posted above.

When you’re young and you’re experiencing something for the first time, the memories are more vivid. The highs and lows more pronounced.

For me, that day 40 years ago helped me to understand my identity as a Jew, and the grip that Israel has on Jewish people throughout the world. It helped me to understand the deep bond I have with that tiny country and why it can never be broken.

That terrible day eventually showed me the resiliance of the Israeli people. Four years later in 1976, Israel was there in Montreal, taking part in the opening ceremony for those Games.

Then in 2004, Israel had its most memorable Olympic moment in competition. Gal Fridman, a wind surfer, won the country’s first gold medal.

At the 19-minute mark of this video, Fridman stands on the podium, as Hatikva, the Israeli national anthem, is played. Chills again, and a few tears. But good tears.

For more retrospective, Jeremy Schaap reports on Outside the Lines Wednesday at 2 p.m.

ESPN Classic will air the documentary Tragedy at Munich throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday. Make a point of trying to watch these programs.

Costas keeps vow: Honors slain Israeli athletes

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Bob Costas did live up to his pledge to honor the Munich 11 during Friday’s night’s Opening Ceremonies. And given NBC’s relationship with the IOC, he walked a fine line by not hammering the committee for their refusal to have moment of silence for the slain Israeli athletes.

Here is what Costas said as the Israeli delegation walked in:

The Israeli athletes now enter behind their flag-bearer Shahar Zubari. These games mark the 40th anniversary of the 1972 tragedy in Munich, when 11 Israeli coaches and athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists. There have been calls from a number of quarters for the IOC to acknowledge that, with a moment of silence at some point in tonight’s ceremony.

The IOC denied that request, noting it had honored the victims on other occasions. And, in fact, this week (IOC President) Jacques Rogge led a moment of silence before about 100 people in the Athlete’s Village. Still, for many, tonight, with the world watching, is the true time and place to remember those who were lost, and how and why they died.

Then there was about 6 seconds of silence before Costas went to commercial.

It was exactly what I expected. Some people might have wanted a longer moment of silence, but Costas made his point.

 

 

Will NBC force Costas to back off pledge to honor slain Israeli athletes during opening ceremonies?

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I imagine there are some intense discussions taking place between Bob Costas and the high brass at NBC.

Last month, Costas told the Hollywood Reporter that he is planning his own tribute to the slain Israeli athletes in Munich during NBC’s telecast of the opening ceremonies Friday. The International Olympic Committee has turned down a request to honor the athletes on what is the 40th anniversary of that tragic event.

Costas said: “I intend to note that the IOC denied the request. Many people find that denial more than puzzling but insensitive. Here’s a minute of silence right now.”

But will it happen? Ah, this is where it gets interesting.

When asked about Costas’ plan this week, NBC bounced back with a statement: "Our production plans for the Opening Ceremony are still being finalized and Bob is part of that planning."

Indeed, this is a sticky situation for NBC. If Costas goes ahead with his plan, it will put the network in the position of being critical of the IOC on an extremely sensitive issue.

The IOC clearly doesn't want to interject the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into the opening ceremonies. There is a concern how the Arab nations would react to a moment of silence for the Israeli athletes.

Last week, IOC president Jacques Rogge said that the opening ceremony, "is an atmosphere that is not fit to remember such a tragic incident."

So NBC-IOC relations aren't going to be helped if Costas injects his own moment of silence into the telecast. Not that the IOC will return the billions from NBC with a TV deal that runs through the 2020 Games, but the two parties have to interact on many issues during the next eight years. An angry IOC could make things more complicated, if you know what I mean.

I'm Jewish and the Munich Massacre had a profound effect on me growing up as a 12-year-old boy. I'll have more on that at a later date.

The issue for today isn’t whether the IOC should honor the Israeli athletes during the opening ceremonies. That’s not going to happen.

Rather, should Costas stage his own moment of silence on the telecast?

As a journalist, Costas is well within his bounds to note the controversy over the IOC decision regarding the Israeli athletes. It’s news.

But can he back off a pledge to take it to the next level? That would put Costas in a tough spot since Jewish leaders have lauded him for taking a stand.

From an Associated Press story:

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said support from Costas would be welcome. Foxman’s organization, which promotes Jewish causes, has backed an effort to bring notice to the Munich victims at opening ceremonies for years.

“I think he’s right, and I think it will make a difference because of who he is,” Foxman said. “It’s sad that one has to characterize it as courageous. It’s such a common sense thing to do.”

NBC and Costas have two more days to make a decision. Interesting discussions, to be sure.