Reflecting on a Storied Career: Sean McManus Looks Back While Keeping an Eye on the Future The CBS Sports chairman retires after 28 years running the division By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director Monday, April 29, 2024 - 12:44 pm
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The conclusion of this month's Masters at Augusta National marked the end of one the most decorated careers in the history of sports broadcasting. CBS Sports Chairman and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Sean McManus called it a career after nearly 28 years at the helm of the Tiffany Network's sports division.
Sean McManus was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2016.
McManus was quite literally born into the industry. He began his journey into sports TV when he was a youngster, spending summers traveling with his father, legendary announcer and fellow Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Jim McKay, and experiencing not only the world's greatest sports events but also those that made ABC's Wide World of Sports such fascinating viewing week after week.
Known just as much for his character and impeccable integrity as for being a shrewd negotiator and bold leader, McManus also served as president of CBS News and held top front-office roles at Trans World International and NBC Sports. He began his career in 1977 at ABC Sports as a production assistant and associate producer.
The 20-time Emmy Award winner, who was named CBS Sports president in 1996 and to his current post in 2011, opted to go out on top, with the NCAA Men's Final Four and The Masters crowning a stellar career. SVG sat down with McManus to reflect on his career, discuss how he feels about retiring, why he is confident he's leaving CBS Sports in good hands with new chief David Berson, the role that technology and storytelling have played in his time at CBS, and where he sees the industry headed in the near future.
You certainly went out with a bang, with not only the Final Four and Masters but also CBS Sports' earning four of the five Sports Emmy nominations for Outstanding Live Special. What does that type of recognition mean to you and the CBS Sports team?
It's very satisfying, of course. When you work as hard as our people do in the industry and you get recognized, it's a good feeling for the entire team. I'm very, very proud of our team, and I think, in many ways, they continue to set the standard for the entire industry. That's going to continue for many, many years to come; I'm very confident of that.
What were you feeling at the Final Four and The Masters as you were closing out your career?
The Final Four was quite emotional for me. I've been doing the Final Four since 1997. I love the event, and I love being with our team. Hearing One Shining Moment for one final time in the stadium was very nostalgic for me.
McManus (right) with his mother, Margaret, and father, legendary broadcaster Jim McKay, who instilled in him core values and ethics that have served him well personally and professionally.
It was definitely an even more emotional weekend at Augusta National. I've done every Masters since 1997, when Tiger had his historic victory, so there is a lot of history there for me. I love the event, and I love Augusta National as much as anything I've been a part of in my entire career. A lot of memories came flooding back from the past 27-plus years.
Having said that, I feel very good about my decision. I'm ready to retire, and I think the division is ready for a new leader.
Speaking of that new leader, how confident are you in the state that you're leaving CBS Sports in? And how do you think David Berson will continue the legacy that you helped to create?
I think the transition is going to be seamless. David has been literally in nearly every meeting, every negotiation, and every presentation that I've been a part of for more than a decade. He's an amazing executive with vast knowledge in programming and production, negotiating, marketing, and communications. I don't think we're going to miss a beat with David taking over.
McManus has turned over the reins to his longtime protege David Berson (right).
This has been our plan for more than 10 years, and we decided roughly two years ago that this would be my final event. I think the division is poised for even bigger and better things in the future, and I think David will do an absolutely terrific job - to a large extent because together we've built a phenomenal team in front of and behind the camera. I leave with a great feeling of pride and a great feeling of satisfaction for what we've accomplished.
McManus (center) began his career in production at NBC Sports.
When I look back on 30 years of watching CBS's sports coverage over tens of thousands of hours, I'm struck by how CBS Sports has never been sensationalistic. You don't see people yelling or ranting at each other. Was that by design? And is that a reflection of your approach toward sports broadcasting in general?
I think that is part of the tradition and legacy of CBS Sports, which goes back to the 1950s. We try to make sure that we're not the story and that the announcers aren't the story but that the story is the event we're covering. Our play-by-play announcers and analysts try to play it pretty much down the middle so that the focus stays on the event. We certainly like having big personalities like a Tony Romo or Bill Raftery or now Trevor Immelman. None of them are shrinking violets, but, just as I do, they believe in storytelling at its best and letting the events and the athletes, not our announcers, be the stars.
Over your career, you definitely took some leaps of faith: moving from ABC to NBC to TWI to CBS Sports and then taking over CBS News. How did you approach those opp
