Suns broadcaster Al McCoy dies at 91

PHOENIX — In case you grew up a Phoenix Suns fan, there’s just one man and one voice you consider if you hear the phrase “Shazam!”

It is the staff’s legendary commentator, Al McCoy, who died on the age of 91, based on a press release from the Suns.

McCoy spent 51 years behind the microphone, calling Suns basketball video games from 1972 to 2023.

An Iowa native and Drake College alumnus, McCoy started his broadcasting profession within the Valley in 1958, calling video games for the Phoenix Giants, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, on KOOL 960 AM. In 1960, after the Giants moved to Tacoma, Washington, McCoy determined to remain in Arizona, changing into a DJ on KRUX 1360 AM, the place he additionally referred to as Arizona State Solar Devils soccer and basketball video games.

The Giants returned to Phoenix in 1966 and McCoy performed the staff’s play-by-play for 3 years earlier than leaving baseball.

From 1967 to 1969, McCoy additionally broadcast video games for the Phoenix Roadrunners of the Western Hockey League when the Giants weren’t taking part in.

McCoy’s foray into basketball started in 1966 when he referred to as an NBA preseason recreation between the St. Louis Hawks and Golden State Warriors at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Two years later, after the NBA introduced that an growth staff was coming to the Valley, McCoy used a recording of that recreation to attempt to persuade the staff’s common supervisor, Jerry Colangelo, that he must be the voice of the brand new staff, which might be referred to as the Phoenix Suns.

In keeping with the 2009 McCoy biography, “The Actual McCoy,” Colangelo favored what he heard and needed McCoy to be the Suns’ play-by-play voice, however after the Suns’ broadcast rights had been bought to KTAR, the events had been unable to succeed in an settlement.

McCoy’s first look for the Suns got here in 1972, when he referred to as a preseason recreation in opposition to the Utah Stars of the ABA. He spent the remainder of his profession with the staff, calling their journeys to the NBA Finals in 1976, 1993, and 2021, all of which sadly resulted in defeat.

When the NBA added the three-point line in 1979, McCoy added what would turn out to be his iconic catchphrase, “Shazam,” to his repertoire, borrowing it from his favourite superhero, DC’s Captain Marvel.

McCoy did radio and tv play-by-play from 1972 to 2003, when the Suns shared the broadcasts. He then grew to become the staff’s radio voice, a job he held till his retirement after the 2023 season.

McCoy obtained the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame in 2007. He was inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Corridor of Fame in 2004 and the Arizona Sports activities Corridor of Fame in 2009. The honors continued in 2017, when McCoy was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor.

McCoy was the seventeenth member of the Suns Ring of Honor and the primary play-by-play announcer to be inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Corridor of Fame.

McCoy is survived by his three sons, Mike, Jay and Jerry, and their wives, and his seven grandchildren. His spouse, Georgia, died in 2012.

McCoy’s explanation for loss of life has not been launched and funeral preparations can be introduced at a later date, based on the Phoenix Suns.

Following McCoy’s loss of life, a number of statements had been launched by McCoy’s household and members of the Suns. All the statements are under.

As a father, he taught us the worth of respect, loyalty, onerous work and love, each on and off the sector. His ardour, dedication and kindness touched numerous lives and, though he’s not right here, his influence can be felt for generations to come back.

From his first name in 1972 to his final in 2023, Al McCoy was there for each defining second in our historical past. He was the beating coronary heart of our group, a treasured pal, a mentor to many, and a legend whose voice introduced numerous unforgettable moments to life for generations of Suns followers. We’re heartbroken by the passing of our beloved Al, the voice of the Phoenix Suns for greater than 5 a long time. Our ideas are with Al’s household, associates, and our whole Suns group.

Now we have misplaced one in every of my heroes. I can nonetheless hear Al’s voice in our front room and yard, commenting on the actions of Candy D, Westy and Double A… SHAZAM!!! He introduced the Suns into my life, as he did for generations of children throughout Arizona. Al was an icon and he can be missed.

I had the privilege of getting Al McCoy as my narrator for the primary eight years of my profession. He was inducted into Ring of Honor throughout my second season, and that’s once I actually understood what a particular expertise he was. And over the course of my profession, I realized what an much more particular individual he was. Al can be missed, and I’m so joyful that our legacies in Phoenix can be endlessly linked.

I used to be lucky to work with the good Al McCoy for 10 unimaginable years. His power and spirit had been unmatched and I’ll always remember all of the conversations and laughs we shared. He was the teammate who by no means wore a jersey. He cherished his Phoenix Suns as a lot as anybody and his legacy will dwell on for generations of Suns followers to come back. A lot like to the one and solely Al McCoy.

This can be a unhappy day for the Suns and the Suns household. Al McCoy represented every little thing that makes Phoenix, the Phoenix Suns and the individuals who love the sport of basketball nice. I used to be lucky and honored to work with Al and I’ll miss him.

Al McCoy was a grasp of his craft. Because the longest-tenured staff play-by-play announcer in NBA historical past, he set a excessive commonplace all through his 51 seasons because the Phoenix Suns’ basketball announcer. He entertained generations of followers together with his distinctive play and unbridled love for the sport and was an expensive pal to many people within the NBA group. I lengthen my deepest condolences to Al’s household and your entire Suns group.

The town of Phoenix is ​​dwelling to 4 main skilled sports activities league groups: the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and the MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cardinals name State Farm Stadium in Glendale dwelling, and the Footprint Heart in downtown Phoenix is ​​dwelling to the Suns and Mercury. The Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Soccer League play at Desert Diamond Enviornment in Glendale.

Phoenix additionally has a soccer staff with Phoenix Rising FC of the USL, which performs at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.

The Valley hosts a number of main sporting occasions every year, together with faculty soccer’s Fiesta Bowl and Assured Charge Bowl; the PGA Tour’s most-attended occasion, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR occasions every spring and fall, together with Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Coaching for 15 Main League Baseball franchises.

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