89-year-old Al McCoy is stepping away from the Phoenix Suns at the end of the current NBA season, and had a brief return to his roots earlier this week.
McCoy was both the television and radio voice for the Suns until the NBA eliminated the practice of simulcasting television broadcasts on radio. In 2003, he chose to become the radio voice of the franchise, before scaling his schedule back in 2010.
Earlier this week, McCoy was presented with the opportunity to broadcast the second quarter of the team’s victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Bally Sports Arizona. He told Arizona Sports 98.7’s Bickley & Marotta that it felt like it used to.
“It was kind of funny, as many of the followers of the Suns know in the early days I did both television and radio and we simulcast it. For probably 35 years, I was just as well known on television as I am on radio,” said McCoy. “Then, we decided not to simulcast any longer, so I guess they thought because of the background it might be fun to have me work both for a while, and it was fun.”
McCoy — in his 51st season with the franchise — joined Suns television play-by-play announcer Kevin Ray and analyst Eddie Johnson for the duration of the second quarter, and it was a trip down memory lane for McCoy, who initially helped Johnson launch his broadcasting career.
“When Eddie wanted to retire, he wanted to get into broadcasting. He came to me, we talked, and he worked alongside me for several years. I’m so proud of Eddie and what he’s been able to accomplish since then.”
McCoy joked that working with Johnson on television allowed the former NBA player to share a story about how he learned to work with the longtime Suns voice.
“He kids me many times because I told him I would let him know when he could talk. I would give him ‘ the finger’ when he could talk, and he jokes many years later that I still give him the finger.”
