RIP: Al McCoy (1933-2024)

[Billy Bob]

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[Lefty]

I remember when I moved to Arizona from New Jersey in 1982 and I thought Marv Albert was the best announcer. After listening to Al McCoy for all these years, I believe Al was the best. I think what made him different from the other announcers was when you listened to him, you could tell he loved what he was doing. Even during the bad years, he was always upbeat. Who didn't love it every time he said "Shazam!"? He wasn't arrogant and he never came across as bigger than the team. He was just one of us and that to me made him special. RIP Al!

 

[elindholm]

Dang, this hurts. He brought such joy to so many without ever making it about himself. The soul of the franchise is gone. Suns fans are a long-suffering lot, and he's been the one consistent bright spot through the whole experience.

 

[Folster]

We didn't have cable growing up so if it was a home game, my dad and I would listen to every game in the living room on our big 1970s stereo cabinet in the early 90's. McCoy's voice was so magical on that stereo. Dad would lay down on his back on the floor probably just happy to have a couple hours to relax after work.

In the years after that, I would listen to McCoy in my room and will the Suns to victory by playing along on my nerf hoop.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I had the good fortune to meet him twice, although "meet him" is being generous. The first time was in 65 or 66 when Krux set up outside an anchor store at Thomas Mall to take advantage of all the back to school shopping. He and a few of "The Good Guys" (as the Krux DJ's were billed) were asking trivia questions and handing out prizes. The second time was when they were giving away the albums following the 76 finals loss where I was able to get signatures from some of the players, coaches, trainer and Al. I still have the album although it spent far too many years in my garage to ever be played again. Anyway, treasured memories but like every other Suns fan, wish we could have sent him off with at least one championship.

RIP Al, and thank you.

 

[Lorenzo]

I remember my Luke AFB days. I always had eyes and ears on the suns games. I worked with a lot of suns fans that listened to Al on the radio. he was always fun and called the game like few others I've ever heard. RIP!

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm crying as I type this. My childhood was defined by watching Channel 45 with Al and Cotton during the Barkley years. If the game was early enough there would be a dozen neighborhood kids at one of our houses on the street I grew up, all between 6 and 10 years old watching intently and then using the same calls he made on the playground court the next day.

Man, this sucks. Dont know who said before this is like losing your favorite grandpa all over again but that's how this feels. Tell those you care about how you feel and watch out for each other.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Sad day for Phoenix and Arizona sports. It's a shame he didn't get to call a championship.

It is the biggest shame. The Milwaukee series should have been it

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm crying as I type this. My childhood was defined by watching Channel 45 with Al and Cotton during the Barkley years. If the game was early enough there would be a dozen neighborhood kids at one of our houses on the street I grew up, all between 6 and 10 years old watching intently and then using the same calls he made on the playground court the next day.

Man, this sucks. Dont know who said before this is like losing your favorite grandpa all over again but that's how this feels. Tell those you care about how you feel and watch out for each other.

Truer words never spoken.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Hey season for Al. Let's try to all get along and cheer the Suns. Hopefully they get to the finals

 

[oaken1]

Well that was one great life Cotton!

R.i.P. Al McCoy...you were the best!

 

[Phrazbit]

Al McCoy still calling games, sharp as ever... but with a bit more of a homer bias (which I appreciated) into his late 80s was remarkable. The guy was calling live action, second by second, player by player, calling out names of guys that were not even born when he was retirement age... that is amazing stuff.

When we brought Marv Albert's brother in to announce for a while... I think his name was Zoran Alberts, that was brutal stuff, he was calling games for TV, didn't even NEED to be on the ball, calling every moment, yet he seemingly got players names wrong, ref calls wrong, just totally unable to keep pace with the game, hop in the car and tune into the broadcast and Al in 2015 was as crisp as could be.

In the 90s all the road games were simulcast, radio and TV, with Al and Cotton (outside of Cotton briefly coaching again), and on the cable side for home games we had Gary Bender, who I was fine with but my dad couldn't stand. For a while there, when my dad was in town (he was an airline pilot and gone a lot) we'd have the TV muted, watching the game and listening to the radio for non-simulcast home games, the radio was a good 5-10 seconds ahead of the cable broadcast. It bugged me at the time, having the action spoiled... but now I am sure I'd love it.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I don’t know that I’ll ever connect to another announcer like I connected with Al and the suns. Perhaps because we didn’t really have any other sports being called when I was young, he was the voice that rings in head when I think about announcing.

Unlike a lot of other announcers whose pet phrases seem contrived and forced, his “SHAZAM!” always felt genuine.

He seemingly lived a great life. Thoughts to all that loved him.

 

[Superbone]

The way Al vividly described a game, it was as if you were there. Video or not. I'll never forget my times laying on the living room floor or laying in bed listening to Al McCoy call a basketball game. Or on a road trip or just in my car. He had a great voice in his little body and you could feel the excitement as well as the low points. He was a one of a kind. He made a huge impact on the Valley and he will be sorely missed.

"Heartbreak Hotel!"

 

[BirdGangThing]

al mccoy was with me my whole life - from grade school on - through my teen years - through my entire 20s 30s and 40s - i just turned 50 last sunday - i was born in 74 - he started announcing suns games in 72 - my most memorable suns moments were all made more enjoyable by al mccoy - rip

 

[JCSunsfan]

I am processing it. I am so sad about the loss, but I am so inspired that he kept doing what he loved to do until near the very end. He lived a remarkable life. He was such a gentleman. I wish there were so many more Al McCoy's in the world. I am so glad for the privilege of listening to him.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Eddie Johnson on 12 news has me shedding a few tears. Horrific AZ Sports Weekend

 

[Hoop Head]

What a gut punch. Book posted these on Instagram.

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[Mainstreet]

What a gut punch. Book posted these on Instagram.

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Very touching photos. Thanks for posting.

 

[Hoop Head]

Very touching photos. Thanks for posting.

Got to love Booker. He comes across as a guy who respects and appreciates those who came before him. He's shared some stuff throughout the years of him appreciating Suns history so I'm sure this has been tough for him. I hope he can channel it positively next season for himself and for us fans.

 

[Chaplin]

It would be great if the Suns can do some kind of season-long tribute for him -- maybe put his signature on the court or on the jerseys or something. A single memorial (which they are bound to do) isn't enough IMO.

 

[Superbone]

It would be great if the Suns can do some kind of season-long tribute for him -- maybe put his signature on the court or on the jerseys or something. A single memorial (which they are bound to do) isn't enough IMO.

Good idea. I think there will be some kind of sleeve ribbon.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don’t know that I’ll ever connect to another announcer like I connected with Al and the suns. Perhaps because we didn’t really have any other sports being called when I was young, he was the voice that rings in head when I think about announcing.

Unlike a lot of other announcers whose pet phrases seem contrived and forced, his “SHAZAM!” always felt genuine.

He seemingly lived a great life. Thoughts to all that loved him.

Can’t forget “What-a-shot! What-a-burger!” “A hoopdy-doop-for-two!” and of course “A WHAM BAM SLAM!”

 

[Cheesebeef]

Al needs a statue outside or inside the arena. The man was a legend.

 

[Hoop Head]

It would be great if the Suns can do some kind of season-long tribute for him -- maybe put his signature on the court or on the jerseys or something. A single memorial (which they are bound to do) isn't enough IMO.

I saw a suggestion for the city jersey to contain "Shazam" but it got me thinking about the copyright/trademark aspect. Not sure that would be available. Of course it'd be a bad look for DC/WB to fight something in tribute but they made a family remove a superman emblem from a headstone as well as their thorny relationship with the NBA right now, with this being the final season on TNT.