Dear Al McCoy: Thank You

Vin Scully. Al Michals. Marv Albert. Al McCoy. The latter is not only a Phoenix Suns legend but is in the same breadth as the former listed broadcasting titans.

McCoy sadly passed away this weekend at the age of 91 following a bout with health issues - just over a year after he signed off of being the voice of the Suns in May 2023.

McCoy began his career as the Suns' play-by-play voice over the radio in 1972 which eventually lead to becoming the longest-tenured voice of a franchise in NBA history - using his blend of knowledge, passion, and creative delivery to endear himself to generations of basketball fans.

McCoy was truly one-of-a-kind. He inspired people - such as myself - to further seek out their passion for the game growing up. McCoy was one of the major inspirations that drove me into the media world as a college student working to figure out a path to the future.

Thank you, Al for truly putting basketball in the map in Phoenix. For cultivating the city into a basketball town. For seeing the franchise through thick and thin. For continuing to staying true to who he was and being a shining example of what it means to be a broadcaster.

Thank you, Al - for inspiring a new wave of phenomenal professionals such as Jon Bloom (the new play-by-play voice of the Suns), Dave Burns (of the Burns and Gambo show on Arizona Sports), and our own