Suns officially welcome Al McCoy to Ring of Honor
Mar 3, 2017, 8:45 PM | Updated: Mar 6, 2017, 11:08 am
Phoenix Suns announcer Al McCoy acknowledges the crowd during his ring of honor induction ceremony at half time of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Friday, March 3, 2017, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
The Phoenix Suns formally inducted radio broadcaster Al McCoy into the franchise’s Ring of Honor on Friday night, paying tribute to his 45 years as the voice of Suns basketball.
Before a sellout crowd at Talking Stick Resort Arena, the 83-year-old broadcaster became the 15th inductee to the Suns ring, and the fifth non-player. McCoy was inducted at halftime of the Suns game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
McCoy’s speech was short. He talked briefly about his backstory, listening to a small radio on a farm in Iowa. McCoy came to Phoenix in 1958 to do radio for the Triple-A Phoenix Giants before joining the Suns in 1972.
“The biggest thing that hit me today, I now have the privilege to be associated with these gentlemen right here,” McCoy said, mentioning each present Ring of Honor member individually.
Ring of Honor member Charles Barkley and Suns owner Robert Sarver spoke at McCoy’s induction. Broadcast partner Tim Kempton and McCoy’s son also spoke about McCoy at halftime.
“If you keep accepting me, and if God keeps smiling on me, I’m just going to keep going,” McCoy said.
The first 5,000 fans at the game on Friday received an Al McCoy bobble head, a part of several promotions the team had for McCoy’s night.
The scene is set. #McCoyROH🎙 pic.twitter.com/qjpHkjMP5a
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 3, 2017
The Suns also hosted a “Shazam Sweepstakes” giving four lucky fans premium seats, autographed bobbleheads and a chance to be on the court during McCoy’s ceremony. The Suns also sold exclusive McCoy t-shirts and a photo opportunity with a green screen showing iconic moments from McCoy’s career.
And here is what several team employees are wearing tonight #SunsVsThunder pic.twitter.com/WlnZCziwF8
— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) March 4, 2017
McCoy joins Alvan Adams, Charles Barkley, Tom Chambers, Jerry Colangelo, Walter Davis, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Connie Hawkins, Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, John MacLeod, Steve Nash, Joe Proski, Dick Van Arsdale and Paul Westphal in the Suns pantheon.
From start to finish, the path to the rafters has been a surprise. McCoy said he did not know details about his halftime induction ceremony, and the announcement on opening night that he would be inducted was unknown to him.
“But when I found out, Suns owner Robert Sarver was out on the floor, they started playing highlights of my career on the big screen,” McCoy said on the Suns mid-season show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “And when I got down on the floor Robert Sarver had the microphone in his hand, put his arm around me and said, ‘On March third you’re going to be inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor,’ and it was quite a shock no question about it.”
Suns fans, or just admirers of McCoy himself, extended good feelings to him on the eve of his induction.
Al McCoy is a legend and one of the main reasons why I continue to watch and love the #PhoenixSuns. @AZSports #Shazam #WhamBamSlam
— Robert Sedillo (@rsedillo1530) March 4, 2017
Just put the Suns game on out of respect to Al McCoy.
— Jacob Padilla (@JacobPadilla_) March 4, 2017
Al McCoy had a way of making you feel like you were watching the game live. #Shazam #ZingGoTheStrings #WhamBamSlam #OhBrother #SwishARooFor2
— SunsRants (@SunsRants) March 4, 2017
Thank you Al McCoy for the "Shazzams" and "Oh brother!" Best memories watching the Suns as a youngster! #McCoyROH @Suns
— Miguel A. (@miggyleads) March 4, 2017
