1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to another edition of the Dave Pash Podcast. I'm 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: your host ESPN and Arizona Cardinals announcer Dave Pash. Speaking 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: of announcers, today we have on the legend Al McCoy 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: in his fiftieth year as the voice of the Phoenix Suns, 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: the longest run with an NBA team. Marne comes up, 6 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: put us tale to Kevin Johnson, de Barclay Barkley goes in, 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: put a Wham Bam slam. Al previously has won the 8 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: Kurt Goude Media Award from the Nasmith Memorial Basketball Hall 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 1: of Fame. The Media Center at the Sun's Arena is 10 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: named after Al and Alice, also in the Arizona Sports 11 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. Today we talked a number of things, 12 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: broadcasting his love for the NBA and the Suns. How 13 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: he came up with his catchphrase Shazam, how he still 14 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: has the energy and the passion to do this at 15 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: age eighty eight, How Al keeps in shape, what has 16 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: diet is like to do his job. Some of Al's 17 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: favorite places to call games and favorite cities to go, 18 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: and also some of his favorite moments over his fifty 19 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: years of calling games. We are presented by ben MGM, 20 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: the official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and 21 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: by Hila River Hotels and Casinos. Sign up for BETMGM 22 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,400 Speaker 1: today using code cards one thousand and get your first 23 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: bet risk free up to one thousand dollars. New customer 24 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: offer paid in free bets. Visit benmgm dot com for 25 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: terms and conditions twenty one and over Arizona only. Please 26 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: gamble responsibly. Gambling problem called one eight hundred. Next step here. 27 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: He is the legend, Al McCoy. Al. I just worked 28 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: with Hall of Famer Hube Brown this past Saturday. Hughbee 29 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: is in his fiftieth year in the NBA like you, 30 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: and I am amazed at his energy and how sharp 31 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: he is. And when I listen to you, Al, I 32 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: hear the same Al McCoy that I heard when I 33 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: got here twenty years ago. And I've talked to people 34 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: that have been here since you started calling games and 35 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: they tell me the same thing. It's still the same, 36 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: Al McCoy. So I'm curious, man, how do you do it? 37 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: How do you have the same energy and stay so 38 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: sharp doing it as long as you have Well, you know, 39 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: it's interesting yet Obviously a lot of people ask me 40 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: the question, and I guess maybe Huby and I might 41 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: have the same answer. We loved the basketball from the 42 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,600 Speaker 1: first time we picked up or saw a ball, or 43 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: he coached it or played it, and I think we 44 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: still have that compassion for the game. I know through 45 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: the years, as we all might experience, some days are 46 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: better than others. But you know that old saying, when 47 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: you get to the ballpark, it's just the game that matters. 48 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: And it seems as if, and I guess maybe I'm 49 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: blessed in that area that when I get to the arena, 50 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: the things that might have been a problem that day 51 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: seem to disappear when the ball is thrown up in 52 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:19,360 Speaker 1: the game starts. So other than that, it's hard to say. 53 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: Maybe a good bringing up in the Midwest and I'm 54 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: raised on a farm, who knows, but I've been blessed, 55 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: no question about that. Is there anything you do all 56 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: to stay as healthy as you are at eighty eight? 57 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: Do you? Is there anything you avoid? Do you have 58 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: like a routine on game day or anything that you 59 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: do specifically to stay as healthy as you are? Well? 60 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: I've always felt this way that as a broadcaster and 61 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:52,839 Speaker 1: as an announcer, we have to take care of our 62 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: health just as months as if we were playing out 63 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: on the court, because we have to be ite and 64 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: physically ready when the game starts. And I think I've 65 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 1: always been concerned about my diet, about getting rest, and 66 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: about being ready for the game. So I think my 67 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,359 Speaker 1: philosophy has always been that you have to prepare yourself 68 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: just as if you were actually playing the game. I've 69 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: always told young broadcasters if there were two of the 70 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: most important phrases for me as a broadcaster, one would 71 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 1: be preparation and the other would be concentration. You have 72 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: to be prepared for the game, and you have to 73 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: have that ability to concentrate on the game. Obviously, we 74 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: can't be thinking about where we're gonna have dinner afterwards 75 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: while we're doing the game, particularly in a game as 76 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: fast paced as basketball is. So I've always said preparation 77 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: and concentration very important, and the fact that you have 78 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:07,160 Speaker 1: to take care of yourself physically and mentally just as 79 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 1: if you were a player, no question about it. Can 80 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: you talk to my Cardinals broadcast partner Ron Wolfley about 81 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: having a better diet, because wolf heats the worst of 82 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 1: anybody I've ever worked with. Well, that's the wolf, and 83 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 1: he can get by with anything. He's tremendous, no question 84 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 1: about it. But and I think as I've gotten older 85 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 1: that my food and diet requirements have chained. Obviously, I 86 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 1: don't partake as much as I did when I was 87 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: twenty one years of age, and I think that's a 88 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: factor also, it is, at least for me. So people 89 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,799 Speaker 1: laugh at me and mock meek al because I won't 90 00:05:49,839 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: have dairy and like, maybe I'll have dairy in the 91 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: off season pizza cheese, yeah, but not not in season. 92 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: Are you a dairy guy or he? Is that something 93 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: you stay away from? No milk products for me? I 94 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,599 Speaker 1: mean I will have an occasional cheeseburger that doesn't seem 95 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: to bother me, but no milk products. And I have 96 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: to tell their little story. At one point in my career, 97 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: I had a summer announcing job in Chicago and at 98 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 1: the radio station. In those days, they used to have 99 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: every week they would have announcer auditions. If announcers were 100 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: coming in for a job, they could come in an audition. 101 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: That certainly is years ago, and those of us that 102 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: were working used to set out in the lobby area, 103 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: and when an individual was coming in and we knew 104 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: they were going to be auditioning, we'd say, oh, hey, 105 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: how about a milkshaker? Do you want some ice cream 106 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: or something here before you go in? Because I've always 107 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: felt that milk products have no business being involved with 108 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 1: an announcer, and so I have no milk products. I'm 109 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: with you on that day. Yeah, there we go, all right, 110 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: good to know him in Club McCoy. The other thing. 111 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,160 Speaker 1: The other thing al I stopped doing about ten years 112 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: ago because I got scolded by the great Marv Albert. 113 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: I don't have pop He used to eat popcorn. I 114 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:14,559 Speaker 1: come into his booth sometime to say hello, because Marv 115 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: and I go back some twenty five years when when 116 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: I was the Syracuse announcer. He scolded me for having 117 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: popcorn because he said, you know what if a colonel 118 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: gets stuck in your throat. So I'm curious, is that 119 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: something you avoid as well? The popcorn or nuts, anything 120 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: that can you know, possibly get stuck in your in 121 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: your throat and mess up your vocal cords before you 122 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:39,120 Speaker 1: go on. Eric, Well, you probably know one broadcaster that 123 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: eight more popcorn than any of US and he was 124 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: the late great Bill King. Bill I had known going 125 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: back to our Midwest days, and then he went to 126 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 1: the Bay Area and became the most popular played by 127 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: played broadcaster in the San Francisco area with his work 128 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: on baseball, basketball, and football. Bill King and the son 129 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: of a gun at popcorn during the whole game. I 130 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: don't know how he did it. I certainly could never 131 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: do it. But Bill King is the one and only 132 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: that a popcorn during the entire game. I never knew 133 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: how he got by with it. I remember doing a 134 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: game once with Greg Anthony. I don't know if Greig 135 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 1: still does this. Former nick U and LV guard he 136 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: works for tnt S man. He sat there and eight 137 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: an entire bucket of popcorn during the game. I had 138 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: never seen anything like it. I don't know if he 139 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: still does it. You know, I'm curious because I remember 140 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: back when the Cardinals made the Super Bowl and they 141 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: lost the Super Bowl. How long it took me to 142 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: recover because as you know, you know, I'm doing a 143 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: lot of ESPN games, and so the Cardinals they're my team. 144 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: I mean, I worked for the team, and you know 145 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: I'm unbiased when I call the games, but they're my team. 146 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: I get to root for the team, and you kind 147 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 1: of live and die with the good moments and the 148 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: bad moments. And I remember how long it took me 149 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: to recover after the Super Bowl loss. It hurt for 150 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: a while. And I'm curious because I'm sure you didn't 151 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: know when you'd get to call a Son's Finals again. 152 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: You got there last year, you got so close. Haul 153 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,679 Speaker 1: hard was it for you after the Game six loss? 154 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:15,440 Speaker 1: And are you over it yet? Well? As as you know, David, 155 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 1: was the third time in my fifty years with the 156 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: Sons that I had the thrill of calling a final 157 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: series the Suns that are initially against the Celtics, again 158 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: against the Chicago Bulls, and then of course against Milwaukee. 159 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: And I have to be very honest with you, I 160 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: probably got over it quicker this time than I did 161 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: the previous two occasions. And I'm gonna tell you why. 162 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: In recent years, because of a lot of different things, 163 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: as a broadcaster, you're just not as close to the 164 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: players and to the team as we were back when 165 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: the Suns were in the finals on those two previous occasions. 166 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: A lot of reasons, one his age, the players mostly 167 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: are most younger now, so we don't have that togetherness, 168 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 1: and we just don't spend that much time together. For 169 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: a lot of reasons. Most clubs have declared locker rooms 170 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:27,240 Speaker 1: clubhouses off limits for broadcasters. Sometimes you can't travel the 171 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 1: same way with the team. You don't have that togetherness 172 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: that we had years ago. And you know, when I 173 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: came into the NBA with the Suns, you were with 174 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: the players all the time. He traveled on the planes, 175 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 1: the buses, you were in the locker rooms, he went 176 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,880 Speaker 1: out for hamburgers and beer after the games. But that 177 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: started to change a number of years ago when we 178 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: had nineteen and twenty year old players coming into the league. 179 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 1: Plus the fact that going back fifty years ago, you 180 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: had a lot of things to talk about. It's a 181 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: little more more difficult now with today's players. I mean, 182 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: how many Mercedes can you talk about? Or how many 183 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: eight million dollar homes can you discuss? So it's it's 184 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: a little different. So kind of a long answer to 185 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:20,679 Speaker 1: your question, I guess, Dave. But even though obviously I 186 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: want to see the Sun's win, I'm pleased when they do. 187 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,839 Speaker 1: When they went to the finals, I was excited, but 188 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 1: I got over it a little quicker this time than 189 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: I had the previous two occasions. Yes, I want to 190 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: go back to your answer or party of your answer 191 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: about that you used to go out, you know, after 192 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: games with players for burger or a beer. Who was 193 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: the coolest guy or was there a particular player back 194 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,760 Speaker 1: in the day that you would go out with all 195 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: the time after games? Well, we had so many, of course, 196 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: Dick van Arsdale was the original son. I was very 197 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: close with him, and then when he retired he worked 198 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: with me on our broadcast television and radio for fifteen 199 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: years and still is a very close friend. Dick van 200 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: Arsdale cross Connie Hawkins, the first real Hall of Famer 201 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: for the Suns. I was very close with so many 202 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,320 Speaker 1: players in that era of Walter Davis. I could just 203 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: go right down the list. Neil walk and he just 204 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: had a closure relationship because of the age and because 205 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: they weren't making multimillions of dollars per year, and you 206 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: weren't traveling on charters. You're on commercial planes, so you 207 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: were staying over after games, where today after games the 208 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: clubs just get on their private jets and leave, So 209 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:51,040 Speaker 1: you just don't have those opportunities to be that close, 210 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: and I'll be very frank with you, that's the part 211 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: of the business that I think I miss more than anything. Obviously, 212 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: I still enjoy the games, I still joined the competition, 213 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 1: but I do miss that closeness that we were able 214 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 1: to have in those early days with players with coaches. 215 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: As you know, Cotton Fitzsimmons was one of my closest friends. 216 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:14,320 Speaker 1: He coached us Sons twice. He worked with me on 217 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: television and radio. Those days are gone, and those are 218 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: the things that I probably missed the most. I know 219 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,880 Speaker 1: you're not doing a lot of road games. No one 220 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 1: is right now with everything that's going on, But I 221 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:31,800 Speaker 1: know you specifically cut back on the travel when you 222 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 1: were traveling regularly. Did you have a favorite place to 223 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 1: call a game or a favorite stop when you would 224 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: be in a particular city that you just had to go, 225 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: either for breakfast or a postgame drink. Yes, Chicago. Chicago 226 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: was always my favorite of the NBA cities. I had 227 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: spent time there, I had worked there, I grew up, 228 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: and I woke to the closeness. I knew all their 229 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 1: teams from the Chicago Cubs on down, and they have 230 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,599 Speaker 1: some of the greatest restaurants in the world. So Chicago 231 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 1: was always a place that I look forward to spending 232 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,719 Speaker 1: a few days during the season and having an off 233 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:15,600 Speaker 1: night Chicago. Do you miss traveling? Would you know? Would 234 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:20,280 Speaker 1: you like to? I gotta imagine it'd be very difficult 235 00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: to do that in forty one games a year. Is 236 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: that something you miss? You know, being on the road 237 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: and to travel, and you know how much longer out? 238 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: Do you think you're going to do this? I like, 239 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: I look at you, and I say, why not just 240 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: keep going forever? Why stop? If I were you and 241 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: you still sound great and you're in great health, well, 242 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 1: you know it's interesting on the road games. I became 243 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:50,479 Speaker 1: concerned several years ago when the league allowed the arenas 244 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: to move our broadcast locations to areas where we could 245 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:58,120 Speaker 1: not even see the full court. We couldn't see where 246 00:14:58,120 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: the three point shots were coming from. We were way 247 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: up high, and I started to get very concerned at 248 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: that time as to what the league was allowing. They 249 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: were giving up seats that they wanted the teams to 250 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: be able to sell and make money, but they were 251 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: also giving up our broadcast locations. So over the last 252 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: couple of years, I had decided that I did want 253 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: my career to end when the listeners or the viewers 254 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: would say, what's wrong with McCoy. Doesn't he know who's 255 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,640 Speaker 1: shooting these three pointers or what's going on? So I 256 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: became a little more disenchanted with doing road games. And then, 257 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 1: of course, when this pandemic hit, the club became more 258 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: concerned about who was going to travel, when they were 259 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: going to travel, and of course the whole travel situation changed, 260 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: where you could not be on the team bus, you 261 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: could not be around players, you could not be around coaches, 262 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,360 Speaker 1: you could not do on the locker room, and almost 263 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: came to the point of why travel. And so that's 264 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 1: really the biggest reason that I became disenchanted with games 265 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: on the road. It's just I have to tell you 266 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 1: one story. You may be familiar with the name Joe Tate. 267 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,240 Speaker 1: Joe was the broadcaster in Cleveland for many, many years, 268 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: unfortunately since his past, but when they started moving these 269 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: broadcast locations, he was in an arena and one of 270 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: the locations he was at the broadcast the game. You 271 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: couldn't see the three point corners, and during the course 272 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: of the game he's doing the play by play and 273 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: he says, there goes the ball thrown into the corner. 274 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: There's a shot from three point range. It's good a 275 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: three pointers good by a player to be named later, 276 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: A great line line. Yeah, I mean it. Look, it's 277 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: I know people probably listening are is concerned about our comfort, 278 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: but yeah, it's it's hard. Some of the ball stadiums 279 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 1: are like that where you're in the corner and you 280 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,159 Speaker 1: can't see. It's hard to see. You need binoculars just 281 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 1: to see the players. But you just you get through 282 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: it and you do the job. You know. When that happens, 283 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: you know, sometimes you're more prone to mistakes. And I 284 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 1: think of you know, one of the biggest mistakes that 285 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:19,879 Speaker 1: I had in my career was in the Super Bowl. 286 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: James Harrison has the interception of Kurt Warner runs it 287 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: back for a touchdown and I couldn't really see and 288 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: I saw a two, and I thought it was a 289 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 1: twenty two instead of a ninety two. The problem was 290 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,680 Speaker 1: William Gay is who I thought it was, and he's 291 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: about one hundred pounds lighter than James Harrison. Kurt Warner, 292 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: who threw that interception, had some fun with me after that. 293 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 1: He said how did you mistake James William Gay for 294 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: James Harrison? And I said, well, how did you mistake 295 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: him for ran Kwan Bolden? He was here trying to 296 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: But anyway, do you do you have anything you look 297 00:17:54,880 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: back as they're like a big mistake that you had 298 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:58,920 Speaker 1: that you look back on that you say, man, that's 299 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 1: the worst thing I've ever set on radio or television. Well, fortunately, 300 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,159 Speaker 1: if I have, I was able to slide over it 301 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: and keep going because I was told a long time 302 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,880 Speaker 1: ago by veteran broadcasters you never stop if you make 303 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: a mistake. You just keep going because it will take 304 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,840 Speaker 1: the listener a long time to discover whether it was 305 00:18:19,880 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: a mistake or not. I do want to mention one thing, 306 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 1: and I think you might tend to agree with me, 307 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:29,400 Speaker 1: because we both have done radio and television. Right now, 308 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: I'm doing radio, but I did the TV for many, 309 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 1: many years. I think a lot of our leagues, and 310 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: I include the NBA, the NFL and baseball for getting 311 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: the power that radio has. And I have to tell 312 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: you this past year I did twenty two playoff games 313 00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: in the NBA, including the finals. I can't even imagine 314 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,920 Speaker 1: that I would get the response that I got from 315 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: our radio broadcasts all over the world world, Germany, Poland, Japan. 316 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:07,400 Speaker 1: I was getting texted emails from all over the world 317 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: for people that were listening to our radio broadcasts. And 318 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: I think our leagues forget the fact that radio is 319 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: still the media that goes worldwide, and they still don't 320 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: have TV in cars, and there's so much commuting and 321 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:28,439 Speaker 1: driving people depend on radio, and we forget that in 322 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: some of these foreign countries, everyone does not have TV, 323 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,879 Speaker 1: they all have radio. And I have to tell you, 324 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: the response I got the last year from our radio 325 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 1: broadcasts was almost unbelievable, it really was, and that was 326 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: really encouraging to me to try and make our radio 327 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 1: coverage even better than it has been. I don't think 328 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: there's any question I agree with you wholeheartedly, and it 329 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:58,240 Speaker 1: always touches me when you know, I hear from somebody 330 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 1: that doesn't have a television, They don't have a way 331 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: to be able to watch, so their only choice is 332 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: radio wolf And I actually met somebody who is blind 333 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: and the only way he can follow the Arizona Cardinals 334 00:20:13,880 --> 00:20:18,919 Speaker 1: is to listen to our broadcast. So when I have 335 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: heard they have not to interrupt you. I have heard 336 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:26,720 Speaker 1: from so many sightless people throughout my career that thank 337 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: god it is responsible maybe for me keeping doing my 338 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 1: broadcast shut ins, people in hospitals, veterans and sightless people. 339 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: You know, it's that's a great feeling to realize that 340 00:20:39,920 --> 00:20:44,119 Speaker 1: just maybe maybe we can make some of those folks 341 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: that are suffering as they are have just a little 342 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 1: bit more fun, maybe put a smile on their face 343 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 1: with our broadcasts. And that's something that radio certainly can do. Absolutely. 344 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: Do you remember the last time you did football? And 345 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: I'm curious, so is there a sport that you didn't 346 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:03,880 Speaker 1: do that you look back and say, man, I would 347 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 1: have loved to have tried that. Well, I always thought 348 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 1: baseball was going to be what I would do, and 349 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: of course when I was growing up, I followed the 350 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:17,320 Speaker 1: Chicago Cubbs on baseball. Burt Wilson was there, played by 351 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: play broadcaster. He was my idol, and of course later 352 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:23,200 Speaker 1: Jack brook House and Harry Carey and that whole crew, 353 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: and I initially came to Phoenix to do Triple A baseball, 354 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: and then through the years I was offered the San 355 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: Francisco Giant job twice. And also of course I had 356 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: the opportunity to do the Diamondbacks when they came into 357 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:39,720 Speaker 1: the league, and I always felt it would be baseball. 358 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: But I loved basketball. I had been fortunate enough to 359 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: play in high school, so I loved the game. And 360 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,639 Speaker 1: my real dream was that if I was able to 361 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:56,360 Speaker 1: get into this business and be involved and played by 362 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 1: play broadcasting, I wanted to be associated with a team 363 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,920 Speaker 1: as Vince Gully was with the Dodgers. Soon as I'm 364 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:08,240 Speaker 1: into simony, the baseball players were, the baseball announcers were 365 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,440 Speaker 1: with their teams, and I always wanted to do that. 366 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: And when I got the opportunity with the Sons, that 367 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:17,919 Speaker 1: was the pit of me and everything else kind of 368 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:21,399 Speaker 1: turned away. But initially I thought that baseball would be 369 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: the sport I would be doing. It just turned out 370 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 1: to be basketball, and it was the right, right decision. 371 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 1: You mentioned some legendary names and broadcasting, and I think 372 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: of some of the people that have taken me under 373 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: their wing to help me along when I was getting 374 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:40,639 Speaker 1: started or even recently. I mean, I've still people in 375 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:44,159 Speaker 1: my life that are very involved in terms of feedback 376 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: or encouragement. Mike Tarico, Sean McDonough, Bob Costas, those are 377 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,360 Speaker 1: three people that come to mind who invested in me 378 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 1: when I was young and coming up. I'm curious, Jack Brickhouse, 379 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 1: you mentioned a lot of people in Arizona probably don't 380 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: know that name, that legendary Chicago broadcaster Harry Carey. Most 381 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: people know Harry from the Cubs games and being on WGN, 382 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 1: which would air games nationally for the most part on cable. 383 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 1: Did those guys help you? Is there anybody else that 384 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: you can think of al that mentored you or took 385 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: you under his or her wing to kind of help 386 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: you grow well? And not really, I'm going to tell 387 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 1: you about cost the story in a minute. But as 388 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 1: I said, Burt Wilson was the radio play by play 389 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,040 Speaker 1: for the Cubs when I was growing up in Iowa, 390 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:34,479 Speaker 1: and I listened every game. Harry Carey was in Saint Louis. 391 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 1: Jack Brickhouse did everything in Chicago. He did the Bears 392 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: and then he was the first to do the TV 393 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: of the Cubs. So and Jack Brickhouse through the years 394 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:47,679 Speaker 1: tried to hire me many times to come back to 395 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:52,639 Speaker 1: Chicago after I had come to Phoenix. But just listening 396 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:57,119 Speaker 1: to them on a daily basis, I'm sure that I 397 00:23:57,359 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: gained a lot from them, and I think Harry Carey 398 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: used to have so many great lines, like we don't 399 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 1: care who wins, just so it's the Cubs. And he 400 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,560 Speaker 1: would say, and we go to the bottom of the ninth, 401 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:11,680 Speaker 1: the Cubs are down by nine, but don't forget they 402 00:24:11,760 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: need ten to win. Go Cubs. I think I probably 403 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:21,160 Speaker 1: captured some of that enthusiasm. And at one point they 404 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: used to call it a Midwest school of announcing. I 405 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:26,719 Speaker 1: don't know if they ever did at Syracuse because of 406 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: Burt Wilson and Earl Gillespie who was in Milwaukee, and 407 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,640 Speaker 1: Harry Carey in Saint Louis and brick House, because they 408 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:37,760 Speaker 1: were so involved in the games themselves. And I think 409 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,680 Speaker 1: I've picked up probably my enthusiasm from that. Now. One 410 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:45,520 Speaker 1: Bob Costs a story. Bob was a young guy working 411 00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:49,679 Speaker 1: at Cambels in Saint Louis, and CBS had the rights 412 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,919 Speaker 1: for the NBA at that time, and they decided to 413 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:56,879 Speaker 1: do a few regional games, and Bob was selected to 414 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: do some of the regional games, and one of his 415 00:24:59,560 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: first was in Phoenix. And when I came into the 416 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:07,360 Speaker 1: arena that night to do the game for us Bob Costas, 417 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: who I had never seen, came up to me, introduced himself, 418 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:14,159 Speaker 1: and he said, al McCoy, He said, I've listened to 419 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 1: you for years, and he said, I'm so excited about 420 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: getting a chance to meet you. He said, I've just 421 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:22,639 Speaker 1: picked up so much of listening to your broadcast. Now 422 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: this is Bob Costas. So I said, well, gee, Bob, 423 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 1: it's great to see you. So on and so forth. Well, 424 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 1: in a matter of a few years, he was on 425 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:35,000 Speaker 1: with NBC and in New York. So every time that 426 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,800 Speaker 1: we would go into New York to play the Knicks, 427 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 1: we would go to a little bar restaurant that was 428 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 1: kind of a hangout for broadcasters and writers in New 429 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:54,679 Speaker 1: York City, and I would go in with whoever I 430 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,920 Speaker 1: was working with to have the lunch or dinner or whatever, 431 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 1: and it was a hangout for Bob Costas. So whenever 432 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:02,320 Speaker 1: and I would go in and Bob was there, he 433 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 1: would come up to him and say, Oh, I don't 434 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:07,280 Speaker 1: know if you remember me. I'm Bob Costas well, Sarah. 435 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: I knew Bob Costas because by now he's with NBC, 436 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: But it just got to be kind of a joke 437 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 1: for me because every time I would see him, and 438 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: it might be at the gardener or it might be 439 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,440 Speaker 1: at this restaurant, he would always come up to me 440 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:25,119 Speaker 1: with his hand the extent and say, oh, I'm Bob Costa. 441 00:26:25,160 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 1: This is wanted to say hi. So many years later, 442 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 1: the Arizona State University, you know, to give an annual award, 443 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: the Cronk Eye Award to broadcasters, and I don't know, 444 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: this is maybe nine ten years ago. Bob Costas got 445 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,719 Speaker 1: that award and I went to the luncheon and I 446 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,400 Speaker 1: had not stuck to him or seen him. But they 447 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: had a little private room where you could go in 448 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:52,240 Speaker 1: if you were one of the heavy hitters and get 449 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 1: an autograph from Bob. So I knew where the room was, 450 00:26:55,080 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: so I went in. And when I went in, there 451 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: was a line maybe of ten or twelve people waiting 452 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: to get up and shake hands and get an autograph 453 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 1: with Bob. Well, he spotted me. He saw me in 454 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 1: the back of the line, and he waited for me 455 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 1: to come on. And when I got up to the 456 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:14,680 Speaker 1: top of the line, I just reached my hand out. 457 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: I said, excuse me, my aom McCoy, he says, line 458 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: Bob Costas and they both just started to last. He 459 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 1: is one of the most talented broadcasters ever in our 460 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,600 Speaker 1: business and just a great guy. Oh absolutely, no, Bob 461 00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:34,480 Speaker 1: is incredible and a guy that really cares about the 462 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: craft of broadcast any particular play by play. I feel 463 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: like I've buried the lead. We're about twenty five minutes 464 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: into this and I haven't asked you about any of 465 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:52,919 Speaker 1: your signature calls. Every Sun's fan knows what that is. 466 00:27:53,240 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 1: I don't have one. I'm never really I don't know. 467 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 1: I just when I got the Cardinals job, I always thought, 468 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:00,560 Speaker 1: you know, it's going to be four if I try 469 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 1: to come up with one, or I could bounce it 470 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:04,119 Speaker 1: off somebody and see if it works, or try in 471 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 1: the game and people like it, then stick with it. 472 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,400 Speaker 1: I guess my the one that people know is just 473 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 1: the fact that I work with Bill Walton, so it's 474 00:28:12,240 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: really about another person as opposed to my call. But 475 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 1: everybody knows about Shazam, and we hear it multiple times 476 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: a broadcast, and I believe that I've read it and 477 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: seen you talk about that it came from reading comic 478 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 1: books as a kid, So tell us that story out. 479 00:28:30,119 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 1: But also I'm curious when when did you start using 480 00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: it on air? Did you try it out at first? 481 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: Did it take you a while to finally employ that 482 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: on the air? Was it right from from the get 483 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:45,080 Speaker 1: go when you got the Sun's job. Well, when I 484 00:28:45,120 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: got the Sun's job, they didn't have the three point shot. 485 00:28:48,360 --> 00:28:52,080 Speaker 1: When it went into effect as a broadcaster, I looked 486 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: at it as like what would be a home run 487 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 1: call in baseball? Because most baseball or broadcasters have a 488 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:01,000 Speaker 1: called it might be could be it is or it's 489 00:29:01,000 --> 00:29:04,000 Speaker 1: going going gone or whatever, you know. So I looked 490 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,800 Speaker 1: at that point that the three point shot is not 491 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: going to be a big factor and it'll be just 492 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,880 Speaker 1: kind of like maybe a home run that might call 493 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: the game. So I did think, you know, what could 494 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,239 Speaker 1: I use? Because I guess I should come up with 495 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: some type of a home run call that would fit 496 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: a three point shot. So I went back when I 497 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: was growing up on a farm in Iowa, I did 498 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: read a comic book about Captain Marvel. Now, Captain Marvel 499 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: was a Superman type character, but he turned into being 500 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:39,040 Speaker 1: Captain Marvel from a little guy named Billy Batson who 501 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: was a radio reporter, and when he became Captain Marvel, 502 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:48,160 Speaker 1: he said show zam, and that was taken from the 503 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: first letter of Socrates, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury. 504 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 1: So I thought, you know, that might not be bad 505 00:29:57,600 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 1: because in the comic book when he said shazam, it 506 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 1: was all kinds of lightning and thunder and excitement. So 507 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: I said, I think that might be what I should use, 508 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: thinking that there might be one or two a game. 509 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 1: And in fact, I like to tell the story because 510 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: when the three point shot went in, one of the 511 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:22,760 Speaker 1: great shooters in that time or anytime for the sunss 512 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: Walder Davis. He took one three point shot that first 513 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: year at one and so anyway, that's where Shazam came from. 514 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: And it's kind of stuck around a long time, although 515 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,200 Speaker 1: I do have to admit sometimes I might pass over 516 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: because we do have a few Shazams, a few three 517 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 1: pointers in every game. Now has become a big, big 518 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 1: factor of NBA basketball, right. Imagine if you were the 519 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 1: Warriors broadcaster, you'd say shazam. You just said it over 520 00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 1: three thousand times. Now for Steph Curry, do you follow that? 521 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: I got a couple more, I'll let you go. Do 522 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: you follow the Cardinals much. I mean, you were year 523 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 1: and you know well into your career with the Sons. 524 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: When the Cardinals moved to Arizona. Have you followed them 525 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: the entire time? How much of a fan are you? Well, 526 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 1: you know, I'm a sports fan, period, all the sports. 527 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,760 Speaker 1: I love basketball, football, baseball. I'm a great hockey fan. 528 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:20,880 Speaker 1: You know. I did hockey for five years the old 529 00:31:20,880 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 1: Phoenix Roadrunners of the Western Hockey League, and I loved, 530 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: loved the sport. And certainly we're not going to go 531 00:31:27,880 --> 00:31:31,000 Speaker 1: back and forth complimenting one another. But you know of 532 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: the tremendous respect I have for you, Dave, and you 533 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 1: can do any sport and do it so well and 534 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:41,560 Speaker 1: so professionally. But you know I love all the sports. 535 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: I follow all of them on radio and on TV, 536 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:49,120 Speaker 1: whatever that possibility might be. I'm I'm just a fan. 537 00:31:49,240 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 1: I guess the gentleman that I replaced when I got 538 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: here in two thousand and two, the late Tom Dillon, 539 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 1: who is so gracious and kind to me, coming in 540 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: here as a guy at age twenty nine getting an 541 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 1: NFL job, when Tom had been in this market for 542 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 1: so long and had done the Cardinals for so long, 543 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:08,640 Speaker 1: How well did you know Tom and what was your 544 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: relationship like with him? Oh? We were very good friends. Tom, 545 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:16,600 Speaker 1: you know, came from Texas into the arena, so to speak, 546 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: here in Phoenix, and he was basically, first of all, 547 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:23,600 Speaker 1: did the sports on TV, and football was really his 548 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 1: game he did, you know, like he did all the 549 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:28,600 Speaker 1: a as youth sports at one time. But his love 550 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:31,440 Speaker 1: and his best work, I always thought was on football. 551 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: And he was an excellent broadcaster, a great guy, excellent broadcaster, 552 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: and we were very good friends, all right. Last one, 553 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:43,320 Speaker 1: have you ever been yelled at by a player or 554 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 1: a coach for something you said. I've had interactions with 555 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 1: coaches or gms. I can think of one GM in 556 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:56,800 Speaker 1: particular in the NBA. Won't say his name, but he's 557 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 1: still a GM that didn't like something that was said 558 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 1: one time. And sometimes there are players who will say things. 559 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:06,840 Speaker 1: Occasionally they hear something, or they won't talk to anymore, 560 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:09,640 Speaker 1: or when they do talk to you, some are afraid 561 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 1: to bring it up. Some will bring it up. I 562 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:13,360 Speaker 1: don't know if you had, if you had anything like 563 00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: that in your tenure doing the Suns. You know, I 564 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 1: guess I probably have been fortunate because I've been around 565 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 1: so long, and I think one of the reasons early 566 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: for many many years, when the Suns would go to 567 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 1: training camp, I would have a session with them when 568 00:33:33,840 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 1: I would talk with all the players and the coaches 569 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,440 Speaker 1: and talk about their responsibilities to the media. Now that's 570 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 1: gone by the wayside because the league takes that all over, 571 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: and I would tell the players at that time, I said, now, 572 00:33:46,920 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 1: there are going to be times during a game broadcast 573 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 1: that I may be critical of the way you're playing 574 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 1: that particular night, and I want you to be able 575 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:59,440 Speaker 1: to accept that, whether it's from me for somebody else. 576 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:03,959 Speaker 1: I will tell you I will never embarrass you personally 577 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:08,200 Speaker 1: or I will never refer to anything personally concerning you. 578 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 1: But if it's concerning the way you're playing the game, 579 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 1: then you can expect it to be analyzed perhaps, but 580 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:20,279 Speaker 1: I said, I would never say anything that would be 581 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:24,920 Speaker 1: something concerning you as a person, and I think I 582 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 1: got respect from the players initially. In recent years, as 583 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:32,480 Speaker 1: I said, I just don't have the closeness with the 584 00:34:32,520 --> 00:34:36,040 Speaker 1: players that month. There's probably only two players on the 585 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 1: Suns team right now that I really feel close to. 586 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:41,960 Speaker 1: Devin Booker of course, would be number one because he's 587 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:44,839 Speaker 1: been here for five six years and we know each 588 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:48,320 Speaker 1: other and he's such a terrific young guy. And DeAndre Ayton. 589 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,640 Speaker 1: DeAndre Ayton knows me because he spent time into a 590 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 1: and followed the Suns on our broadcasts. But I've been fortunate, 591 00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:59,759 Speaker 1: and I think one of the reasons is coaches and 592 00:35:00,040 --> 00:35:04,400 Speaker 1: players alike knew that I would always be fair, that 593 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:07,879 Speaker 1: they're not above criticism. They're they're having a bad game 594 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: and their shots aren't going. I can't lie about that, 595 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:14,440 Speaker 1: but I never would attack them on a personal basis, 596 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:17,400 Speaker 1: and I think they respected me for that then, and 597 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 1: that has been my approach. Al you are and always 598 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:24,720 Speaker 1: will be the greatest broadcaster in the history of the city. 599 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:28,799 Speaker 1: And I'm so thankful for you spending some time with 600 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:32,279 Speaker 1: me doing this podcast. I hope you do this for 601 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:34,640 Speaker 1: twenty more years. I would love to see it out. 602 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 1: I'm amazed still, man. I mean this, every time I 603 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:41,800 Speaker 1: listen to you, how descriptive you are, how energetic you are, 604 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:44,399 Speaker 1: every game you treat the same, and I always feel 605 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:47,480 Speaker 1: like that's the mark of a great broadcaster. It can 606 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:50,799 Speaker 1: be the first game of the season, a playoff game, 607 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: or game number fifty in the middle of a long 608 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:56,120 Speaker 1: NBA season, and you sound just as excited to be 609 00:35:56,160 --> 00:36:00,799 Speaker 1: there as you ever have. Well, I can be honest, Dave, 610 00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: coming from you, that means a great deal to me. 611 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,719 Speaker 1: You're such a professional person and I admire everything you do. 612 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:12,920 Speaker 1: It's just I've been a very, very fortunate guy. And 613 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: I'll just tell you one story in closing. As you know, 614 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:18,920 Speaker 1: I'm a piano player, and I played professionally for a 615 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:22,040 Speaker 1: number of years, and I love jazz, and my favorite 616 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: piano player is Erl Garner. And a year ago, I 617 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:30,080 Speaker 1: was on my way to the arena and I was 618 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: listening to a CD with ERL Garner in my car, 619 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:35,799 Speaker 1: and I started to think. I said, you know, it's 620 00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:38,040 Speaker 1: kind of interesting here. I am. I'm going down to 621 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:41,200 Speaker 1: the arena. I'm going to broadcast a basketball game that 622 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:46,200 Speaker 1: I love and I love doing and I love communicating 623 00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:49,160 Speaker 1: and talking all about the game, and I'm listening to 624 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:52,560 Speaker 1: my favorite piano player, ERL Garner. And I thought for 625 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,279 Speaker 1: a moment and I said, you know what, it's been 626 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:58,759 Speaker 1: a pretty good ride. And you know what, it's been 627 00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:02,279 Speaker 1: a pretty good ride, dude. Well, hey, if this broadcast 628 00:37:02,400 --> 00:37:05,280 Speaker 1: thing doesn't work out, for you. Maybe we'll hear smooth 629 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:09,240 Speaker 1: Jazz with Al McCoy on another radio station or something. 630 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:11,920 Speaker 1: But I appreciate it Al so much. Man, I look 631 00:37:11,960 --> 00:37:14,440 Speaker 1: forward to seeing you here. I've got some Suns games 632 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 1: in January and February to look forward to seeing you. 633 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:20,360 Speaker 1: Then sounds great. I'll look forward to a day. Always 634 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 1: a pleasure to visit with you. Happy Holidays, you two. 635 00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:29,319 Speaker 1: You're the best. Al. Thanks. Well, maybe you had heard 636 00:37:29,360 --> 00:37:31,680 Speaker 1: that story before, but that's the first time I've heard 637 00:37:31,719 --> 00:37:34,799 Speaker 1: Al go that in depth on how he came up 638 00:37:34,840 --> 00:37:38,600 Speaker 1: with Shazam on a three pointer. It came from reading 639 00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:42,080 Speaker 1: comic books as a kid. Going back to Captain Marvel, 640 00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:45,520 Speaker 1: I had no idea that each letter stood for something 641 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:49,359 Speaker 1: at the acronym sha z am, and how he didn't 642 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:51,880 Speaker 1: have to use that moniker very often when he started 643 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:53,799 Speaker 1: doing games in the NBA because there wasn't a three 644 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:56,080 Speaker 1: point line. Now he's got to use it all the time. 645 00:37:56,680 --> 00:37:58,279 Speaker 1: But it was great to catch up with out really 646 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: appreciate his time. He was actually going to do a 647 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:03,000 Speaker 1: Sun's game and he spent some thirty minutes with us 648 00:38:03,000 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 1: talking about his favorite moments. Broadcasting games for the Suns 649 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:09,920 Speaker 1: had a great story about Bob Costas talked about how 650 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:13,759 Speaker 1: we love Chicago. That's his favorite road trip. And it's 651 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:17,280 Speaker 1: interesting that in all his years of broadcasting, he can't 652 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:20,360 Speaker 1: remember a mistake that really got him. And that's saying 653 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:23,720 Speaker 1: something because we've all had some bad moments on the air. 654 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:27,400 Speaker 1: But I'm not surprised given how professional Al is. He 655 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:32,360 Speaker 1: is the consummate professional and incredible gentleman as well. We 656 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:35,360 Speaker 1: are presented by BETMGM, the official sports betting partner of 657 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:39,400 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals, and by Hila River Hotels and Casinos. 658 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:42,440 Speaker 1: We didn't talk a lot about the Cardinals. They're not 659 00:38:42,480 --> 00:38:45,279 Speaker 1: playing too well right now, but still enough time to 660 00:38:45,360 --> 00:38:47,600 Speaker 1: turn things around. We'll see if they can do it 661 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:50,799 Speaker 1: on Sunday in Dallas. We'll talk to you then. Thanks 662 00:38:50,840 --> 00:39:01,759 Speaker 1: again for listening to The Day Pash Podcast three.