Without Al McCoy, a little technology company founded in Scottsdale may not be the media giant they are today. Full disclosure: I am employed by SkyView Network, the same company Al gave credibility too in the NBA broadcast circles back in 1995. “Having Al in your life made the path more enjoyable, a quicker rise; it would have been more of a struggle SkyView Founder and Chairman Ken Thiele told me on Sunday morning. Between his voice cracking with the emotion of Al’s passing, Ken told how Al asked him in August of 1995 about putting the Suns broadcasts up on a satellite. This was technology that hadn’t been done before. Back then, the Suns and every other NBA team had their games on the radio distributed by phone couplers(they didn’t sound nearly as crisp and clean). “My partner Dave and I flew to Washington D.C. after meeting with Al and acquired a satellite link by the end of August. We fed the Suns broadcasts to twenty Arizona and New Mexico radio stations that same season. “Al reached out to Chick Hearn and Keith Harris at the Lakers; they came on board, followed by the Golden State Warriors,” he recalled fondly. “When Al recommends you for something, that is as good as it gets.” Today, SkyView has 120 employees and partners with over 200 professional and collegiate teams.
Al McCoy played a big part in the growth of this local Arizona company, which is now one of the biggest and most respected globally in technology and entertainment creation and distribution. But Thiele credits the person, not the result. “Al always extended his hand to help lift you, not just to shake it.”
Al called me one day and said, “I want you to take over for me at SkyView doing the sports.” Since that phone call, I’ve been the voice of SkyView Sports.
Russ Jackson now lives in a suburb of Dallas, Texas. In 1958, he met with Al McCoy at KOOL Radio. “Al told me that I should go for an interview at KCKY. I did and was hired the next day. I’ve always been grateful to Al for that.” Russ is one of my mentors and one of my life’s most influential voices. He was my college radio instructor.
Mitch Otto sat next to Al McCoy for three seasons as the radio engineer of the Suns’ home game broadcasts. He spoke Saturday afternoon of how Al mentored him. “Al would manage his own board, but over time, he trusted and gave me the board, which meant a lot. Al was an icon, and his board was a big responsibility”.Mitch was my producer when I came to KTAR Radio in 1993 and was a great teammate.
What do these three have in common? Al McCoy. I could list a couple of dozen more names off the top of my head who were impacted by Al’s presence in their lives. I was fortunate to be one of them…
Media personality Brad Cesmat first rose to fame in Southern California with the launching of "The Mighty 690" all-sports radio station in the late 1980's and early 90's. Brad came to Arizona in 1993 to begin a 10-year run at KTAR Radio followed by nine years at KTVK-TV in Phoenix. Brad is the Founder/ CEO of Sports360AZ.com. His vision of multi platform content marketing through sports began in September of 2011.
Cesmat has served on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army for the last 18 years. He and his wife Chris have four children.
Between his voice cracking with the emotion of Al’s passing, Ken told how Al asked him in August of 1995 about putting the Suns broadcasts up on a satellite. This was technology that hadn’t been done before. Back then, the Suns and every other NBA team had their games on the radio distributed by phone couplers(they didn’t sound nearly as crisp and clean). “My partner Dave and I flew to Washington D.C. after meeting with Al and acquired a satellite link by the end of August. We fed the Suns broadcasts to twenty Arizona and New Mexico radio stations that same season. “Al reached out to Chick Hearn and Keith Harris at the Lakers; they came on board, followed by the Golden State Warriors,” he recalled fondly. “When Al recommends you for something, that is as good as it gets.” Today, SkyView has 120 employees and partners with over 200 professional and collegiate teams.
