A.J.'s Letter to Two Valley Legends

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Dear Al McCoy and Greg Schulte,

First off, let me say thank you for making professional sports in Arizona an exciting experience. You two set the standard on how to tell a story by just calling the action on the field or court. As this year ends, both of you decided to sign off and ride off into the sunset. Honestly, many of us who followed the Suns and Diamondbacks are saddened, but grateful for your work.

Al, I grew up listening to you on KTAR 620. I was a "nerd" when it came to sports radio. In the late 80's and early 90's, the Suns were heading upward to playoff contention, and with the addition of Charles Barkley, to title contention. Through the rough years and the great years, you captured the imagination of Valley fans with every "Shazam," "Zing go the strings," or "It's in the deep freeze" whether it was at the "Madhouse at McDowell" or "The Purple Palace", you made listening and watching the Phoenix Suns memorable.

Greg, just like Al, you were always there. When the Diamondbacks started playing in 1998, you were the radio voice and always held that position. As the franchise began to blossom, you also did as the play-by-play voice. Every call of "Deep drive, warning track, wall, you can touch them all," meant that the D-Backs were in good position. If you were a Diamondbacks fan, they would remember where they were on the night you made your now-ironic call. Game 7 of the 2001 World Series against the unhittable Mariano Rivera. Luis Gonzalez lases a bloop single to the call of "BASE HIT! DIAMONDBACKS WIN! THEY'RE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS!" It is fitting that you ended your career with the D-Backs again in the World Series. It was a fun ride, Gub-Nuh.

So, enclosing, I speak for all of us when I say this from the bottom of our hearts, you two were one of the reasons why Arizona professional sports is on the map and we thank you for that.

Enjoy retirement, fellas, you earned it.

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