Suns 40th anniversary

Suns broadcast goes retro
Thursday night's 40th anniversary celebration for the Phoenix-Seattle game will feature many throwback elements, except retro jerseys, but fans watching on My 45 might feel taken back in time even more.

The game broadcast will start in black and white with a grainy-film look and two camera angles. The graphics will have no logos, a huge, basic scoreboard, an in-laid camera shot of the game clock and "instant replay" labels. A Suns dancer will hold billboard advertisements.

In the second quarter, television play-by-play announcer Tom Leander will do radio while Hall of Fame radio voice Al McCoy will join former analyst Greg Schulte on television as the production goes to 1980s color with more angles. After two segments, former announcer George Allen will join Leander and analyst Eddie Johnson.

Gary Bender, who has broadcasted Suns games since 1993, and Channel 10's Jude LaCava, a former Suns broadcaster, will share memories as a normal broadcast returns for the second half.