4/19/1983 Phoenix Suns First NBA Playoff Game, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, AZ


 38 years ago today...

April 19, 1983 - Phoenix, AZ

The Phoenix Suns hosted the Denver Nuggets in Round One/Game One of the Western Conference in the NBA Playoffs.
The TSTT research team led by Google uncovered that Game One of the 1983 Playoffs in Phoenix was this date 38 years ago, although the ticket stub states date/time TBA.
The game was played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, aka "the Madhouse on McDowell," the Suns home from its debut in 1968 before moving to the current downtown arena 1992.
For several years in the early 80s I worked on the TV crew for Suns games at the Coliseum, sitting at the scorer's table with legendary HOF play-by-play man Al McCoy. My job was to traffic the live read commercials to Al, some were radio only/some TV only as he simulcast both media, and he would mute one with an A/B switch. It was a great gig being courtside watching the athletes and personalities of that era. The TV contract was regular season only, so these playoff tix were media comps.
Suns won this game 121 - 108 but lost the three-game first-round series 2-1 to Denver. The Suns were led by Dennis Johnson (DJ), Walter Davis, Larry Nance, Alvan Adams and Maurice Lucas. Dan Issel, Kiki Vandeweghe and Alex English were the Denver stars.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7/10/21 Super Bowl of Rock: Ted Nugent, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Journey, .38 Special, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Image
 44 years ago today... July 10, 1977 - Chicago, IL The "Super Bowl of Rock" headlined by Ted Nugent and Lynyrd Skynyrd was held at Soldier Field. The day opened with a then-relatively unknown .38 Special followed by a new version of Journey and one of the first ever appearances by Steve Perry. Regional favorites REO Speedwagon came on next and then Skynyrd, at their live show peak and the best band of the day. Ted Nugent, also arguably at his career peak performance-wise, closed the festival. In this pre-bottled water era, each of the 60K+ in attendance at Soldier Field could bring in a gallon jug. When Nugent took the stage, the empty jugs were thrown from the back and upper levels of the stadium down to the main floor and toward the stage. Jugs were tossed at the band with Nuge egging it on. So many gallon jugs accumulated on stage the show was stopped and staff with push brooms worked to clear the area.
Read more

5/18/2018 Lynyrd Skynyrd "Farewell Tour," Support from Bad Company, Jamey Johnson & Outlaws, Ak-Chin Pavilion, Phoenix, AZ

Image
 3 years ago today... May 18, 2018 - Phoenix, AZ Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd performed in concert as part of their seemingly-endless Farewell Tour at Ak-Chin Pavilion. Under the tour title "Last of the Street Survivors," the current edition of Skynyrd drew a sold-out crowd to the outdoor amphitheater. Guitarist Gary Rossington was the only original member still rocking. Ronnie Van Zant's little brother Johnny remained the lead vocalist, carrying on for the original singer who died in the tragic plane crash of 1977. This was a long night of music, kicking off with a 30-minute show from the Outlaws, a four-song set with the closing song "Green Grass & High Tides" taking up half their time allotment. Jamey Johnson followed with an acoustic set where he was joined by one other guitarist, playing his hits "In Color" and "Mowing Down The Roses." Next up was Bad Company and the return of original singer Paul Rodgers. Bad Co performed an h...
Read more

6/4/1978 Waylon's Midwest Jamboree, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Hank Williams Jr., Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Pure Prairie League, Heartsfield, Rockford Speedway, Rockford, IL

Image
 43 years ago today... June 4, 1978 - Rockford, IL Outlaw country and southern rock performed loudly was on the bill for Waylon's Midwest Jamboree at Rockford Speedway. Waylon Jennings headlined this one-day festival that rocked from noon until dusk. Joining Waylon on the bill were his wife Jessi Colter, Hank Williams Jr., Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Pure Prairie League and Heartsfield. This show and all of these bands were squarely in my wheelhouse at the time, and we played their 8-track tapes in my El Camino on the drive there. This concert was only a couple years following the release of the album titled "Wanted: The Outlaws," a release featuring Waylon, Jessi, Willie Nelson and Tompall Glaser that is credited for launching the Outlaw Country musical genre. Hank Jr. had just ditched the rhinestone suits and playing his father's lovesick blues in favor of turning up the amps and blasting electric guitars. NGDB renamed themselves "Dirt Band," in an attempt...
Read more