‘Retro Night’ to honor Phoenix’s history in Valley
Suns Celebrate 40 Years
The Suns will go retro in celebrating their 40th anniversary in the NBA.
(Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images)
By Jerry Brown
eastvalleytribune.com,
Jan. 3, 2008

Let’s get one thing straight about the Suns’ 40th anniversary “Retro Night” against their first-ever opponent, the Seattle Supersonics.

“There will be no shortshorts,” Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni said of tonight’s game. “Some things are meant to be left in the past.”

That will come as a huge relief to his players, many of whom gasped in horror Sunday in Sacramento while watching the Lakers, decked in retro shorts, experience a nasty draft during the first half of their loss to Boston.

“I’ll pass. My legs aren’t ready for that,” Amaré Stoudemire said, smiling.

Only Eric Piatkowski was disappointed to hear he won’t have the old-time trunks hanging in his locker tonight — either because, at 37, he remembers wearing them, or he knows he has a good chance of spending the night in his warm-ups.

In fact, the Suns will stick with their current duds.


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No sunburst on the shorts, no stripes on the sweats. But the dance team and the Gorilla will take a fashion risk — along with fans who are encouraged to drag out their elevator shoes and bell-bottom slacks and paste on the mutton chops.

Forty years ago this month (Jan. 22, 1968) the NBA awarded Arizona its first pro franchise. On Oct. 18, before a crowd of 7,112 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum (including part-owners Henry Mancini, Andy Williams and a full symphony orchestra dressed in tuxedos at midcourt), the Suns beat Seattle 116-107 behind 27 points from Gail Goodrich and 21 from Dick Van Arsdale — the Suns’ top two picks in the expansion draft.

Some 27 playoff appearances, three MVPs, two NBA Finals, one rainout and zero championships later, the Suns will mark their start with several members of the original 1968-69 team in attendance.

Music and video from that era will fill timeouts, while the 40th anniversary Suns team — selected by fan Internet vote — will be unveiled.

Those at home will enjoy a retro-television broadcast (no rabbit ears necessary) featuring black-and-white segments, old-time graphics and several former play-byplay and color analysts making a return visit.

COPYRIGHT 2008, EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE. Used with permission.