My only criticism of Nate over the years was not enough technicals. I respected him for it as I hate to see coaches whine all the time. But you have to do it. He took one early tonight and it helped. Nice assist by Mike Rice by taking off his head set and yelling at the Refs that the ball hit the rim and they should reset the shot clock. (In the final minute) This after a timeout? How the fuck could the refs almost screw that up when they had a whole timeout to discuss it. Unbelievable.
Mike Rice is the most amazing color guy ever - and Nate freaking McMillan is the NBA Coach of the Year!
I think he was actually telling one of the assistant coaches. I don't think the refs listen to him any more.
I thought this as well. It doesn't matter though, because Rice got it right, and OKC did go out of bounds on an alternate angle.
Yeah, I miss the Wheels and the Wild One radio combo. Antonio Harvey has really grown on me, though. Him and Wheels have some great on-air chemistry together.
Wheeler sucks....I can't stand him... I'd rather have Schonley back...even at his age now...or I would love to see POR go and get Calabro, that guy is great.... Wheeler is amateur hour...and stupid catch phrases....
Do you ever get a chance to listen to other teams radio guys? If not, check out the Jazz and then get back to me on Wheelz!
??? How can you not like Wheels? The guy is a huge fan, first and foremost! I'm sorry, but name one other play by play guy whose voice cracks after a big play, or comes up with such gems as "Phil Jackson is mesmerized, mystified, and mortified!". The guy just represents the Blazer fan base so well, in that he is passionate and not afraid to speak his mind, unlike so many other yawn-inducing announcers today.
I hate Mr Sonic more than anyone, and one of my many complaints was not standing up for his team. He moved up a notch over the last three games because he got up into the refs as he should have. For those keeping score at home, he is now on notch #1
I am actually using a scale of 0-100. I would think I rate at least a solid 12 on that scale. How dare you insult me by putting me at a 10. You sonofabitch!!
The thing I liked about the T that Nate took tonight was that he took it early. Technical fouls are all about timing. When you get a technical over a call, you want it to get you as much gravy for the effort as you can. That means getting the technical early. You don't want to change calls for just a part of the game, and you also want to give your team every opportunity to make up for the T. That means take the T early, set the tone with the referee's early that you aren't going to put up with it, so that you get the benefit of the T over the whole game. Not just a few minutes.
Very rarely, and frankly I don't care what other teams radio guys sound like. I did like Calabro a lot, always liked him. Loved Schonley, unique and classy... Sorry but Wheeler is niether of those...his catchphrases are pretty stupid sounding, he is too much of a homer IMO...Never been a fan of his... Like this...that isn't cool or funny or witty...it's stupid....the guy needs to get a new act.....
I think thats what makes Wheels great, is that he is so much of a homer. For me, being a Blazer fan living in Kansas and obviously not able to go to Blazer games, he makes me feel like I am there in the Rose Garden. If I had to choose between a radio guy that is reserved, or disinterested sounding because he's not really a fan of the team, just punching a clock; or a guy who is lays it all on the line emotionally, an unabashed homer, I'd take the homer any day. He takes the emotion and excitement of Blazer basketball and transposes that over radio waves, something that is not easy to do. But that's just my opinion...
