"Jason Quick, one of the most respected beat writers in all the NBA, has his own thoughts on what makes Rip City — and Portland fans in particular — such a unique microenvironment within the greater NBA ecosystem." Hahahahahaha!
Nice article. Like Barret said, we never thought about the origins of the term because we grew up with it. It's always been part of the Blazer experience. There's a high probability that I listened to that game against the Lakers and heard Rip City then, but in my memory it just seemed to sprout up out of nowhere that first season and it just fit so well. I never thought about the idea that it might sound odd to folks from elsewhere and I'm glad we own it. But the part of the article I enjoyed the most was this quote; "Wheeler, wearing a striped Blazers polo shirt, exudes a shyness at odds with his signature on-air intensity. He’s as pleasant a man as you could hope to encounter — polite and giving, his passion for the team evident within minutes. It’s as if I’m talking to a tried-and-true fan, rather than someone paid to paint pictures in the mind." From what I experienced at the Wheels Meet and Greet, this describes the man to a tee. It was nice to see him acknowledged, however tenuous his ties to the Rip City term are. He's done a lot to keep Rip City relevant. But again, great article. Makes me even prouder to be a Rip City Zero.....
I was waiting for the first swipe at Quick. I just thought you'd let one of the more virulent Quick haters have the first shot.......
"I never really stopped to consider what exactly it meant, and I never saw a reason to. I just know.” - Mike Barrett This quote reminded me of the fact that no one knows the origin of our state's name. I just recently learned this, and that first sentence is pretty much exactly what I thought upon learning it. I like that both "Oregon" and "Rip City" are undefinable ideas, that we all instinctively know the meaning of.
