He had BIG SHOES to fill when he was hired since everyone, Everyone, EVERYONE loved the Shonz - and he did. Loved his super-softball questions to rookies or those not good at interviewing. Gonna miss him. So sorry about his health issues. Hope he gets to do the specialized work for the Blazers in some capacity.
Most companies won't .Its usually, decided to pursue other interest or retire. They most likely never say for a certain medical condition.
No, especially not the Blazers, but my question is did they let him go or did he leave or was it a mutual decision based on him not being able to commit to how many games he can call?
I doubt he was canned. Dude just couldn’t stay healthy and let himself go over the last few years. I’m sure they mutually decided he just wasn’t fit health wise for the grind of the season I hope he gets well
At this point these are all guesses but if he couldn’t carry a full seasons load it was probably in everyone’s best interest to move on.
If he has long-term health issues that preclude him from doing his job, what do you expect the organization to do? I love Wheels, almost as much as I loved Prime Schonley, but they need a PBP guy who can be there, especially on those long road trips. Now, should they have retired him from radio call duties, but kept him on in a voice-over role, or even an Ambassador position like Schonz, probably, but maybe Brian didn't want to be relegated to those roles. Best to move on, bring in someone new, fresh, and passionate. I'll miss Wheels as much as I missed Schonz, but time moves on.
I sure hope my employer doesn't want to can me if I have some legitimate health issues i'm dealing with. What the fuck? Wheeler is a legend. If he wanted to stay, they should accompany him in this time of need. Has dude not gave it his all the last 20+ years? Wheels was one of the best. Such a nice, down to earth dude too. Met him at many meet and greets and he always acted like he was one of us.
Wheels has been wonderful to this forum over the years, I'll contact him tonight and tell him to come look at all of your warm wishes and thoughts for him. Because of that any posts that are insulting or make fun of it any of his medical conditions I'm going to go ahead and delete.
I was looking for other Wheels related threads and came across this. I do see that he signed a multi-year contract in 2017, although, it doesn't say how many years. Anyway, I wish Wheels the very, very best...and a full recovery! http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/vo...rian-wheeler-signs-contract-extension.320561/
(lurk mode) This sucks. Im calling it tho. Colabro goes to radio, and new TV guy is hired. (/lurk mode)
I feared this after the last two seasons...you can't keep temping for him on the road and not give the road guy the gig....I understand..Wheels has been my favorite sports broadcaster ever and no one will miss him more than me...I'm a radio guy...Travis should do well if he gets the gig...I just hope Wheels enjoys the hell out of the next chapter and continues to be a Blazer fan...maybe even chime in here more often! It's a great day to be a Blazer! Boom Shaka Laka!
Im calling it: Radio just becomes an audio feed of the TV broadcasts, with Colabro being encouraged to call play by play on TV.
I love Wheels and hope he’s cool with this development. Hopefully we learn more specifics in the near future.
To Brian.....Heartfelt thanks for decades of entertainment and top shelf professionalism....you'll be a tough act to follow at least for my radio experience...you've been my Blazer game buddy for a long, long time. Riverman is a fan!
Then maybe you have a better memory than I have because I specifically remember Pat Lafferty being simulcast on the radio when Schonley was dealing with some health issues, and it was widely panned.