RIP Mr. Schonz. Big Blazer influence to me and many many others. I hope you meet up with Lanny and kick back some of heavens juice together in celebration of all of those you had a positive influence on. Will never forget sitting and talking and listening to your stories. Well wishes to your family and friends. May your positive announcing style eternally live in the hearts and minds of all Blazer fans. Riiiiiiiiiip CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there a way to do retired jerseys for people who never wore one? Feels like SOMETHING should be in the rafters. What did the Lakers do for Chick Hearn?
I know it’s a little long but man this one hits different, he is one of the main reasons I chose the career path I did. Over the last 53 years there has been only one man that has tied everything together for the Portland Trail Blazers. Players … coaches … general managers … even owners have come and gone, all leaving their own mark on the franchise, BUT one man still remained, that was Bill Schonely. He was more than just a broadcaster, this is a man who with two words gave a city it’s identity. One off hand phrase of a basketball ripping through a net gave birth to the rise of RIP CITY. It’s been 52 years since he uttered those two words and yet you’ll find them on businesses, merchandise and even as a jersey worn by the team. He didn’t just have Rip City though, it was ‘Bingo … Bango … Bongo Baby’ and ‘Lickety Brindle Right Down the Middle’ and ‘Climbing the Golden Ladder’ and of course ‘You Got to Make Your Free Throws.’ It wasn’t just his voice, his enthusiasm for the game, but even after he no longer had a microphone, he was still with the team, really as the face of the franchise all over the community and greeting fans at ‘Schonley’s Place’ as they grabbed a beer during the game. One night I had the fortune of running into one of my idols and for a brief moment I got a picture with the man, he couldn’t have been more gracious with his minute or two. Listening about how many times as a child I went to sleep listening to his voice, just waiting for him to tell me and the rest of the Blazer fans tuning in “goodnight evvvvverybody.” Telling him about how he was one of the reasons I choose the career and life I did. I’m sure he’d heard a version of that story more times than he could count, but he humored me anyway. I know the local broadcaster has a special place in every city, but the Schonz felt different in that one sport city. Maybe it’s just me but it feels like not only the voice but the heart and soul of the Blazers has moved on. He lived a full and by all accounts great 93 years but it doesn’t mean he won’t still be missed. RIP Schonz!
He was the one constant over the history of the franchise. To me he felt like the heart and soul of the organization, the one unifying all the eras.
My family moved back West from North Carolina in 1976. As a hoops crazed youngster, I often sneaked my little radio with a single ear plug into bed and fell asleep listening to Schonz as that magical championship season unfolded. What a pleasure to see my new friends & city joyously rally around the team and the beautiful ball they played. Heck, I loved listening to him so much my Pops sent me recordings of his Blazer calls while I was overseas studying in Europe... I must have listened to one random game vs the Suns a dozen times. Bill was such a class act and had such great catch phrases, he embodied the team probably more then any player. RIP to a great one who lived a great life! STOMP
As a kid I would play dominoes with my grandfather in his den and eat hard candies while listening to Bill Schonley orchestrate the magic that was Trail Blazers basketball! He is the reason I became a fan, condolences to his family.
Was fortunate to meet him very briefly at one of the draft parties, and like many of you, made sure to tell him how many nights as a kid I was glued to my radio listening to him call the road games (since we had Blazer Cable for the home games), or how we'd mute the NBC broadcast and have his call up loud. He was so good at making the games come alive.
Tough to take in. Condolences to his family and friends. PDX won't be the same without you. Such a mighty loss to our identity. So many memories. Irreplaceable. RIP Legend. GOAT.
RIP! That's my son and I over Rice's shoulder....the day I got to meet Schonz ..Lanny and his wife were right behind them next to us.
