Subscribe Feed (RSS)I’m honored today to be one of the speakers paying tribute to Bill at noon at the annual Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors “Portland First Citizen Banquet” at the Governor Hotel.
The Schonz is this year’s “First Citizen” — an award mostly reserved for governors, mayors, senators, rich guys, movers and shakers and very, very important people.
Blazer fans should be even more prouder than usual today of their guy, Bill Schonely — who is very deserving of this great honor.
The current crew is fine, but I still miss listening to the Schonz every game. Those were the days… he’s one of a kind, and deserves all the recognition.
I am a huge Bill Schonely fan. Back in the days before we had every game on TV, the Schonz was the guy to help us “see” the game. I remember countless times playing on the hoop outside my house in the sun, rain, snow, whatever. Playing for 3 solid hours just listening to that guy call games, and always felt like I was right in the middle of the action.
Don’t get me wrong, I like watching the games now, and I even like Brian Wheeler, but Bill Schonely will always be “the voice of the Blazers”
I never met him in person, but his poise, vocal timbre, and intelligent commentary are sorely missed by those of us stuck listening to the current broadcasting crew on radio and television.
The TV crew is particularly unlistenable.
I think Wheels is the man, but the Schonz pre-dates cool. He was cool before it was cool. Mr. Schonely you are a class act and I am very proud to have you represent our fine city. RIP CITY!!!
Bill Schonely for Mayor….Return Class to the office.
As a banquet waiter back in the day, I first got to talk with Bill Schonely in the 1980s. If you think his voice sounds good on the air, you should hear it in person. It’s like he has a built-in studio effects rack in his head. Pipes for days.
I’ve grown to like the crew now, but combined they couldn’t carry his headset.
the stupidest decision in blazer history was not drafting bowie or picking larue martin over bob mcadoo…nor was it trading moses malone for a measly draft pick….it was letting the schonz go that should go down as the most boneheaded decision ever–it was like the dodgers firing vin scully or the cubs deciding so what if everybody loves harry caray–he needs to be shown the door…letting shonz go was public relations 101 for the blazers in how to lose friends [customers] and alienate people…still makes me shake my head and sigh…oh how i enjoyed those golden pipes of his highlighting blazer action in the 70s/80s/early 90s…brian wheeler is absolutely great but there will never be another schonz–who along w/being a hall of fame hoops broadcaster was an excellent excellent hockey and baseball play by play guy.