I’ve stayed away from talking about The Schonz’s radio appearance Wednesday night because I didn’t hear it. I was at the game and forgot to bring a radio with me. I did hear from a lot of people who were impressed by how well he did after the long layoff.

I also heard, of course, that Brian Wheeler allowed Bill to do the whole second half and I have to tell you, in my opinion “Wheels” is one of the most generous, kind and talented people I’ve ever come across in this business. Bill’s microphone is in great hands these days. Wheeler is a real pro, folks.

I’m going to link you to Steve Brandon’s review of Schonely’s performance because it’s not only the only one I’ve seen but Brandon — who once covered the Trail Blazers — is now the sports editor of the Portland Tribune and doesn’t get a chance to write much anymore. But as you will see, he still can, that’s for sure.

If you are a fan of broadcasting in general, or a fan of The Schonz (and who isn’t?) or of Wheels, you must read this piece. It’s great Bill had a chance to show a new generation of fans what this whole “Rip City” thing was all about.

Way to go, pal.

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Tags: Bill Schonely, Brian Wheeler, Dwight Jaynes, Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Tribune, Steve Brandon

Yes, don’t forget the Schonz is calling the third quarter tonight (as well as singing the national anthem). Bring that radio to the game, if you’re going and if not, make sure you’re listening on 95.5 The Game.

It’s been a long time since he’s done a game and a few weeks ago he expressed a little concern to me that he was worried about how well he would do.

As we all know, it doesn’t matter. Just get on there and do it, Schonz. It’s just the act of doing it that matters. One more chance for us all to hear that great voice again and with that, relive some warm and wonderful memories. It’s going to sound great, I’m sure.

What we’re going to do on this site is something I’ve never tried. I’d like to keep a thread open tonight for your comments during the broadcast. We’ll do it right here after this post. In the comments section, let us know what you’re thinking about as you listen to that third quarter. Let’s hear your reaction to Schonz’s play by play and whatever memories it sparks.

So for right now, comment as you wish about Bill — and he reads this blog, I know. Some of you have probably never heard him do a game, having been too young or living in another city while he was the team’s broadcaster. I’d love to hear your reaction, too. And when that third quarter rolls around, let’s hear your thoughts, OK?

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Tags: Bill Schonely, Dwight Jaynes, Portland Trail Blazers

It came to me last evening, as I was interviewing Jack Ramsay during the BFT on 95.5 The Game.

Yes, they’re letting Bill Schonely broadcast some of the game. Ramsay thought that was a cool idea. Of course, we all do. But what about bringing Jack Ramsay back, digging an old pair of paisley pants out of the closet for him and letting him be with the team for a few days and then coach part of the game? I’m sure Nate McMillan wouldn’t mind — I mean, come on, it’s only an exhibition game.

I can’t imagine there would be any bigger thrill for Trail Blazer fans — or basketball fans in general — than to see Jack Ramsay for just a few minutes, down on one knee in front of a Trail Blazer bench. And you know, I think if it’s handled right, Jack would do it.

“I don’t know,” he said Monday when I asked him about it. “I think my coaching career is over.” But then he paused a little and I think considered it some. Actually, I think it would be great for Jack, too, to feel the love just one more time. There’s a whole generation of Trail Blazer fans out there who have never seen him on the sidelines.

And any exposure this team can have to the great Hall of Fame coach would show the players the championship legacy the Trail Blazers own. Honestly, a few days – even one night – with Jack Ramsay would help any team in some way.

I don’t know, maybe I’ve kind of gone wacky with this game, because going back into that building is sort of a once-in-a-lifetime chance to recapture memories that were just about gone. I just think if you’re going to go back in there and play one more time, you may as well do all you can to maximize the moment.

AND BY THE WAY: Not that it would appeal to anyone at One Center Court, but can you imagine the publicity it would generate on ESPN (Jack’s network) to have him doing this? And I’d make it clear, too, that it isn’t a publicity stunt. Make sure Jack gets a few days prior to the game with the team to leave what will be a lasting impact on the players. The Ramsay charisma and winner’s mentality is still very strong.

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Tags: Bill Schonely, Dwight Jaynes, exhibition game, Jack Ramsay, Memorial Coliseum, Portland Trail Blazers

Pretty cool stuff announced up in Longview, Wash., today at a news conference in the Mark Morris High School gym, the site of Portland’s first-ever exhibition game.

Portland’s exhibition game this Oct. 14 will be in Memorial Coliseum, as you all know, with Bill Schonely sharing play-by-play duties with Brian Wheeler. I was actually kind of hoping for a reappearance of either Dave Twardzik or Geoff Petrie alongside The Schonz, but hey — just happy to see Bill get one more game, just a couple of days before he turns 80 years old.

They’re already apparently selling tickets for that game at $19.70 — reflecting, of course, 1970, Portland’s first NBA season. Just remember to bring your radio.

It sounds as if the team will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in high style with events throughout the season that bring back key players and coaches from the past.

I’ll have some more details from that news conference later, including a Terry Porter update.

Also need to mention that I’m doing the Morning Sports Page on 95.5 The Game with Chad tomorrow so you won’t see any early blog posts. Just the idea of getting up at 4:30 so I can go on the air from 6-9 a.m. is daunting enough — without worrying about the blog. I’d appreciate it if you’d give us a listen in the morning.

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Tags: 95.5 The Game, Bill Schonely, Brian Wheeler, Chad Doing, Memorial Coliseum, MSP, Portland Trail Blazers

“Doctor Jack” is how he’s known now, as he’s carved out a nice career as an NBA radio analyst. In the days when I covered him as the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, the “Doctor” thing was not really a part of the whole thing.

He was just “Jack.” And I have to tell you, I can’t possibly tell all the stories and relate to you exactly how I feel about him in just one post. He was the first NBA coach I ever covered, when my career as an NBA beat reporter began, back in 1984. I approached him at first with some degree of caution, because his reputation at the time was that he didn’t have a lot of patience for stupid questions or the people who asked them.

I think, in short order, I disproved that. I tried very hard not to bother him with dumb questions but when I did, I never saw any sign of impatience. I mean, the man — this great man — was so nice to me I was totally disarmed. Actually, I don’t know that I’ve ever, in my entire career covered a more interesting, patient, resilient, cooperative, brilliant man.

And the best part is that he had a terrific sense of humor and an awareness of the rest of the world that few other big-time coaches that I’ve ever met have had. Jack would be a little difficult after tough losses, he was known for that. I respected that. He was a hell of a competitor. But the next day he would bounce back with a smile on his face, always ready to tackle whatever was heading his way.

I can remember those early wakeup calls on the road, when the team had lost a difficult game the night before (and in this part of his Blazer coaching career, the losses started to come more frequently). He’d be the same guy as if his team had won by 20.

And the best part, I think, was that he wasn’t one of those “the league is my life” kinds of guys. This wasn’t Mike Schuler, who was so involved in coaching that he once confessed to me that he had no idea what “that Watergate thing” is. (“Honestly, Dwight, I know it had something to do with Nixon, but I don’t really know what happened. I’m not proud of that. I was too busy coaching.”)

Jack would talk politics, music, art or simply the news of the day. Whenever we traveled to New York, he was talking to trainer Ron Culp about what Broadway plays to arrange for us to see. And I mean “us.” See, it was really the only time in my writing career I was included in a lot of the things the coaches did. Yes, this was a different era.

We — all of us — went to dinner together. Lunch. We talked openly about basketball, the team and everything else. Sure, I didn’t ever flatter myself into thinking the guy told me everything about the team. I knew better. But he trusted me to know what to write and what not to write and that was good enough for me.

Honestly, the big thing for me was that all the travel of an NBA season was something new to me. I had two wonderful children at home that I missed and there was a whole life going on at home that I was not a part of for several months of the year. Jack Ramsay, more than anything, helped me get through that. So did Culp, the trainer, Bill Schonely and Dave Twardzik (and later Geoff Petrie) on the radio broadcast team. Along with Rick Adelman, who was then a Ramsay assistant, we spent a lot of time just having fun. (By the way, I just took another look at the names on that list — what an incubation I had with those people, all of whom did pretty well for themselves in the NBA as it turned out.)

So many stories that will go untold, involving all of those guys. Some of them kind of meaningless now. I remember once in Sacramento, where there was a coffee shop across the street from our hotel and it was about noon when I drifted down to the lobby of our hotel to meet Jack, Twardzik and “The Schonz” for lunch.

Schonely was already making arrangements with the coach for taping that night’s pre-game show, when Ramsay had to do an interview for a few minutes setting up that night’s game. Over a period of a long season, those interviews got a little tiresome for everyone, I’m sure.

Ramsay winked at me and growled at The Schonz, “Hey, tonight ask some real questions, OK? No more of those, ‘Jack, the Indiana Pacers . . . Your thoughts.’ What is that ‘Your thoughts’ stuff? Ask a real question.”

The Schonz, as was his habit, got a little flustered but managed to laugh, as Ramsay winked at me again and we all broke into laughter. For some reason, I couldn’t stop laughing for the rest of the day. To this day, I’ll say to Schonz “Bill, the Portland Trail Blazers, your thoughts . . .” and we’ll both laugh.

Jack liked to make sure you were on your toes. But he had a big heart, too, and it showed in the way he treated people. NBA players were (and still are) a piece of cake for him. No matter how old he gets, and he still looks just the same as he always did, he immediately relates to players, coaches and their unique problems.

Speaking of the way he looked, I remember once after getting to know him pretty well, a flight attendant on a plane was wandering down an aisle looking for the person who had ordered something and I knew it had been Jack. So I told her to deliver it “to the guy whose picture is on the side of those bottles of poison.” (You know, that skull and crossbones thing).

Sitting near me, the broadcasters busted up, but I admit I gulped after blurting that out. Jack HAD heard it. But he just turned and smiled. He could take it, as well as dish it out.

He was then and is now such a special person. I love the guy and am so indebted to him for his kindness and the generosity. He willingly shared his knowledge and his time and the value of those to me was priceless.

I’m sure he’s touched so many others in the same way.

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Tags: Bill Schonely, Dave Twardzik, Dwight Jaynes, Jack Ramsay, Portland Trail Blazers, Ron Culp

If you really want to go all nostalgic for that exhibition game, let’s do it up right. Why not have Bill Schonely do the radio play-by-play of that game? And why not juice it up even more by bringing in Dave Twardzik or Geoff Petrie to be his sidekick?

I have to tell you this: Schonz, doing one final game from that old building — with either Geoff or David on the air with him, that’s gold. That’s radio gold, folks. Man, how big would that listening audience be?

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Tags: Bill Schonely, Dwight Jaynes, Memorial Coliseum, Portland Trail Blazers

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.

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Tags: Bill Schonely, Dwight Jaynes, Portland First Citizen

My friend Steve Kelley has column in the Seattle Times about the first voice of the Seattle Sonics (remember them?). He’s recovering from a head injury as the result of a fall. Old timers will remember that Bob was also a long-time play-by-play man for the Beavers, both Portland and Oregon State variety. A great column by a great guy about a great guy.

Kelley also takes the time to point out that in the West side of the NBA, we once could choose from Bill Schonely in Portland, Blackburn in Seattle, Bill King in the Bay Area, Chick Hearn in Los Angeles and Al McCoy in Phoenix. An absolute incredible collection of broadcasters in one region in one sport.

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Tags: Al McCoy, Bill King, Bill Schonely, Bob Blackburn, Chick Hearn, Dwight Jaynes, Seattle Sonics, Steve Kelley

This is an uncomfortable conversation for me but enough people have asked me about it (this happens when you get old — people ask you a lot more historical questions and assume you were there calling “next” on the day Doc Naismith nailed the peach baskets to the wall).

The latest Blazer announcement that No. 30 is being retired for two players — Terry Porter and Bobby Gross — caught me a little off guard. I mean, everyone knew the Blazers were going to hang Porter’s number at some point. Gross, though, was a surprise because we’re talking about a player here who played in only 486 Trail Blazer games and averaged just 9.2 points in those games. Those stats don’t come close to matching up with another No. 30, Rasheed Wallace.

Don’t get me wrong, I would be the last person to suggest Wallace’s number should be retired. His biggest contribution to Blazer history was inscribed on a T-shirt I still wear that says, “Both teams played hard.”

I’m not here today to bury anyone. A lot of the people mentioned in this post are friends of mine. Bob Gross was a key player on a Portland team that won an NBA championship and stats certainly aren’t everything when it comes to evaluating a player’s contribution to a franchise.

But I’ve always wondered, what exactly is the criteria for retiring a number?

Portland has laundry in the rafters right now honoring its former owner, Larry Weinberg, its former broadcaster, Bill Schonely, its former general manager, Harry Glickman, a former coach, Jack Ramsay and former players Dave Twardzik, Lionel Hollins, Larry Steele, Maurice Lucas, Clyde Drexler, Bill Walton, Lloyd Neal and Geoff Petrie. Porter and Gross will soon join them.

That’s a lot of cloth hanging from the ceiling of a team that’s won just one championship, isn’t it?

One of the people who has a number retired told me several years ago that he thought the Blazers made a huge mistake in not putting one banner up for the championship team — with all the numbers or names of the players on that team — but not actually retiring all those numbers. You know, honor all those guys but don’t get carried away by putting their number away.

I agree with that. I think retiring numbers should be saved for Hall of Fame caliber players — or people who have been with the franchise for a long period of time, like Schonely. And I’d hope that when retiring a player’s number, that fans could look up there and see that number and know who the player is, without the name even being attached to it. Clyde? That’s No. 22, of course. It always will be. Walton? 32! Luke? 20! You know those, right? It would have been silly for anyone else to attempt to wear those numbers after those guys wore them.

Lloyd Neal? He was No. 36. Larry Steele was 15. Twardzik had lucky 13. I love those guys. Great people. Now I hate to play this game, but fans do it all the time – you could start comparing statistical contributions and ask where is Jim Paxson’s No. 4? Mychal Thompson’s 43? What about Buck Williams’ 52? Jerome Kersey’s No. 25?

Again, the point isn’t to diminish anyone’s role in the history of the Trail Blazers. Congratulations to all of them. But when you need one program to identify the players on the court and another one to sort out the jerseys in the rafters, that may be a little much.

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Tags: Bill Schonely, Bill Walton, Bob Gross, Buck Williams, Dave Twardzik, Dwight Jaynes, Harry Glickman, Jack Ramsay, Jim Paxson, Larry Wienberg, Lloyd Neal, Maurice Lucas, Mychal Thompson, Portland Trail Blazers, retired jerseys, Terry Porter