I miss Snapper
by Teezy on Aug 20, 2008 2:39 PM PDT
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PrintI never expected to get all choked up watching a game at 3 AM between China and Lithuania, but there I was, listening to Steve Jones and hearing the immortal 'NBA on NBC' bumper music. Amazingly, I had to break out the only John Tesh CD I ever purchased just so I could hear all of those tunes again. Who doesn't remember the theme they used over and over for every single highlight reel after the games? (BUHHH BUH... BA BA BUHHHH BUHHH... I know you know the one)
Am I the only one who truly misses Steve Jones? Hearing that voice kind of gave me that 'warm cuddly Morgan Freeman voice over' kind of feeling. His analysis was second to no one. He has a great sense for the game. I remember thinking that he always seemed to be so impartial and that when he sent out a compliment, there was some substance behind it. He and many other of the broadcasters, at least for me, are almost as significant in my Blazer memories as most of the players. I didn't realize I missed hearing the guy so much. Come back, Snap!
I couldn't believe how much hearing the Snapper's voice could transport me back to the days of Blazer Cable, to hearing his go rounds with Bill Walton on NBC, to listening ot the Swami and hinging on every prediction, to the sheer elation that came with sitting in front of the TV waiting for the claymation rabbit followed by some cheesy video of Uncle Cliffy and Mercy Mercy Jerome Kersey in hardhats on bulldozers (!) that signified the game was coming up. Or, in the event of a national game, turning down Hubie Brown's volume (Kevin Porter... what?) and cranking up the broadcast with Schonz instead. Yes, I did have a subscription to Rip City magazine. Yes, I shopped Blazers on Broadway regularly. Yes, I have the 'Blazermania LP'. Yes, my cupboard is still filled with DQ glasses. I still have my bootleg Bart Simpson playoff shirt which I bought at a roadside stand off of I-5. Yes, my phone's ring is the Blazer trumpet fanfare from the 70s and 80s.
All of this stuff is so prominent in my psyche. I realized last night that so much of that came from listening to all of those guys. I treasure each and every one of those times and look forward to many more with MB and Ricey. Rice cracks me up and is a huge part of Blazer history. MB is a local boy, which is cool, and seems like the kind of guy with whom you could have a beer and enjoy a game. That and he let me into the studio at the Rose Quarter to watch the end of a road game when it was pouring outside. Tell me how many broadcasters would do that for a stranger? After all this time it still feels like family.
I guess I felt compelled to write this as somewhat of a man-crush love letter to the broadcasters that shaped my youth and continue to bring me joy today. Schonz, Eddie, Swami, Lafferty, Wheels, MB, and Snapper... you are all aces in my book. You've played a significant role in my life and I just felt like saying thanks. Bingo Bango Bongo baby.
Would love to read some other broadcasting related memories. Please no diatribes on homerism. I am and will always be a homer. And proud of it.
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wait...
where did you get the fanfare ringtone?
do you have rip city rhapsody?
The DQ glasses are the only reason I have ever eaten at Dairy Queen.
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
link
http://joshscarlton.googlepages.com/BlazersTrumpet.mp3
Found it here on BE a few months ago.
It is just the beginning of the fanfare, but still cool. Now, whenever I listen to broadcasts I am constantly checking my phone. Funny!
Sorry, no link for Rip City Rhadsody.
I know this website...
Tim! Is that you? I just perused the site and noticed you’re getting married soon. Congratulations there :)
LOL
I just listened to the Blazer’s horn thingy over twenty times. Funny how little things like that can make you feel good inside.
Both Teams Played Hard
Both Teams Played Hard
Both Teams Played Hard
Yeah, I hear that
I set it as my ringtone on my cell a while back. I’ve missed calls just because I enjoyed listening to the Blazers’ clarion call repeatedly.
I completely agree about the Snapper.
I like Rice don’t get me wrong, but he’s just starting to get that Pat Summerall thing going where he forgets a name or starts talking about something and he’s incorrect. I would love to put Rice back on the radio, and the Snapper back on TV with MB. Maybe I’m the only one, but I know the Blazers production crew has got to cringe when Rice starts talking about something thats not PC. Barrett does a phenomenal job of quickly changing topics or cutting him off, and as he gets older this will become more frequent. If your going to remove the Schonz because of age, and you can get the Snapper then I think you should do it.
With out a doubt that would be 1 of the top 5 NBA broadcast teams in the nation. The Blazers are lucky to have a guy the quality of MB, and I enjoy Rice, but I just don’t know how you pass on the Snapper. Especially when you can enjoy him without listening to Walton. Not to say Walton is terrible, he’s toned down his act a little, but he can get a little annoying. Antonio Harvey has gotten better with experience, but if you can put Rice in his place for a couple years, and then bring in some new blood that would be my preference. Maybe then you bump Antonio to the Blazer Broadcasting crew for leading pregame, halftime and postgame on tv. That would be an amazing crew leading into what will be some amazing years watching and listening to our very own Portland Trail Blazers.
I feel you on Snapper
I’ve always loved the Snapper. He definitely made Walton more bearable, mostly because he would stand up to ol’ BW.
Also, he wasn’t such a ridiculous homer. Rice is okay, and occasionally endearing, but I would trade him for Steve Jones in a NY minute.
So much hatred for Bill!
The comic stylings of Bill Walton have never dulled for me!
“Throw it down big man, throw it down.”
“NICE passiiiiing.”
“Look at Najera, running beautifully down the floor.”
"Terrrrrrrrrible Luke. Horrrrrrrrrible."
“That’s the worst play in history of the NBA!”
It puts the lotion on the skin...or else it gets the hose!
by courtsideerrandboy on Aug 21, 2008 9:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I met Steve Jones at a barbershop when I was 14 or 15.
Our conversation was pretty awkward. He was sitting way too close. I could smell his breath.
Formerly known as 'Junior Del Norte' until I deleted my openID. It wasn't really an accident, but it wasn't really on purpose. Salaam
Close talker huh?
"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan
by GreatOden'sRaven on Aug 20, 2008 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions
awwwkward...
Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.
-Warren Bennis USC Professor
That was a very hard winter,
and it was just like one long night,
with me lying awake, waiting and waiting and waiting
for daybreak.
- Black Elk
1881
I would love to get Snapper back
Can anyone refresh my memory, why did he leave again? It had something to do with our ownership/management group did it not? And he got a better job because of it?
"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan
by GreatOden'sRaven on Aug 20, 2008 3:36 PM PDT reply actions
he was doing gigs for NBC and the Blazers
and the travel was too much for him at his age. And the Blazers wanted someone who would be their everyday and wouldn’t have to accomodate around him
Woof
by Charles Barkley McLovin on Aug 20, 2008 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions
That doesn't sound right.
He did the Sonics TV color commentary last year so I don’t think he left because of travel concerns. And seeing how NBC doesn’t do NBA anymore he didn’t leave because of that.
Maybe he had a falling out with management?
Get him back.. please!!
"Why would we lie to ourselves dude?"
"Be excellent to each other."
"All we are is dust in the wind, dude."
"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K."
The Wisdom of Bill S Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan
by GreatOden'sRaven on Aug 21, 2008 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Snapper back would be best
as long as it somehow removes Michael Holton off the telecast. MH frightens me and Im not afraid of bigfoot…
"Man, you go through life, you try to be nice to people, you struggle to resist the urge to punch'em in the face, and for what?! For some pimply little puke to treat you like dirt unless you're on their team. Well, I'm better than dirt- well, most kinds of dirt. I mean, not that fancy store-bought dirt. That stuff's loaded with nutrients. I --- I can't compete with that stuff."-- Moe
YOUR MY BOY SNAPPER!!!!!.........your my boy :(
I’ve been saying this for years, Snapper was my favorite Blazers TV guy. Mike and Mike are great, but i would trade them in for Steve in a heart beat
"I've been through a lot, like......World War I, World War 2"
- Greg Oden
I miss Snapper also
listened to him for years, loved his analysis
There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)
My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315
Snapper
I sorely miss the snapper. I think our fan base could use someone like him again to reeducate everyone on basketball fundamentals during the broadcasts.
Teezy, we're of one mind
I really miss hearing Steve regularly, and I’ve always thought it’s a shame that Snapper and Schonz had their respective (and legendary!) tenures w/ the team come to such abrupt ends. I’ve always thought that the Jai…no, The Infamous Period of The Franchise’s History Which Shall Not Be Named was made even worse by management’s utter bungling of the Bill Schonely situation (Thank you, Harry Hutt. I think you’re still the worst employee in the team’s history). Back in the day, we had an embarrassment of riches: Steve on the T.V., Bill on the radio. During the Blazer Cable days I’d flip back in forth between the audio feeds, happy in the knowledge we had two of the very best in business.
Ah, Blazers on Broadway! I was living in Eastern Oregon at the time, so every time I’d visit my folks I’d make sure to stop and shop there. It was the kind of store that existed only in my childhood dreams of the late 70s, and my passion for Blazer stuff hadn’t abated by the early 90s (to say nothing of the late 00s!). I’ve still got my DQ glasses roughly ten feet away from me. I was thrilled to replace two that I’d clumsily dropped and broken-I found two or three in great shape at Goodwill. I’ve still got a box full of Rip City issues stored somewhere around here, including my prized Clyde-Dream Team cover. And regarding bootleg merch: I remember vividly coming across a fantastic selection of bootleg original-script-and-logo shirts circa ‘90-’91, which to my regret I didn’t immediately snatch up. They were all gone in days.
My family had about 60 DQ Blazer glasses and gave them all to my uncle. I was kinda pissed about that.
My favorite one was the Clifford Robinson one with the little video game joy stick he had. I can remember a Buck Williams one where he is in a plane or something like that. I forgot which other ones I had. I had a lot of extra ones. Those things are great.
We all might miss him...
But I not think Mike Barret does. The Snapper was pretty tough on him that 1st year that they worked together.
2-4 the who
Yup
I noticed that too and did not appreciate his arrogance…..Barret is a humble person and has groomed himself on Basketball knowledge over the years ….Zapper has a good knowledge of the game, but he never practiced (when he played) what he now preaches He was way too hard on Barret and I’m sure that is why he’s not with the Blazers any more. If he could play second fiddle and not upstage Barret , like a good color commentator should do, then he would have been OK……. PS. Rice (laugh)makes Barret look good. But you can’t help but like the guy.
by 67 on Aug 21, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions
He was also hard on the other play by play guys he worked with.
I could never stand the man. He was the only one that was allowed to know anything.
I remember telling him how impressed I was with a player during summer league. In Avery's unique voice, he replied, "Marc, it's summer league." I
Keep Rice But Add Snapper Too
Great post. I was thinking the same things when watching the old Snapper on USA Network. He is one of the greats of color commentary guys in the hjstory of the NBA. It seems certain that someone is going to pick him up. Why shouldn’t it be the Blazers? He is part of our heritage, and he deserves to be here when we start kicking arse again. It’s not like Paul Allen doesn’t have the money. I have never been a big Mike Rice fan, but I have to admit that he is pretty funny, especially lately.
So I say keep Rice and add the Snapper. What a great broadcast team – Barrett, Rice, Jones. Those old NBA on NBC broadcasts featured two color guys (Walton & Jones) and I think Rice and Jones could have similar chemistry. Tell me what Blazer fan would not love that move. I think it would add a fun new dynamic to the broadcasts.
My favorite Snapper moment
It was the fall of 1984 and Snapper was doing the pre-game radio show. A caller went on a two minute rant about how Michael Graham was the greatest college basketball player of all time and he would lead the Hoyas to multiple championships, even after Ewing graduated. Way too much hype for Graham, but Snapper gave this caller his full opportunity to make his case without interrupting him, then simply said:
“Well, I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but Michael Graham has been ruled academically ineligible to play for Georgetown this year. However, we appreciate your phone call and wish you the best as you root for the Hoyas.”
My dad and I laughed hysterically – in fact, my dad nearly drove off the road. Classic case of Snapper letting the other person cause their own demise.
Snapper really?
I"m repeating myself but c’mon. Snapper said the exact same things game after game after game after game after game. My mom had any problems with sports or announcers but couldn’t stand Steve Jones because of this very thing.
Thank you god that he is gone. I like Steve Jones as a person and think he does a nice job on radio but I hope I never have to listen to him during a Blazer game ever again.
Ball movement, player movement
He used this Jone-ism again during halftime commentary of the Spain-Croatia game on USA the other night
I am SO glad to not have to listen to SJ regularly anymore…the other thing that drove me crazy was Jones always saying “the calls will all even out over the course of a game” after a particularly egregious call went against the red/black and a player/coach chirped at the ref and got Tee’d up. I get the feeling Steve knows where his bread is buttered and his “ref neutral” position has kept him in good graces with NBA entertainment and the league office
But c’mon…if the Donaghy conviction proved anything it’s that the bad calls don’t “even out”
Snapper is great.
I miss him too. I’ve been enjoying seeing him here and there on the Olympic coverage and on Summer League.
In his own mind
but certainly not mine.
He continually says what the team must do — over and over. Too bad he did not coach so he could put all that knowledge to work.
Stu Inman: a soft-spoken, witty and brilliant basketball guy -- who had so much to do with Portland's only championship. He believed that you won with not just great players, but with great people. (D Jaynes 2-2-07 Portland Tribune)
Rice is many times better
than Snapper as an analyst and he actually coached and he does extensive research before the games. He takes a lot of good natured ribbing from Mike Barrett that apparently some people take seriously. The two Mikes have a good working relationship. Outside of the Schonz, I do not know of a better basketball announcing duo.
Stu Inman: a soft-spoken, witty and brilliant basketball guy -- who had so much to do with Portland's only championship. He believed that you won with not just great players, but with great people. (D Jaynes 2-2-07 Portland Tribune)
Snapper
I actually grew up next door to Steve’s mother Geniva Jones in Gladstone. She used to be on the local morning show as a guest featuring cooking and recipies. I used to go to their house all the time. Was fortunate to share in some of their get togethers that had Blazers coming to their house before the championship year for different parties and such. I was only about 13 but go to shoot baskets with them and hangout. As I got older and saw Steve on TV I alway’s wanted to know where the nickname “Snapper” comes from. He would never say when asked. Anyone have any insight on that?
Inallthetime
Just guessing, but this comes to mind.....
1.He looks like a snapping turtle
2. When he talks, his teeth and his neck protrudes (like a snapping turtle)
3. He sits there all docile…(like a snapping turtle) then lurches out and snaps off your head
I don’t think he likes his nickname, but he earned it
Favorite Snapper Quote
“He laid a good piece ’a wood on ’im.” Made me laugh every time.
I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.
Just watching the rebroadcast of '77 Blazers-Sixers game 3...
……………………………. and CBS had Snapper on during halftime as a first half highlight analyst.
Long time ago, that was…
"TominHawaii's real name is Hubert and he's a rancher in Burns."
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