Bill Schonely Wins Curt Gowdy Media Award, Headed To Hall
Long-time Portland Trail Blazers announcer Bill Schonely was named the recipient of the 2012 Curt Gowdy award for his contributions to the game of basketball, the highest honor for a sportscaster, and will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
"The Schonz" announced the very first Blazer game in 1970, and did play-by-play for over 2,500 games through 1998. Of course, he's also well-known for creating the Blazers motto, "Rip City", and for being the voice of the NBA's "It's Fantastic" national campaign.
He will be officially inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September. He'll be joined by Nike's Phil Knight, who was also inducted today.
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"We couldn’t be happier for Bill. He’s been one of the strongest pillars for our franchise since its inception 42 years ago," said Trail Blazers President Larry Miller. "This is a testament to the impact he’s had on fans in the city of Portland and broadcasters across the country. From calling our championship run in the seventies, voicing the NBA Fan-tastic commercials in the eighties and his present-day work as our Ambassador, Bill has dedicated his life to this organization and the game of basketball."
"I am absolutely stunned. This is something I’ve only dreamed about," said Schonely. "To be included with the talented individuals who have won this award in the past is an honor I can’t begin to put into words."
3 months ago
Timmay!
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I think you got it correct.
Is the center circle officially called the “cyclops at mid-court”?
by BlazerDavid on Feb 24, 2012 10:58 AM PST up reply actions
Great story:
“In 1957, Schonely suggested to Keith Allen, then player-coach for the Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League, that their games be televised and that he should call them. A skeptical Allen agreed, if Schonely could find sponsors. Schonely enlisted friends including a funeral home dierctor, optometrist and restaurateur to sponsor, and KOMO-TV broadcast Totems games on Sunday nights. Schonely called Totems games for 11 years on television and radio, and the team became popular in Seattle for a time.
In one incident during a game against the San Francisco Seals at the Cow Palace, an obnoxious fan would hit a siren every time the Seals made a good play, and eventually held the siren up to Schonely’s ear. Going to a commercial, Schonely announced: “By the time I get back on the air, this guy is going to have a knuckle sandwich.” Schonely put his headset down, turned around and slugged him. Security took the man away, and Schonely returned to the air, saying: “He got his knuckle sandwich, folks.”
by BlazerDavid on Feb 24, 2012 11:07 AM PST reply actions 11 recs
haha, best thing I have ever read.
God, I love the term “knuckle sandwich.”
"If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind."
by thankyouforblaze on Feb 25, 2012 3:04 AM PST up reply actions
My favorite Schonely call of all time:
“Portland International Airport is smoke-FREE.”
by Thomas McCloskey on Feb 24, 2012 11:08 AM PST reply actions
as a lifelong Blazer fan
I don’t have a single childhood memory of the Blazers that doesn’t include that voice. The hall of should consider themselves lucky to have such a class act. RIP CITY BABY !!!!
just win baby !
by FrenchieFan on Feb 24, 2012 11:20 AM PST via mobile reply actions
Bout Time...
He’s deserved it for a long time. Way to Go Bill Schonely!
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
Vindication
After his having to watch Dwight inducted into the Oregon sports hall of fame.
"You're standing in my sunlight, please move." —Diogenes to Alexander the Great
Fan--tastic! Way overdue Schonz! Rip-City!
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 24, 2012 11:41 AM PST reply actions
Awesome Schonz!
Congrats!!
The Stumptown Quack
by RipCityforLife on Feb 24, 2012 12:09 PM PST reply actions
About time
congratulations Bill Schonely! Rip City!
by CincyBlazerFan7180 on Feb 24, 2012 12:27 PM PST reply actions
My favorite call was his opening line of every broadcast
“Good evening basketball fans, wherever you may be!”
When I heard that line as a kid, I knew it was time to get excited. He had just the right “showman” tone to his voice, just a touch of a circus sideshow barker that drew you in. But not too much (I’m looking at you, Wheels).
by unblindloyalty on Feb 24, 2012 12:43 PM PST reply actions 2 recs
I've always loved that line, too
To me, it means that no matter where you were — at home listening in your living room, driving on some stretch of highway — Schonely was there telling the game to YOU. It immediately connected the game to everyone who was listening.
I’ve used the line myself on play-by-play to open a few live basketball games, in order to pay homage to Schonely and create the same feeling. I hope he doesn’t mind.
The inbound to McGinnis, drives, stops, pumps, shoots, short, no good...AND THE GAME IS OVER! ~ Bill Schonely
by SandbergOnSports on Feb 24, 2012 9:04 PM PST up reply actions
A class act, all the way
When I was 11 years old, my friend and I hung around after a game and worked up our courage to approach him. He was gracious, giving us a few moments of his time and a nice handshake. He also gave us the stat sheet from the night — which I still own 30-some-odd years later. Rip City, baby!
RIP CITY BABY!!
"It feels good to give the fans Taco Bell."
- Luke Babbitt, 1/23/2012
by halo_on on Feb 24, 2012 1:43 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Congratulations to Schonz!
Bill came from the time when having a radio voice, or being an announcer of any kind, came with maintaining a certain style, elegance, and tone of professionalism. It wasn’t natural speech, and had a lot of the showman, but that’s why you tuned in.
Even though today’s radio, TV and sports anchors trade on trying to sound like the guy at the next barstool, and supply lots of amped up energy, outrage, casual slang, irony and snark, which would have been rare to hear from the Schonz, he was very good at what he did. You always got the idea that he took it seriously, while trying to make everything sound effortless.
But besides that, in an era where marketing was a tiny shadow of what is now, for many Oregonians over decades he was the Blazers. I’m sure his many fans felt like even though we were in small market, nowhere-Portland, we had someone who was right up there with the best in the business, and the most famous voices from legendary teams. Great to see this from the Hall, and he must be thrilled to get this honor.
You hint at the difference between guys like Schonely
Gowdy, Red Barber, and today’s announcers. The old guys painted pictures with their words.
I still
get chills when I hear Schonz call the ’77 conference finals down in the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles. We were playing incredible basketball. It was that moment everyone knew the Trailblazers were going to the finals.
Congratulations Schonz!
Don’t forget to remind the guys at Standard TV and Appliance that HOF announcers cost more.
In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.
Schonz is the blazers..
My mom and dad had this giant stereo in the family room that had a turn table, an eight track player, turn table and AM radio. I used to sit by this monstrosity and listen to Schonley call every blazer game since 1979 until Wheels took over (I love Wheels too by the way). Every time I hear his voice, my mind is flooded with memories of my childhood. My Mom used to sit and keep score while listening to every game, pencil and paper in hand. I’ve met Bill Schonley a couple of times at the resturant in the Rose Garden and he’s such a class guy. When I met him it felt like I was talking to a member of my family because he was in my family room every time there was a game tuned in. I’m so thrilled that he made it to the hall. No player, coach, GM or owner has ever symbolized the blazers like Bill Schonley IMO. RIP CITY!!!!
Awesome news!
Someone above mentioned his opening line – that always got me pumped up too. During games, my little brother and I would shoot a Nerf ball at a hard plastic rim my Dad secured above a doorway while the game was announced. We couldn’t sit still, we had to become the players Schonley described.
He belongs in the HoF, no doubt about it. Professional, enduring, and allllll Portland!
Aren't the T-Wolves colors red and black?
I'm another fan in MN
And we did the same kind of thing growing up. During the playoffs, when games were on NBC, we’d turn down the TV volume, listen to Schonz, and run down to the b-ball court at halftime. Post-loss frustration was always vented over games of “HORSE.”
Steve Goodman lives.
“Inbound to McGinnis, drives, stops, pumps, shoots, short, no good….AND THE GAME IS OVER!!!”
by The Cactus Leaguer on Feb 24, 2012 4:30 PM PST reply actions
You Da Man
I was wondering if he had done a Blazer book. Just bought it.
I will always remember listening to him in the 70’s hey days!! Especially the Chicago Bulls.
Artis Gilmore, Bob Love, Tom Boerwinkle, and especially Norm Van Lier going at it with the L Train. We beat them in a bunch of Epic battles and Schonz had you on the edge of your seat the whole way.
Great games, better days!!
Well done, Schonz.
Wherever you may be; good night, eeeeeeverybody!
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Feb 24, 2012 5:45 PM PST reply actions
Way to go Shonz!
Makes me want to break out my old record that has your calls of the championship season…What great times they were!
No one deserves it more. Schonz is the heart, soul and spirit of the Portland Trail Blazers
Goodnight, evvvvvrybody!
When reached 40+ years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
nice post Timmay.
since I was the 5th rec’er, can we put it in the recommended fanposts or fanshots?
if it just stays on the main page, it will get lost in all the updates.
"If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you're a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind."
by thankyouforblaze on Feb 25, 2012 3:07 AM PST reply actions
Finally.
This guy has ALWAYS been there rep’n in the community, nobody is going to have his level of impact around here in the foreseeable future. Every single person I have met from the organization was really cool, but if you ever meet the Schonz you are guaranteed to have a very genuine experience. He wears his feelings on his sleeve, is totally accessible, and loves being the Blazers ambassador. When I met him, you could truly tell he was pissed there was an ongoing lockout! What organization has a cooler guy than this?
Go to work, Nolan.
Congratulations Schonz!
I still remember listening to Blazers games on a little red plastic transistor radio in my room long after I was supposed to be asleep. I remember driving the streets of Santa Clara California when I was in college trying to pick up KEX 1190. Schonz was THE voice of the Trailblazers, and for me he always will be. Yes, he could be a bit of a homer at times, but he was nothing like the homers most teams have now, including the Portland crew. When Portland played poorly he called them on it. (You’ve GOT to MAKE, your Free Throws!) The Trailblazers organization has made some dumb moves over the years. Essentially trading Brain Grant for a washed up Shawn Kemp, signing Reuben Patterson, and yes Bowie over Jordan, Martin over McAdoo, and Oden over Durant. But no organizational decision ever made me more upset than when they forced Schonz out in 1998. I’m still not over it. Bill should have been allowed to continue broadcasting Trailblazer games until he, or God decided it was time to stop. I hate the Lakers, but they did the right thing keeping Chick Hearn on the team until the end. Portland should have done the same
Congrats Schonz!!
This is great news, I was wondering when it would finally happen.
Every time Schonz is in the news, I see the same anecdotes, quotes, and videos of Schonz’s voice here on Blazer’s Edge – and never get tired of it.
Congratulations Schonz!!
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