Had the good fortune and timing to help bring Parker to OSU from his Portland taxi-driving days and its been a home run since....replacing a Darrell Aune would be tough for most, but they are like comparing ripe, perfect apples and oranges. Just two successful PBP announcers in 50 years for OSU's radio coverage---pretty amazing! Also enjoyed working with Jerry Allen going back to his KYJC days in Medford when I was at Southern Oregon prior to OSU. You won't find a better, more genuine person than Jerry and his run stopped a turnstile of predecessors at UO. Nice job on both interviews, John!!
I can confirm the Schonely bounding off the plane story. Back then the teams still all flew commercial, and people who weren't flying were allowed past security. My dad worked for United and was the guy who met that flight that night and pulled the jetway up. The gate area was a zoo with all the fans. They barely got the plane door open and Schonely burst off the plane and rushed up the jetway. A couple of the Blazers, I want to say Larry Steele and Dave Twardzik heard what was going on up in the gate area and asked my dad if it was alright if they just hung out in the jetway for awhile. My dad told them no problem and they waited until the crowd followed everyone else back up the concourse and then slipped out.
John, thanks for the columns and tributes to Bill Shonely this week. For me I lost 2 GOATS in the last 7 month, Vin Scully and the Schonz. I wanted to be Vin's replacement but since I started listening to him when he cam to L.A. in the fifities when I was 9. Little did I know that he would broadcast for 67 years. I retired in 2007, with a luckily great but different job and career,... he still outdistanced me for another 11 years. Wow. I am reading the Voice about Vinny now, ...you'd enjoy it.
One night during the NBA championship in 1977, Bill was my virtual work partner. I ran the Lewis and Clark food service program back then and my day started about 5am. That late afternoon my quirky night janitor quit, no notice. There was only me to call on. So I did the final mop out until it was done about 10 pm. It was 3 floors, 2 kitchens and 3 dining rooms. About 18,000 plus square feet. Bill was my mopping partner,... as I mopped, Bill announced the game. I will always remember that night. RIP Schonz . Rod Bond
Bob Robertson is my all time favorite radio voice. RIP Bob. He was voice of the Cougars for about 50 years. I still get chills when I hear him say “touchdown Washington State”. He always signed off his broadcast this way “Always be a good sport, be a good sport all ways”. We all can learn that lesson from him.
I'm a Husky and now live in Seattle, but lived in the Portland/Vancouver area for 40 years. I used to listen to Mike Parker when he had a talk show and was a die hard Duck. He later made an effortless transition to the Beavers. I have never heard a more cerebral and calming radio personality, he's by far my favorite.
Love Mike Parker. Jerry is really enthusiastic to the point he calls plays before they happen and has to correct himself a lot. "First down Oregon! No, wait, they marked it short." Very frustrating to listen to.
Favorite broadcaster: Vin Scully. He was not afraid to go silent, and let the crowd "tell the story". Too many broadcasters today think they need to talk all the time. Favorite Vin quote: "Andre Dawson is listed as day to day. (pause).........Aren't we all?"
"Kenny Wheaton's gonna score" is as good as it gets. I still get fired up every time the video is displayed on the Autzen Stadium scoreboard. The milestone in Oregon Duck football history.
Darrell Aune's final football call, at the 1998 Civil War, is absolutely classic. Before the play he' sets the stage with the down and distance, describes the formation, mentions Maurer in motion, the handoff, then tells you Simonson has a first down, then the touchdown, and then he lets it breathe before his memorable, "It is BEDLAM at Parker Stadium."
To me, Aune is still the gold standard. Parker is very good, better than at least 3/4 of the MLB guys I hear on Sirius.
I don't follow the Blazers and dislike the NBA immensely so I never heard Schonely except for the Standard Appliance commercials.
My guy growing up in Western New York was Van Miller, with the Bills, old Braves and Niagara basketball in the Calvin Murphy era.
I grew up in NYC listening to Mel Allen Red Barber and Phil Rizzuto doing Yankee games. Can't beat those memories. I will say that Mike Parker is an outstanding announcer...as good as anyone I have heard. And he has great historical knowledge. A great voice.
Ed Whalen, the local TV sports reporter, from about 35 years back. He quick take segment of “Whalen’s Wonders”, and showing Buckwheat of the Little Rascals fame, while reporting that “even Stymie was impressed” about a play of the night or week (as often as not, the Blazers, of which he clearly was a fan). He was the first sports reporter I remember as a kid, and the one I always looked forward to for his great takes on great plays. A true Portland original!
Mike Parker is in a league of his own. Not many play by play broadcasters can master three sports. He's great with football, really good with basketball, and a true artist on baseball. I listen to Beaver baseball just to hear Mike at his best. If PDX had ever got the MLB, Mike would have to have been a the PBP guy. I like Jerry Allen. He is truly emotionally invested in UO, but Parker is an amazing talent.
Had the good fortune and timing to help bring Parker to OSU from his Portland taxi-driving days and its been a home run since....replacing a Darrell Aune would be tough for most, but they are like comparing ripe, perfect apples and oranges. Just two successful PBP announcers in 50 years for OSU's radio coverage---pretty amazing! Also enjoyed working with Jerry Allen going back to his KYJC days in Medford when I was at Southern Oregon prior to OSU. You won't find a better, more genuine person than Jerry and his run stopped a turnstile of predecessors at UO. Nice job on both interviews, John!!
I can confirm the Schonely bounding off the plane story. Back then the teams still all flew commercial, and people who weren't flying were allowed past security. My dad worked for United and was the guy who met that flight that night and pulled the jetway up. The gate area was a zoo with all the fans. They barely got the plane door open and Schonely burst off the plane and rushed up the jetway. A couple of the Blazers, I want to say Larry Steele and Dave Twardzik heard what was going on up in the gate area and asked my dad if it was alright if they just hung out in the jetway for awhile. My dad told them no problem and they waited until the crowd followed everyone else back up the concourse and then slipped out.
John, thanks for the columns and tributes to Bill Shonely this week. For me I lost 2 GOATS in the last 7 month, Vin Scully and the Schonz. I wanted to be Vin's replacement but since I started listening to him when he cam to L.A. in the fifities when I was 9. Little did I know that he would broadcast for 67 years. I retired in 2007, with a luckily great but different job and career,... he still outdistanced me for another 11 years. Wow. I am reading the Voice about Vinny now, ...you'd enjoy it.
One night during the NBA championship in 1977, Bill was my virtual work partner. I ran the Lewis and Clark food service program back then and my day started about 5am. That late afternoon my quirky night janitor quit, no notice. There was only me to call on. So I did the final mop out until it was done about 10 pm. It was 3 floors, 2 kitchens and 3 dining rooms. About 18,000 plus square feet. Bill was my mopping partner,... as I mopped, Bill announced the game. I will always remember that night. RIP Schonz . Rod Bond
Bob Robertson is my all time favorite radio voice. RIP Bob. He was voice of the Cougars for about 50 years. I still get chills when I hear him say “touchdown Washington State”. He always signed off his broadcast this way “Always be a good sport, be a good sport all ways”. We all can learn that lesson from him.
Mike Parker is my all time favorite college sports announcer. His connection with listeners, his passion, his awareness of history.
Dame... unbelievable. Everyone in that organization has to dig deep and then dig some more to help him bring the finals trophy back to Portland.
I'm a Husky and now live in Seattle, but lived in the Portland/Vancouver area for 40 years. I used to listen to Mike Parker when he had a talk show and was a die hard Duck. He later made an effortless transition to the Beavers. I have never heard a more cerebral and calming radio personality, he's by far my favorite.
Love Mike Parker. Jerry is really enthusiastic to the point he calls plays before they happen and has to correct himself a lot. "First down Oregon! No, wait, they marked it short." Very frustrating to listen to.
Favorite broadcaster: Vin Scully. He was not afraid to go silent, and let the crowd "tell the story". Too many broadcasters today think they need to talk all the time. Favorite Vin quote: "Andre Dawson is listed as day to day. (pause).........Aren't we all?"
"Kenny Wheaton's gonna score" is as good as it gets. I still get fired up every time the video is displayed on the Autzen Stadium scoreboard. The milestone in Oregon Duck football history.
Darrell Aune's final football call, at the 1998 Civil War, is absolutely classic. Before the play he' sets the stage with the down and distance, describes the formation, mentions Maurer in motion, the handoff, then tells you Simonson has a first down, then the touchdown, and then he lets it breathe before his memorable, "It is BEDLAM at Parker Stadium."
To me, Aune is still the gold standard. Parker is very good, better than at least 3/4 of the MLB guys I hear on Sirius.
I don't follow the Blazers and dislike the NBA immensely so I never heard Schonely except for the Standard Appliance commercials.
My guy growing up in Western New York was Van Miller, with the Bills, old Braves and Niagara basketball in the Calvin Murphy era.
I grew up in NYC listening to Mel Allen Red Barber and Phil Rizzuto doing Yankee games. Can't beat those memories. I will say that Mike Parker is an outstanding announcer...as good as anyone I have heard. And he has great historical knowledge. A great voice.
Ed Whalen, the local TV sports reporter, from about 35 years back. He quick take segment of “Whalen’s Wonders”, and showing Buckwheat of the Little Rascals fame, while reporting that “even Stymie was impressed” about a play of the night or week (as often as not, the Blazers, of which he clearly was a fan). He was the first sports reporter I remember as a kid, and the one I always looked forward to for his great takes on great plays. A true Portland original!
Al Michaels, Jim Nance. Past greats Dick Emberg, Jim McKay, John Madden, Pat Summerall, Keith Jackson Whoa Nelly!
I dunno, John. I kinda like "Penix drops it in for Davis down the sideline and there's nobody home!"
Mike Parker is in a league of his own. Not many play by play broadcasters can master three sports. He's great with football, really good with basketball, and a true artist on baseball. I listen to Beaver baseball just to hear Mike at his best. If PDX had ever got the MLB, Mike would have to have been a the PBP guy. I like Jerry Allen. He is truly emotionally invested in UO, but Parker is an amazing talent.
Favorite announcers: being from Portland the Schonz of course. and Brian Wheeler was very good on the radio. My favorites of all time are:
Chick Hearn- he was so good and so funny
Vin Scully - Just an icon who saw it all.