chris_in_pdx

Damn, I am sick of this guy. I mean, really, I used to just think it was because I miss Schonz, but no. I really dislike Wheeler's calling style. I hate forced enthusiasm. Get excited when there's a reason to. And Wheels' "three verbs for the opposing coach's feelings" makes me cringe every time.

Xericx

I like him.

I don't listen to radio broadcasts too often since I have league pass, but when I did, I liked his style.

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Fork

I'm with you on that one. I can't stand him the guy, I think he's a hack. Another annoying thing he says: Boomshakalaka. God damn that sounds stupid. And if the opposing team hits a shot he sounds like a little kid whining to his mommy.

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Perfection

I never listen to the radio broadcasts...but my favorite combo was the Schonz and Snapper on TV. I just loved their chemistry and the character of each individual announcer.

Rip City! baby.

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Nightfly

Wheels does an exceptional job following the ball on the court, better then a lot of other broadcasters in the NBA. I think he even does a better job following the action then Schonley did, believe it or not. Certainly when comparing Wheels to Schonley's final few years with the team.

Also, one of the reasons Wheels seems so excited is a very basic rule of sports casting. If you make it sound exciting, the listener feels it is exciting as well. That's the first thing I teach my Sports-casting students.

I'd much rather hear a play by play guy get too excited then to be too mellow. When guys don't get excited, the broadcast becomes very boring.

I'll bet the main reason you don't think what is happening is so exciting is that you are probably watching the game on TV with the radio on, which the majority of listeners don't do these days (unless it's a national TV broadcast).

And also in Wheels' defense, he only uses his "Boom-shaka-laka" phrase once during a game. Never more then that. That said, I really don't think it's all that annoying. I have no idea why that seems to bother people so much. It's not much different to me then "Riiiiip..... Ciiiiiity!!!" was.

If you guys have heard many of the other NBA play-by-play radio teams, you'd realize Wheels is one of the better in the league. I have listened to them all, and I can tell you Wheels does as good of a job doing play-by-play as any one else in the NBA.

I still miss Schonley. I will always miss Schonley, but Wheels isn't half bad, and I for one like the guy.

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zagsfan20

I happen to like Wheels.....He gets me excited about the game...

But analyst/announcers i dislike:

Bill Walton-
Blatantly talks crap about the Blazers....Will see one little insignificant thing and dwell on it the whole game.....Most of the time i mute the games that he does....

Steve Jones-
He thinks that he knows all....and it always seems like he and Mike Barrett are disagreeing....that scary little laugh he does when he disagrees gives me the creeps too....

Stevenson

Wheels is fantastic. I know that old school Blazers fans love the Schonz, just like I loved Chick Hearn, but as a new Blazer fan I find Wheeler's call exciting, fun and intelligent.

BTW, I also think its great that the Blazers are letting a woman do color commentary. Annie knows her stuff.

Paxil

Love wheels. Love boomshacklaka. Is he as good as Shonze? No... but you can't fill those shoes. I think he is probably better than anyone else they could have brought in.

HOWIE

For those people that have league pass you have to admit that Wheels is so much better than what other teams have to offer. You just can't please all the people all the time and in all reality, who could you bring in that would be better?

Oh well, to each there own, but Wheels is O.K. in my book, classy guy to if you have ever had the pleasure of meeting him.

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e_blazer1

If Wheels would just get rid of that "can you frickin' believe it" whine he does every time the opponent puts the ball in the basket, he'd be OK with me.

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Paxil

e_blazer1 I agree... at times he does whine a bit much.... especially when the other team is on a roll.

Target

I think that is an attempt to reach all the fans. An empathization to the pity filled among us.

I know sometimes I feel like whining when the Blazers are on the down side of calls and play.

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It's only a matter of time before Rip City Rules again!!

Dan

I agree, Brian over does the "boom shaka laka" stuff, but at the same time, I don't care.

I like Wheels. The best thing about him is his blinding hatred of the Lakers and Rick Fox.

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HOWIE

How can you go wrong there?

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catinahat

Wheels is awful and how anyone thinks he is good is beyond me.
#1 He only has two emotions: extremely frustrated and ridiculously orgasmic.
#2 He does a horrible job of describing the game. Mostly just calling the names of who has the ball and giving no sense of the court.
#3 He aparently has very little understanding of the game. His statements are always those of an ignorant fan.

I have to listen to most games on the radio and Wheels makes it mostly unpleasant especially when the other team does well. After years of never missing a game I now rarely listen all the way through. I can't stand his whining little kid style.

However when he works with Ann he is much better. Apparently he is embarrassed to whine so much with a woman there and she does a great job of keeping the discussion up beat and interesting. She even has excitement when the other team does something really well. Wheels otherwise would never be impressed with the other team, he would just whine and cry at the bad luck of the Blazers playing against someone who doesn't deserve to be good.

If you ever listen to the Beavers basketball on the radio you hear Mike Parker who continues to improve his calling style. He has become really good and puts way more into what he is calling than Wheels ever could.

The best thing that could happen is for the Blazers to fire Wheeler and hire Parker and have him work with Ann. I think Mike Rice does a pretty good job but he is not as good as Ann.

that is my opinion and I have had it for years