Portland celebrates first annual "Rip City Day" in honor of NBA team
Officially declared by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, February 19 will henceforth be known as Rip City Day.
On February 18, 1971, the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers play-by-play announcer Bill Schonely blurted out a spur-of-the-moment exclamation, “Rip City! Alright!” after guard Jim Barnett threw up a wild shot late in their game against the Los Angeles Lakers to tie things up. “I don’t know why I said it,” says Schonely, the man who birthed a movement.
Portland has since adopted the nickname as part of its identity. One man’s phrase has become an iconic character-defining feature. It’s a mindset. A way of life. Portland is Rip City.
Today, we celebrate the first Rip City Day.
Bill Schonely, the Mayor of Rip City, put Portland Mayor @tedwheeler in his place during today’s proclamation of “Rip City Day” at City Hall. ššš #RipCity pic.twitter.com/GDWCz9We8u
ā Jared Cowley (@jaredcowley) February 19, 2020
This morning Portland Mayor @tedwheeler declared February 19th, 2020 to be “Rip City Day” in honor of the phrase uttered by Bill Schonely that has brought Trail Blazers fans together for 50 years. š pic.twitter.com/8qOSBLwVBY
ā Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 19, 2020
It’s officially Rip City Day in Portland! @trailblazers inspire us with their dedication to making a positive impact for the community and the environment. Go Blazers! #RipCity pic.twitter.com/t9Yak5gKIb
ā Pacific Power OR (@PacificPower_OR) February 19, 2020
Rip city day BABBYYYYY
ā Taylor Naron (@DajeUomo) February 19, 2020
Happy #RipCityDay from our Rip City ride! #pdx pic.twitter.com/CHplTAU6Wy
ā Portland Streetcar (@PDXStreetcar) February 19, 2020
Happy #RipCityDay, Portland ā¤šā¤ #damelane #trailblazers pic.twitter.com/e8DX5fCaYc
ā Portland Bureau of Transportation (@PBOTinfo) February 19, 2020
What time is it? It’s always @dame_lillard time, but it’s also time to recognize how much we love our @trailblazers! Today City Council proclaims it #RipCityDay in Portland and we want the #Blazers to know that they have our permission to always set the Moda Center on fire! pic.twitter.com/5AD7dnemwE
ā Portland Fire&Rescue (@PDXFire) February 19, 2020