Brian Wheeler

Wheeler was adopted after his mother gave birth to him at age 17.{{Cite web |date=2012-10-11 |title=Blazers announcer Wheeler finds birth parents |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/blazers-announcer-wheeler-finds-birth-parents/283-414011979 |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=kgw.com |language=en-US}} He grew up in Southern California, where he was exposed at an early age to broadcasters such as Vin Scully and Chick Hearn.{{cite web|title=Backyard Dreams Fulfilled: Brian Wheeler Honed his Voice for Years before Landing in Portland as the Voice of the Blazers|publisher=Portland State University Daily Vanguard|access-date=October 6, 2009|url=http://www.dailyvanguard.com/backyard-dreams-fulfilled-1.1754603l|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045336/http://www.dailyvanguard.com/backyard-dreams-fulfilled-1.1754603l|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016}} He had a difficult childhood which included the death of his adopted father at age 13 and a move to a dysfunctional and abusive household in Chicago.{{Cite web |last=Halberstam |first=David J. |date=2018-04-24 |title=The Bruising Battle of the Blazers’ Brian Wheeler: From Abuse, To Obesity and A Sidelining Ailment |url=https://www.sportsbroadcastjournal.com/the-bruising-battle-of-the-blazers-brian-wheeler-from-abuse-to-obesity-and-a-sidelining-ailment/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Sports Broadcast Journal |language=en-US}}

Wheeler attended Loyola University in Chicago, where he earned a degree in Broadcasting and Communications.

Brian Wheeler began his radio career as a broadcaster for his alma mater, Loyola University Chicago, where he called play-by-play for soccer, softball, and basketball for station WLUW-FM.

Wheeler went on to work in a series of broadcasting jobs in Chicago, including time working for Northwestern University, the Chicago White Sox, and SportsChannel. He worked for the NBA's Chicago Bulls during their first championship season.

Wheeler moved from Chicago to Seattle, Washington, to take a job working for the Seattle SuperSonics, remaining there for two seasons, also hosting a radio talk show on the team's flagship radio station, KJR.

Wheeler later worked as a broadcaster for the WNBA team the Sacramento Monarchs, also hosting pre-game and post-game shows for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association.

He finished second in four searches for lead NBA play-by-play jobs before finally landing with the Trail Blazers.

In 1998, Wheeler came to Portland, Oregon to take a job as radio play-by-play announcer for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. Wheeler was placed in the difficult position of replacing broadcaster Bill Schonely, the franchise's first radio voice and a popular figure who coined the "Rip City" moniker.{{Cite web |last=Tokito |first=Mike |title=Trail Blazers Make Historic Change With Departure Of Radio Announcer Brian Wheeler |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/miketokito/2019/07/16/trail-blazers-make-historic-change-with-departure-of-radio-announcer-brian-wheeler/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Wheeler gradually carved out his own place as the beloved voice of the franchise.{{Cite web |last=Oregonian/OregonLive |first=Joe Freeman {{!}} The |date=2019-07-12 |title=Brian Wheeler will not return to Portland Trail Blazers’ radio |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2019/07/brian-wheeler-will-not-return-to-portland-trail-blazers-radio.html |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Corser |first=Bobby |date=2024-11-09 |title=Portland Trail Blazers mourn the loss of beloved announcer Brian Wheeler |url=https://www.katu.com/sports/trail-blazers/portland-trail-blazers-mourn-the-loss-of-beloved-announcer-brian-wheeler-wheels |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=KATU |language=en}} He was often recognized among the NBA's top radio play-by-play announcers, earning the recognition of Marv Albert.

Wheeler was named Oregon's Sportscaster of the Year in 2007 by the National Sports Media Association.{{Cite web |title=Oregon |url=https://nationalsportsmedia.org/awards/state-awards/oregon |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=National Sports Media Association |language=en}}

In 2009, Wheeler and Schonely called a preseason game together in a game played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in honor of the franchise's 40th anniversary. Schonely was scheduled to call just the third quarter before Wheeler quipped a line about not taking the ball away from a hot shooter and allowing Schonely to close out the game.{{Cite web |last=Oregonian/OregonLive |first=John Canzano {{!}} The |date=2014-10-10 |title=Canzano: Trail Blazers should put Bill Schonely back on the mic |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/2014/10/canzano_trail_blazers_should_p.html |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}

For a time, Wheeler hosted a daily radio talk show on KXTG-FM 95.5 The Game called Wheels at Work.{{cite web|title=Wheels at Work |publisher=955thegame.com |accessdate=August 2, 2009 |url=http://www.955thegame.com/Personalities/WheelsAfterWork/tabid/70/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227060025/http://955thegame.com/Personalities/WheelsAfterWork/tabid/70/Default.aspx |archivedate=February 27, 2009 }} In September 2010, Wheeler announced that he would step down from the radio show to spend more time working on the Blazers broadcast side of his life.

Wheeler missed most of the 2018–19 season due to health issues and was replaced by Travis Demers as the team's new radio voice in September 2019.{{Cite web |last=Oregonian/OregonLive |first=Joe Freeman {{!}} The |date=2019-09-09 |title=Portland Trail Blazers hire Travis Demers as radio play-by-play broadcaster |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2019/09/portland-trail-blazers-hire-travis-demers-as-radio-play-by-play-broadcaster.html |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=oregonlive |language=en}} He ended his run having called 1,823 Trail Blazers games.{{Cite web |title=Brian Wheeler, longtime radio voice for Trail Blazers, dies after long illness |url=https://www.nba.com/news/blazers-announcer-brian-wheeler-dies |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}

During his Trail Blazers career, Wheeler worked alongside analysts Mike Rice (1998–2005), Antonio Harvey (2005–2016) and Michael Holton (2016–2019).{{Cite web |title=Michael Holton Named Trail Blazers Radio Analyst |url=https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/2019/10/9/michael-holton-named-blazers-radio-analyst?srsltid=AfmBOoq_o0wqyiK-DmMXm050M-GHJSt5NO3kXFKpnrA7oCmPm8OLX3N8 |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}} Harvey made Wheeler the Godparent of his youngest child.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syMOh4WlEz0 |title=Brian Wheeler Voice of the TrailBlazers |date=2012-11-02 |last=Tim Becker |access-date=2024-11-12 |via=YouTube}}

He was a sports broadcasting course instructor for the online sports career training school Sports Management Worldwide in Portland.{{cite web |date= |title=Sports Broadcasting |url=http://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/courses/sports-broadcasting#instructors |accessdate=2010-06-06 |publisher=Sports Management Worldwide}}{{cite web |title=This school's all sports |url=http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story_2nd.php?story_id=116735867972856000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607233650/http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story_2nd.php?story_id=116735867972856000 |archive-date=2011-06-07 |accessdate=2010-06-06 |publisher=Portlandtribune.com}}

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Wheeler was known for his frenetic style and loud, passionate delivery. He had a number of unique catchphrases:

• "Boomshakalaka" — his most recognized catchphrase, typically used after a dunk.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-10 |title=Longtime Blazers broadcaster Brian Wheeler dies at 62 |url=https://apnews.com/article/trail-blazers-brian-wheeler-death-cd8720634efdb973c340880e2a3021a6 |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=AP News |language=en}}
• "And once again we can say, it's a great day to be a Blazer" — used following every Trail Blazers victory.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-09 |title=Longtime Trail Blazers Announcer Tragically Passes Away |url=https://www.si.com/nba/trailblazers/news/longtime-trail-blazers-announcer-tragically-passes-away-01jc9e63v07p |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Portland Trail Blazers On SI |language=en-US}}
• Had several three-word alliterative adjective sets to describe the emotions of an opposing head coach who was forced to take a timeout due to a Trail Blazers' run. "Timeout San Antonio! And Gregg Popovich is mystified, mesmerized and mortified."{{Cite web |last=Deckard |first=Dave |date=2013-04-15 |title=An Interview with Brian Wheeler |url=https://www.blazersedge.com/2013/4/15/4215720/brian-wheeler-portland-trail-blazers-radio-interview-blazers-edge-fornatale |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Blazer's Edge |language=en}}{{better source needed|reason=Primary source|date=November 2024}}
• "Bang! Kapow!" — a made 3-pointer in a key moment.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nImAbR2qqok |title=The Classic Calls of Brian Wheeler |date=2024-11-09 |last=Rip City Radio |access-date=2024-11-12 |via=YouTube}}{{better source needed|reason=Not a viable third-party source|date=November 2024}}
• "Ooo that was nasty" — an especially good dunk.
• "They're dancing in the aisles here at the Rose Garden" — after a momentum swing at a home game.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvBUWITEHJs |title=A Tribute to Brian Wheeler {{!}} Radio Play-By-Play Announcer {{!}} Portland Trail Blazers |date=2024-11-11 |last=Portland Trail Blazers |access-date=2024-11-12 |via=YouTube}}
• "My eyes don't deceive, so I have to believe"

Some of his most notable calls included:

• Brandon Roy's buzzer-beating overtime 3-pointer to defeat the Houston Rockets on November 6, 2008.{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Isaiah De los |date=2018-11-06 |title=Ten Great Things About Brandon Roy’s 0.8-Second Buzzer-Beater |url=https://www.blazersedge.com/2018/11/6/18066562/brandon-roy-buzzer-beater-rockets-trail-blazers-anniversary |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Blazer's Edge |language=en}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlBq-qXUdcs |title=Brandon Roy game winner vs. Rockets (RADIO CALL!!!) |date=2008-11-07 |last=FirestormChris |access-date=2024-11-12 |via=YouTube}}{{better source needed|reason=Primary sources|date=November 2024}}
• Damian Lillard's buzzer-beating playoff 3-pointer to defeat the Houston Rockets and end a first-round playoff series on May 3, 2014.{{Cite news |date=2024-11-09 |title=“A Legend’s Voice Falls Silent: Damian Lillard Joins Portland Fans in Paying Tribute to Beloved Announcer Brian Wheeler” |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/nba/top-stories/a-legends-voice-falls-silent-damian-lillard-joins-portland-fans-in-paying-tribute-to-beloved-announcer-brian-wheeler/articleshow/115114453.cms |access-date=2024-11-12 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}{{better source needed|reason=WP:TOI|date=November 2024}} ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nyj3Dt7N44 Call])

Wheeler located his birth mother, Barbara Schneider, for the first time in 2012 in Rockford, Illinois. He also met his birth father and sister.

Wheeler struggled with his weight following the death of his adopted mother while in college. He turned to food for comfort and specifically developed unhealthy dietary habits when the condition of his household turned nearly unlivable. He weighed as much as 450 pounds. He used lap band surgery and other methods to drop 200 pounds in 2012.

Wheeler died on November 8, 2024, at the age of 62 following a long illness.{{cite news |last1=Deckard |first1=Dave |title=Report: Former Blazers Radio Voice Brian Wheeler Dies |url=https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/11/8/24291838/portland-trail-blazers-radio-voice-brian-wheeler-dies-news |access-date=9 November 2024 |publisher=Blazer's Edge |date=8 November 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.nba.com/blazers/fans/brian_wheeler.html Brian Wheeler biography at Trail Blazers.com]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Brian}}

Category:1960s births

Category:Year of birth uncertain

Category:2024 deaths

Category:American sports announcers

Category:Portland Trail Blazers announcers

Category:Basketball announcers

Category:Loyola University Chicago alumni

Category:Radio personalities from Portland, Oregon

Category:Sacramento Kings announcers

Category:Chicago White Sox announcers

Category:College football announcers

Category:College basketball announcers in the United States

Category:Seattle SuperSonics announcers