Sports Column

The day Rip City ruled the Rose City

On Sports

By dwight jaynes

The Portland Tribune, Jun 5, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (8 Reader comments)

It was 30 years ago today – a beautiful, clear Sunday afternoon. It tells you something about the evolution of sports – we’re in the midst of a more-is-better era – that in those days they could finish the NBA Finals by June 5, whereas this year the series won’t even start till June 7.

That June 5 –the one in 1977 – was unlike any other day in this city’s history. Our hearts beat as one. If you weren’t one of the lucky souls jammed into Memorial Coliseum you were in front of a television set, alternately screaming and praying. Or listening to a radio, hanging on Bill Schonely’s every word.

Yes, that was the day the Trail Blazers put the finishing touches on Dr. J and his Philadelphia 76ers and brought Portland its one and only major league championship.

Much of the present-day citizenry wasn’t around in those days. Obviously, that was a long time ago. But I’m not here to rehash that game.

Actually, I’m embarrassed about how little of it I remember. You would think a sports guy would be able to recall every little play from what turned into the most important game ever in this town.

But I’ve sat through too many games and too many jump shots since then. And really, it’s best not to remember much about games from that era in the NBA because they only make you yearn for the days when basketball was a much prettier game.

What I most remember about that day in 1977 was what it did for my city. And how, for the first time in my life, people who lived in Portland could truly feel like world champions.

For those of you who weren’t around back then, the championship parade the next day choked downtown – brought it to a grinding, screaming, ecstatic, happy standstill. The fans wouldn’t stay on the curb, crowding the cars and greeting their heroes until it all just stopped.

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