Rose City, Stumptown, Slabtown, and others are “RIP City” nicknames that abound in Portland, Oregon. The origins of nicknames are frequently cloaked in folklore and mystery, while basic reasoning reveals how they came to be.
We proposed a hypothesis that Rip City may have originated in the 1980s and 1990s when alternative Portlanders wore ripped jeans. Nope!
Perhaps it’s a navigational or maritime phrase alluding to Portland’s massive and prosperous Port. Unfortunately, there this is again not true!.
The original name of the “Rip City” begins and finishes with the professional basketball team, the Trail Blazers, but it has such a strange history that it can hardly be fully described.
So the mystery is still to be resolved!
Why is Portland called RIP City?
The Trail Blazers, an NBA club based in Portland, was founded in 1971. Jim Barnett, the team’s point guard, hit a perfect ball, both literally and metaphorically, in the game with the Los Angeles Lakers. Barnett fired up a long field goal try in the middle of the game, an extremely hazardous effort to obtain three scores, and also got his team back on track, and he finally made it!
The chances of the shot finding the net were so remote that Bill Schonely, the game’s announcer and great dubbing artist loved by his fans, became overwhelmed with sentiments and shouted, “Rip City!” Alright!”
The best part is that even Schonely confesses he has no idea why he yelled “Rip City.”
He was a unique individual. He simply felt compelled to say it at that very moment. The name stayed with them forever. “Schonely made the call - I just made the shot,” Barnett, the guy who scored the goal and later became a game broadcaster, informed the Oregonian in a 2009 interview.
Nicknames are sometimes based on true events. When the fact is so much confusing, we adore them so much (if not more).
What does RIP City mean?
The Trail Blazers, the city’s NBA club, are typically referred to as Rip City. Bill Schonely, the team’s play-by-play announcer, coined the phrase in a match with the Los Angeles Lakers in February 1971.
Why is Portland called Little Beirut?
In May 1990, during President George H. W. Bush’s visit to Portland, 25 protesters were arrested after a 4-hour standoff with police. In September 1991, when President Bush returned to Portland, 400 demonstrators came up.
The city was dubbed “Little Beirut” by a Bush worker (whose identity is unknown), after the violence-plagued metropolis of Beirut, Lebanon. Since at least September 1991, “Little Beirut” has been cited in print, and “Beirut” since January 1992. The term “Little Beirut” is still remembered; an Associated Press report from August 2003 was captioned “‘Little Beirut’ nickname has stayed.”
Why is Portland called Stumptown?
The name Stumptown was given to Portland during the 1850s since much of the area was once forested. Because clearing trees for fuel and building materials is much easier than pulling up stumps, some of them ended up in the streets. They would have been inconvenient for anyone traveling by foot, horseback, or wagon, but not very hazardous.
Portland Trailblazers, famous Trail Blazers of all time
Since their founding in 1970, the Trail Blazers, Portland’s sole major sports club, has been a subject of civic pride. The Blazers are well-known for having the NBA’s worst draught luck. It wasn’t always like this, though. Despite the fact that the squad had some quality players in its initial years, nobody could match when Bill Walton was drafted.
UCLA’s All-American center is regarded as one of the best in history. The Blazers have become one of the top teams in the NBA after adding Maurice Lucas to their roster. After winning the NBA title in 1977, Portland appeared to be on the verge of establishing a dynasty when Walton fractured his foot.
The logo of the TrailBlazer, which is a pinwheel, was then constructed. The pinwheel features five lines along both sides of its center, that are selected to reflect five violators and five defenders playing basketball together; the lines are bent to reflect the fast-paced action that distinguishes the sport.
Famous Trail Blazers
Some famous Trail Blazers are as follows:
- Geoff Petrie.
- LaMarcus Aldridge.
- Bill Walton
- Damian Lillard
- Clyde Drexler
How did Portland get its name?
When trading partners William Overton and Asa Lovejoy petitioned to claim territory just on the west bank of the Willamette River in Oregon Country in 1843, the city of Portland, Oregon, was born. Portland was chosen via a coin toss in 1845 as the name for the community.
Why is Portland so hot?
A vast and thick mass of high-pressure air has positioned it over much of the region due to a wavy jet stream, resulting in the heat. This massive high-pressure zone, also known as a heat dome, functions as a top on a pot, trapping heat and allowing it to build up.
Why is Portland called PDX?
Portland, Oregon is known by a variety of nicknames, including “The City of Roses,” “Rose City,” and “PDX.”
Portland, Oregon’s nickname, PDX, is undoubtedly one of the most well-known online and in print. It’s the airport code for Portland International Airport, which is located within the city limits. To reference Portland in the Portland area, many Portland firms use PDX in their domain names. PDX stands for Portland, Oregon.
However, while being the most widespread and well-known among locals and natives, that’s not the only moniker for Portland.
Why is Portland so weird?
For decades, Portland has been dubbed “strange” - perhaps due to the great incidence of man buns and mustaches or the fact it had the highest strip clubs per capita rate. However, it is Portland’s “weirdness” that distinguishes it.
Where did the term RIP City come from?
Rip City is most commonly associated with the Portland Trail Blazers, the city’s NBA team. The name was invented by Bill Schonely, the Blazers’ play-by-play announcer, throughout a game with the Los Angeles Lakers on February 18, 1971, the team’s inaugural season.
Why does Portland have an NBA team?
Because we have over a million households, we are the country’s 24th largest media market. Plus, with no other big-league men’s sports teams to compete with basketball (save for the Timbers in soccer), sports enthusiasts have little choice but to become rabid Blazers supporters.
How many are homeless in Portland?
The count for this year has yet to be completed. The number of homeless persons in the state remained relatively stable from 2019 to 2020 – 2,106 in 2019, and 2,097 in 2020 – but the proportion of unsheltered people increased by over 48 percent, from 95 to 141.
How far is Cannon Beach from Portland?
Cannon Beach is a 90-minute drive west of Portland and four-hour drive southwest of Seattle. The community is located four miles south of the Pacific Coast Highway’s US-26 intersection.
How many bridges are in Portland?
Within the city limits of Portland, there are 12 bridges. There are 15 bridges connecting Portland to Washington state if you include the three additional bridges.
How safe is Portland, Oregon?
You might have wondered about this if you’re going on a visit to Portland in the near future. Whether you’re visiting Portland for the first time, doing business, or planning to relocate, it’s critical to understand safety. To address the question directly, Portland is a secure location. Portland, in fact, has lower-than-average rates of violent crime per capita. When visiting a new place, though, there are always hazards.
Why is Portland called RIP City? - FAQs
To Wrap up!
In this article, we have given a bird’s eye view of all the aspects of Portland city’s nicknames. Portland, Oregon is one of the most beautiful cities in the world that attracts millions of tourists towards it. In this sense also Portland has its own importance.
TrailBlazer team is considered the heart of the Portland and people love them deeply and devotedly.
