Rip City is one of several for Portland. It was coined in 1971 by Bill "The Schnoz" Schonely who was the play-by-play broadcaster for the city's NBA team, the Portland Trail Blazers in 1971. The term, in only its second season, was close to beating the powerful L.A. Lakers. Blazers guard Jim Barnett sank a long distance shot inspiring Schonley to exclaim "Rip City! All right!"