Joe Freeman of the Oregonian writes (via blog): The Trail Blazers have featured four coaches, orchestrated 39 trades and endured one NBA lockout since Brian Wheeler’s smooth, soothing voice started belting “Boom-chaka-lakas” out of Portland radios. But during that time, one thing has never occurred — Wheeler has never missed a game. The longtime play-by-play broadcaster called his 1,000th consecutive game on Friday, when the Blazers lost to the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. This is Wheeler’s 12th season behind the microphone for the Blazers, and not a scratchy voice, illness nor any other hindrance has forced him to miss an exhibition, regular-season or postseason game along the way. “Luckily, I’ve never really had any trouble with my voice,” Wheeler said. “I don’t know if that’s because of the great training I had in the school choir as a kid, where they taught you to breathe from your diaphragm and not put extra strain on your throat. But whatever it was, I’ve been lucky that I haven’t had any real issues with that.”
