Happy Anniversary, Rip City.

Not the city. The phrase.

Literally.

It was 49 years ago this week — Tuesday, to be exact — that legendary Portland Trail Blazers broadcaster Bill Schonely first uttered the trademark catchphrase that has come to identify Portland — the city, its NBA franchise, and maybe some of you.

Rip City?

Rose City?

Maybe it was just a slip on Feb. 18, 1971. But it became something more. Schonely was at midcourt at his usual position on press row, calling a tight game in the 1970-71 season. Portland’s Jim Barnett had the ball, down by two points, and was enjoying a good shooting night. As Barnett crossed midcourt, he looked over at the scorer’s table, paused a beat, then took two long dribbles toward the key.

There was no 3-point line. The Los Angeles Lakers sagged defensively, daring him to shoot. Even with today’s rules, it would be a long 3. But Barnett pulled up and drilled a thrilling long 2-point basket that tied the game.

“I’d been trying to come up with a phrase all year long,” Schonely once told me. “I’d love to have a clever story about the origin, but the words just slipped out of my mouth.”

He said, on air: “Rip City!”

The Lakers called timeout. Blazers fans celebrated. Jeff Wohler, a longtime Oregonian and Oregon Journal editor, was sitting beside Schonely working the game as the broadcaster’s first statistician. He had never heard Schonely say anything like it all season.

“I remember turning to him after he said ‘Rip City!’ and said, ‘What was that?’ ” Wohler said. “Bill just shrugged his shoulders. We told him to leave it in. He had to keep that.

“You knew right at the moment you were going to hear that phrase again.”

And again.

And again.

After Sidney Wicks’ shots, and Danny Ainge made baskets, and over generations of teams. Rip City became an anthem. It inspired fans, and songs, and now you can see the trademarked phrase everywhere — jerseys, signage, and promotional materials.

Last season, during the Blazers’ playoff series with the Oklahoma City Thunder, I stood near the court at the Moda Center and asked Schonely how proud he was of seeing his trademark catchphrase being used to prominently. The franchise had printed T-shirts with “Rip City” across the front and they were draped over the seats.

“So proud,” he said, looking around. “It brings tears to my eyes.”

Schonely, who turned 90 last summer, likes to joke about wanting to see the franchise win another championship. He always pauses, then quips, “But they’d better hurry up.” It gets laughs. But not really. It’s a painful joke. Blazers fans would all love to see the franchise win another title, throw another parade, and celebrate with them. We’d all love Schonely to see it.

The franchise’s first broadcaster still wears his ring commemorating the 1977 title everywhere. He poses for photographs. And so many of those who smile beside him want to hear the stories and his catchphrases.

I still hear, “You’ve got … to make … your free throws.”

Schonely helped bury so many franchise friends in recent years. Jerome Kersey died. Kevin Duckworth passed. Longtime owner Paul Allen, too. He has had a hip replacement himself, overcame a heart issue, and jokes, “I take more pills than Carter’s makes.”

I think about Schonely all the time.

His contributions to the franchise and this city cannot be overstated. He was the voice that gave birth to a franchise. He was there with you, in your living room as the trumpets sounded, bringing basketball straight to you. And ultimately, at a time like this — an anniversary — I think about that catchphrase.

Rip City.

So simple. So succinct. Schonely got it on his personalized license plates, now bolted to his red Cadillac because they have been stolen so many times.

Bill Schonely wishes he had a cooler story to tell us about how the words “Rip City” came to meet his lips. But I think Blazers fans will all agree that no story at all is cool enough.