Ralph Lawler

Lawler in 2011.

Ralph Lawler (born April 21, 1938) is the television and radio voice of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers. Going back to the franchise's six-year stint in San Diego (1978-84), Lawler has broadcast virtually every Clippers game, whether it be radio and/or television. There were only 2 seasons when Lawler did not serve as the team's primary play-by-play broadcaster-1981-82 (Jerry Gross) and 1984-85 (Eddie Doucette)- before becoming the full-time voice once again in 1985-86. Although the team's performance has been among the worst NBA franchises, Lawler has continued to provide Clippers fans with his award-winning enthusiastic commentary, which has made him a fan favorite. He has broadcast more than 2,500 Clippers games, including more than 1,600 consecutive games. He reached the 2,500-game milestone in a game versus the Boston Celtics, on February 26, 2011.

Life and career

Lawler was born in Peoria, Illinois. His broadcasting career began in the 1960s, after graduating from Bradley University in his hometown, where he worked as an on-air personality on a Riverside, California radio station. From there, Lawler went on to work in Philadelphia, where he broadcast games of the NHL's Flyers, NBA's 76ers, and Major League Baseball's Phillies, as well as calling games for the San Diego Conquistadors of the American Basketball Association and the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He also worked as a sports reporter for then-CBS station WCAU-TV, before returning to Southern California for good in the late 1970s.

Lawler has worked with Basketball Hall of Famer and current ESPN/ABC commentator Bill Walton, on locally televised Clippers broadcasts. Their broadcasts were wildly popular among Clippers (and many NBA) fans, because of their witty banter. Walton left the Clippers to work exclusively with ABC/ESPN when the two networks acquired the NBA broadcasts in 2002. Lawler's biggest broadcasting influences included Irv Kaze, a former sports executive (who had a stint as a San Diego Clippers general manager and hired Lawler in 1978) and long-time Los Angeles-area sports talk show host, before he died in 2003; and late legendary Los Angeles Lakers voice, Chick Hearn, who like Lawler, grew up in Illinois before moving on to Southern California. Lawler and former Clippers guard Shaun Livingston are alumni of Peoria (Central) High School. Lawler currently does Clippers telecasts on Prime Ticket/Fox Sports West along side former Clipper player and current color analyst, Mike Smith.

Unlike other announcers who use headsets while calling the game, Lawler relies exclusively on a microphone during game days.

Lawler and his wife, Jo, have a family that includes 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren.

Lawler-isms

• Bingo: when a player makes a three-point basket. The "Bingo" term derives from one-time Clipper player and Cleveland Cavalier great Bobby "Bingo" Smith, known during his playing career for his outstanding shooting and scoring.
• Bank Shot Bingo: The rare three-point basket off the backboard elicits this enthusiastic "Lawlerism."
• Lawler's Law: The first team to 100 points wins the game. In games involving the Clippers since 1978, Lawler's law has been true 91.5% of the time.
• Lawler's Law Corollary: The team that shoots 50% in field goal percentage wins the game.
• Lawler's Overtime Law: The first team to lead by four points in overtime wins the game.
• Fasten your seat belts, gang. We're going down to the wire!: It refers to when a close game is coming down to final minutes (or seconds).
• Oh Me, Oh My!: When a player makes an unbelievable and exciting play.
• Out of the Box: When the team with the most turnovers is winning by over fifteen points.

External links

• Kevin Arnovitz, "Ralph Lawler is a Clippers fan's best friend," ESPN.com, April 16, 2010.
• Ralph Lawler Picture Gallery at Clippers Topbuzz
• Ralph Lawler's Biography on Clippers.com