Ralph Lawler

Ralph Lawler
Born	(1938-04-21) April 21, 1938 Ohio, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Sports broadcaster, announcer
Years active	1960s–2019
Known for	Play-by-play announcer for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers (1978–2019)

Ralph Anthony Lawler (born April 21, 1938) is a retired American broadcaster renowned for his 41-year role as the primary announcer for the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers. His commentary career with the franchise began during its period in San Diego (1978–84) and extended continuously following the team's relocation from Buffalo, New York in 1978 until his retirement. He served as the main play-by-play voice in nearly every season, except for two: the 1981–82 season when Jerry Gross took over, and the 1984–85 season when Eddie Doucette filled the role. Lawler resumed full-time duties starting with the 1985–86 season. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Lawler’s passionate and lively announcing style earned him a devoted following among fans. Throughout his career, he called over 3,000 Clippers games, including an impressive streak of more than 1,600 consecutive broadcasts. He celebrated his 2,500th game on February 26, 2011, during a matchup against the Boston Celtics, and reached the 3,000-game milestone on December 10, 2016, in a contest versus the New Orleans Pelicans.

Life and career

A native of Ohio, Lawler was raised in Peoria, Illinois. After completing his studies at Bradley University, he embarked on his broadcasting journey in the 1960s. His early work included covering sports at 1440 KPRO in Riverside, California, where he reported on events such as races at the nearby Riverside International Raceway. Subsequently, he relocated to Philadelphia to provide play-by-play coverage for professional teams including the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, NBA’s 76ers, MLB’s Philadelphia Phillies, as well as collegiate Big 5 basketball and Temple University football. Additionally, Lawler contributed as a sports reporter for CBS affiliate WCAU-TV. Returning to Southern California in the late 1970s, he called games for both the ABA’s San Diego Conquistadors and NFL’s San Diego Chargers.

During his tenure with the Clippers, Lawler formed a popular broadcast partnership with Hall of Famer and ESPN/ABC analyst Bill Walton. Their engaging exchanges attracted a wide NBA audience until Walton departed for exclusive ABC/ESPN assignments in 2002. Lawler credits former San Diego Clippers general manager Irv Kaze and legendary Los Angeles Lakers announcer Chick Hearn among his key influences. Notably, both Lawler and former Clippers guard Shaun Livingston attended Peoria Central High School. From 2002 through 2017, Lawler was joined on Prime Ticket/Fox Sports West broadcasts by ex-Clippers player Mike Smith; Bruce Bowen became his broadcast partner for the 2017–18 season.

A distinctive feature of Lawler’s announcing style was his preference for using a handheld microphone instead of a headset, which he felt offered greater control and comfort.

Lawler and his wife Jo are parents to three grown children and grandparents to seven grandchildren.

On March 3, 2016, Lawler was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony attended by Clippers coach Doc Rivers and several players. He announced on September 12, 2018, that he would retire following the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, having missed only three games over nearly four decades. On February 15, 2019, he received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a tribute to his outstanding career.

Quotes

• Bingo!: This call is made when a player successfully sinks a three-point shot. The phrase pays tribute to Bobby "Bingo" Smith, a former Clipper and Cleveland Cavalier who made 22 three-pointers during the 1979–1980 season.
• Bank Shot Bingo: An enthusiastic exclamation reserved for the uncommon three-pointer scored off the backboard.
• ...Plus One: Describes a scoring sequence where a basket is made and followed by a foul, resulting in an additional free throw attempt.
• Lawler's Law: A saying coined by Ralph Lawler, suggesting that the first team to reach 100 points typically secures the victory, based on guidance from a former Philadelphia 76ers trainer.
• Fasten your seat belts, gang. We're going down to the wire!: A phrase used during tightly contested final moments of a game, inspired by broadcaster Hank Fisher.
• Oh Me, Oh My!: An expression of enthusiasm for an extraordinary play, with its tone adapting depending on whether it benefits the Clippers or their opponents.
• The Lob! The Jam!: Announced when the team scores on an alley-oop play.
• Out of the Box: Refers to situations where a team leads by more than fifteen points despite committing the highest number of turnovers.
• Settle Down Now, Mike Smith/Bruce Bowen: Ralph Lawler's way of signaling his co-announcers to temper any overstated assertions or statistics.
• My computer-like mind tells me that's...: Used before presenting percentage statistics following raw numerical data, alluding to Lawler’s use of a calculator for analysis.
• Wedgie!: Describes moments when the ball becomes lodged between the rim and backboard glass during a shot or dunk, a highlight eagerly tracked by NBA highlight programs.

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