Ralph Lawler

Ralph Lawler (born 1938 in Peoria, Illinois) 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 virtually broadcasted every Clippers game, whether it be radio and/or television. There was a short stint in the 1984-85 season (the Clippers' first in Los Angeles) where Lawler worked stricly as a substitute broadcaster, before becoming the full-time voice once again, beginning the following season. Although the team's performance has been among the worst (if not, the worst) among other NBA franchises, Lawler has continued to provide Clipper fans with his award-winning enthusiastic commentary, which has made him a fan favorite. He has broadcasted more than 2,000 Clippers games, including more than 1,600 consecutive games. He reached the 2,000 game milestone in a game versus the Toronto Raptors, on February 13 2005.

Related Topics:
Peoria, Illinois - National Basketball Association - Los Angeles Clippers - San Diego - Toronto Raptors - February 13 - 2005

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Lawler's broadcasting career began in the 1960s, after graduating from Bradley University in his hometown of Peoria, Illinois, 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 broadcasted games of the NHL Flyers, NBA 76ers, and Major League Baseball's Phillies, as well as calling games for the San Diego Conquistadors of the original 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.

Related Topics:
Bradley University - Riverside, California - Philadelphia - Flyers - 76ers - Major League Baseball - Phillies - American Basketball Association - San Diego Chargers - National Football League - WCAU-TV

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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 passed away 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 current Clippers guard Shaun Livingston are alumni of Peoria (Central) High School.

Related Topics:
ESPN - ABC - Bill Walton - Irv Kaze - Los Angeles Lakers - Chick Hearn - Shaun Livingston

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