Nationality United States Occupation Sports commentator Spouse Jo Lawler Other names Ohmeomy (Twitter) Home town Peoria, Illinois Education Peoria High School | Citizenship United States Name Ralph Lawler Alma mater Bradley University Role Voice actor Movies Drive | |
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Full Name Ralph Anthony Lawler Born April 21, 1938 (age 85) ( 1938-04-21 ) Ohio, U.S. Residence Playa del Rey, California, United States TV shows Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket | ||
Organization Los Angeles Clippers | ||
Ralph lawler slurring in late 1st half
Ralph Anthony 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 since the franchise moved from Buffalo, New York in 1978, whether it be radio and/or television. There were only two 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.
Contents
- Ralph lawler slurring in late 1st half
- Ralph lawler bingoooooooooooooooooo
- Life and career
- Lawler isms
- References
Although the Clippers have been among the least-successful NBA franchises, Lawler has continued to provide Clippers fans with his enthusiastic commentary, which has made him a fan favorite. He has broadcast more than 3,000 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. Lawler reached the 3,000-game milestone on December 10,2016 versus the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ralph lawler bingoooooooooooooooooo
Life and career
Lawler was born in Ohio and raised 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 for the Flyers of the National Hockey League, the 76ers of the National Basketball Association, the Phillies of Major League Baseball, Big 5 college basketball, and Temple college football. He also worked as a sports reporter for then-CBS station WCAU-TV, before returning to Southern California for good in the late 1970s, calling the San Diego Conquistadors of the American Basketball Association and the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League).
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 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 alongside former Clipper player and current color analyst, Mike Smith.
Unlike other announcers who use headsets while calling the game, Lawler relies exclusively on a handheld microphone during games.
Lawler and his wife, Jo, have three grown children and seven grandchildren.
On March 3, 2016, Lawler was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Clippers coach Doc Rivers and several players attended the ceremony.