Ralph Lawler, the voice of the LA Clippers for 40 years, is retiring at the end of the upcoming season, he announced.
“It’s hard to imagine life without the Clippers, but this is the time to do it,” Lawler told the Los Angeles Times.
Lawler, best known for his “Bingo!” catchphrase, has missed just three games in 40 years. And that means, of course, that he has called a lot of losses.
“Clippers fans have a heartfelt love for this franchise that might not be shared by any other fans of any other franchise in this town,” Lawler said. “If you love the Clippers, by God, you just love the Clippers, and I have such adoration for those fans.”
Lawler said he had planned to announce his retirement at the end of the season, but the Clippers wanted to celebrate his tenure with the team, so he is announcing it now.
“The Clippers want to spend this year celebrating it, embarrassing the heck out of me, and they’ve been so good to me so long, I couldn’t refuse,” he said. “My Dad told me many years ago, ‘When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on,’ and that’s what I’ll be doing all season long.”