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Bingo!: Forty Years in the NBA
Bingo!: 40 Years in the NBA is the memoir of legendary Los Angeles Clippers and sports broadcaster Ralph Lawler. The book covers Lawler’s extraordinary life and career, from his childhood in Peoria, Illinois; through his time at Bradley University; to the beginning of his sports announcing career at the Riverside International Raceway; his years spent in Philadelphia with the Flyers, Phillies, and 76ers; his years in San Diego with the Sails and the Chargers; and culminating in his 40-year career with the Clippers. Along the way, basketball and the NBA is the focus of the book, with Lawler’s observations and stories about players, coaches, and teams from the 1940s through his retirement at the close of the 2019 season forming the core of the book. Included among the myriad stories and reflections will be his relationships with NBA legend Bill Walton, infamous Clippers owner Donald Sterling, Clippers GM and NBA great Elgin Baylor, and a variety of famous players and coaches from throughout the NBA. As Lawler used to famously say from behind the microphone, "Fasten your seatbelts!" Bingo! is a fun-filled journey through professional basketball, with plenty of "Oh me, Oh my!" moments, and the definitive answer to the burning question all NBA fans want to Is there any truth to "Lawler's Law"?
- GenresSports
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 17, 2023
When a team’s long-time broadcaster writes a book, there are plenty of interesting stories that can be shared and fans of that team will enjoy them immensely. That is true no matter the sport or how successful the franchise has been. For the Los Angeles Clippers, a basketball team with no championships and a history of mostly losing, that broadcaster is Ralph Lawler. From the team’s days in San Diego to its move to Los Angeles and then some, Lawler has been there for many Clippers games and his stories of his time broadcasting the team (and a few with the Philadelphia 76ers) are told in this interesting memoir.
While I love many of the stories Lawler tells about the Clippers and his adventures in radio, especially early in his career, what struck me the most about his memoir was the name dropping. I suppose that in Los Angeles it shouldn’t be surprising to read that Lawler knew and befriended so many celebrities, sports and otherwise, but it was something that I didn’t expect to see. This is primarily because the other professional basketball team in the city, the Lakers, are the ones who seem to attract all the attention.
Speaking of the Lakers, Lawler devoted one of his many side stories to the first Laker to become a superstar, George Mikan. I mention this because throughout the book, Lawler shows how passionate he is for not only the Clippers, but for the entire history of pro basketball. He talks up Mikan as one of the greatest players in the history of the game because he was the first big man to succeed in the NBA and it was because of him that some rule changes took effect, such as widening the lane. As one who enjoys learning about the history of all sports and appreciates kind words about players from different eras, it was refreshing to read about a player from several decades ago be described as an all-time great.
Of course, as expected, the best writing is about the Clippers. While the team has had more losing than winning, when that winning came, he wrote about it with a lot of knowledge, a lot of love and even some great interviews with some of those players. From Chris Paul to Quentin Richardson to Blake Griffin, many former players for the team are mentioned as great people for Lawler to have been around. But he saves the most love for Bill Walton. While Walton’s time with the Clippers may have been very short due to all the injuries he suffered, he and Lawler became very good friends. Walton wrote a letter to the voters for the Basketball Hall of Fame to campaign for Lawler’s induction as a broadcaster. It was successful as Lawler was named for his broadcasting and is always grateful to Walton for this.
It should be noted that the title is only one of two catchphrases that is attached to Lawler. “Bingo!” came about when the Clippers acquired Bingo Smith, a noted three-point shooter. Whenever he made a three, Lawler would exclaim “Bingo!” and that just stuck with him long after Smith retired. The other catchphrase for Lawler was “Oh Me! Oh My!” and the best story about that is not how it started but how it was used to play a prank on Lawler by three members of the Clippers during their best years, the “Lob City” teams with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul as the main stars.
One doesn’t have to be a Clippers fan to enjoy this book. Any reader who enjoys the game of basketball will want to read Ralph Lawler’s story. It is one filled with a lot of great memories, great basketball and great relationships.
I wish to thank Santa Monica Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
While I love many of the stories Lawler tells about the Clippers and his adventures in radio, especially early in his career, what struck me the most about his memoir was the name dropping. I suppose that in Los Angeles it shouldn’t be surprising to read that Lawler knew and befriended so many celebrities, sports and otherwise, but it was something that I didn’t expect to see. This is primarily because the other professional basketball team in the city, the Lakers, are the ones who seem to attract all the attention.
Speaking of the Lakers, Lawler devoted one of his many side stories to the first Laker to become a superstar, George Mikan. I mention this because throughout the book, Lawler shows how passionate he is for not only the Clippers, but for the entire history of pro basketball. He talks up Mikan as one of the greatest players in the history of the game because he was the first big man to succeed in the NBA and it was because of him that some rule changes took effect, such as widening the lane. As one who enjoys learning about the history of all sports and appreciates kind words about players from different eras, it was refreshing to read about a player from several decades ago be described as an all-time great.
Of course, as expected, the best writing is about the Clippers. While the team has had more losing than winning, when that winning came, he wrote about it with a lot of knowledge, a lot of love and even some great interviews with some of those players. From Chris Paul to Quentin Richardson to Blake Griffin, many former players for the team are mentioned as great people for Lawler to have been around. But he saves the most love for Bill Walton. While Walton’s time with the Clippers may have been very short due to all the injuries he suffered, he and Lawler became very good friends. Walton wrote a letter to the voters for the Basketball Hall of Fame to campaign for Lawler’s induction as a broadcaster. It was successful as Lawler was named for his broadcasting and is always grateful to Walton for this.
It should be noted that the title is only one of two catchphrases that is attached to Lawler. “Bingo!” came about when the Clippers acquired Bingo Smith, a noted three-point shooter. Whenever he made a three, Lawler would exclaim “Bingo!” and that just stuck with him long after Smith retired. The other catchphrase for Lawler was “Oh Me! Oh My!” and the best story about that is not how it started but how it was used to play a prank on Lawler by three members of the Clippers during their best years, the “Lob City” teams with Blake Griffin and Chris Paul as the main stars.
One doesn’t have to be a Clippers fan to enjoy this book. Any reader who enjoys the game of basketball will want to read Ralph Lawler’s story. It is one filled with a lot of great memories, great basketball and great relationships.
I wish to thank Santa Monica Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
December 4, 2022
Ralph is an NBA legend and this book really shows just how many times he mingled with greatness.
Bingo gives a bit of a behind the scenes look at the history of the NBA. While it is mainly about the Clippers, it mentions plenty of milestone moments in the NBA (salary caps, ABA merger, highs and lows of 70s/80s), as well as many of its stars. Of course it delves into details about my/his beloved Clippers, thoughts on the Lob City fizzle out, three decades of the team falling short of mediocrity and their recent success, and that Sterling guy. Oh me oh my.
Ralph was a longterm employee of Donald and would owe a lot to him as he saved Ralph and Sweet Jo from a career in San Diego real estate (which is a side hustle Ralph got into to supplement his meagre income/to help revolving door Clippers players settle and sell), but he delves into how the team was run on the cheap… I’d heard about the owner’s wish to recycle medical tape, but the unpaid charter flight bills and double duty staffers were new ones.
He also conjured up the old man yells at cloud in me when he talked about the coddled NBA players of today and how the best medical and nutritional experts have led to minutes restriction and load management (this particularly triggers Clippers fans in 2022).
I’m sure he had more stories to tell - I would have loved to have heard more about his final season. The no expectation rebuilding Clippers somehow managed 47 wins without any stars and while trading pieces away. Plenty about the Ralph farewell tour but nothing on what he was calling, which was one of the most entertaining seasons I’ve seen of the Clippers and the heart and passion the team of role players showed led to the greatest free agent signing in the team’s history (maybe, that Big Red signing sounded pretty good at the time too). And Mike Smith - Ralph worked with him for 20 years, Mike went a bit snipey when he lost his job and was replaced by the odd choice of Bruce ‘Bowtie’ Bowen and all we get is a reference to Mike being a Morman. It would be intriguing to find out what really happened there.
The book could have done with an edit too - a passage about the mid-2000s Clips appears twice.
A must read for Clippers fans, as well as those interested in the rise of the NBA and broadcasting in general.
Hoping Ralph fits in a guest spot on an upcoming Clips game - would love to hear a few more Bingos from the man.
Bingo gives a bit of a behind the scenes look at the history of the NBA. While it is mainly about the Clippers, it mentions plenty of milestone moments in the NBA (salary caps, ABA merger, highs and lows of 70s/80s), as well as many of its stars. Of course it delves into details about my/his beloved Clippers, thoughts on the Lob City fizzle out, three decades of the team falling short of mediocrity and their recent success, and that Sterling guy. Oh me oh my.
Ralph was a longterm employee of Donald and would owe a lot to him as he saved Ralph and Sweet Jo from a career in San Diego real estate (which is a side hustle Ralph got into to supplement his meagre income/to help revolving door Clippers players settle and sell), but he delves into how the team was run on the cheap… I’d heard about the owner’s wish to recycle medical tape, but the unpaid charter flight bills and double duty staffers were new ones.
He also conjured up the old man yells at cloud in me when he talked about the coddled NBA players of today and how the best medical and nutritional experts have led to minutes restriction and load management (this particularly triggers Clippers fans in 2022).
I’m sure he had more stories to tell - I would have loved to have heard more about his final season. The no expectation rebuilding Clippers somehow managed 47 wins without any stars and while trading pieces away. Plenty about the Ralph farewell tour but nothing on what he was calling, which was one of the most entertaining seasons I’ve seen of the Clippers and the heart and passion the team of role players showed led to the greatest free agent signing in the team’s history (maybe, that Big Red signing sounded pretty good at the time too). And Mike Smith - Ralph worked with him for 20 years, Mike went a bit snipey when he lost his job and was replaced by the odd choice of Bruce ‘Bowtie’ Bowen and all we get is a reference to Mike being a Morman. It would be intriguing to find out what really happened there.
The book could have done with an edit too - a passage about the mid-2000s Clips appears twice.
A must read for Clippers fans, as well as those interested in the rise of the NBA and broadcasting in general.
Hoping Ralph fits in a guest spot on an upcoming Clips game - would love to hear a few more Bingos from the man.
April 25, 2023
I kept seeing this book in the Amazon library and was interested in reading it, but I always had another book I was reading until now. And, when I finished, I was glad because so far, it has been the best book I have read this year.
First, let me tell you that I am a fan of the NBA in general, so the majority of the players and coaches he mentioned, I was familiar with.
I enjoyed reading about how he got started as a broadcaster and, this book tells a lot of stories from his life in the NBA – from current and former players and coaches. Not just the Los Angeles Clippers.
I even liked how in each chapter, he called a time out and discussed something related to basketball.
First, let me tell you that I am a fan of the NBA in general, so the majority of the players and coaches he mentioned, I was familiar with.
I enjoyed reading about how he got started as a broadcaster and, this book tells a lot of stories from his life in the NBA – from current and former players and coaches. Not just the Los Angeles Clippers.
I even liked how in each chapter, he called a time out and discussed something related to basketball.
November 12, 2022
A wonderful story of a wonderful man
I have been a Clipper fan for over 30 years. My wife and I had season tickets for 20.
I ordered the book as soon as I heard it was coming out. I learned to love basketball and especially the Clippers listening to Ralph Lawler. When I got the book I couldn’t put it down. I finished it the day after It arrived on my Kindle.
Ralph’s story entertains, informs and most of all inspires. He lived through the birth of the modern NBA and interacted some of the best, and worst, during his years with the Clipps.
His induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame is well deserved. The book is the story of one of the truly “good guys”.
I have been a Clipper fan for over 30 years. My wife and I had season tickets for 20.
I ordered the book as soon as I heard it was coming out. I learned to love basketball and especially the Clippers listening to Ralph Lawler. When I got the book I couldn’t put it down. I finished it the day after It arrived on my Kindle.
Ralph’s story entertains, informs and most of all inspires. He lived through the birth of the modern NBA and interacted some of the best, and worst, during his years with the Clipps.
His induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame is well deserved. The book is the story of one of the truly “good guys”.
January 9, 2023
I love Ralph Lawler. And I came to love the Clippers because of Ralph Lawler. During dismal seasons he always kept things interesting. He was a gentleman and always had a kind word to say about the young players regardless of team. He is still a gentleman so if you're looking for any dish on Kevin Johnson or Mike Smith you will be disappointed. This is a very good memoir from a self aware personality. And a huge shout out to Bill Walton for a highly entertaining intro.
November 9, 2024
I was disappointed in this book. While the insights into Ralph's early career were very interesting, overall it just didn't hold my interest. I say this a a 30+ year Clippers fan and a fan of Ralph's broadcasting. It jumped around a lot, and it felt like a lot of chapters never dug below the surface. I can't recommend it.
March 26, 2025
Incredible memoir of Ralph Lawler’s time around the NBA and the Clippers. He is a legendary man fully deserving of his spot in the Hall of Fame.
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