Roundtable: Farewell, 2018-2019 LA Clippers, and the Hunt for Kawhi’s Tahoe
By Logan Rapp
Logan Rapp: And with the sweetness that was this overachieving team, also a little bitterness, as Ralph Lawler is now full-on retired from broadcasting. It’s going to be hard to hear anyone else doing the play-by-play, but assuming it’s Brian Sieman, and I see no reason to think otherwise, who would you like to see doing color commentary next season?
Randi Geffner: Well I am available for the job. Just saying.
I don’t know if you all hear Adam where you are, but he is pretty solid.
Matt Chong: I know he’s come to be a bit of a divisive figure among Clippers fans, but I would actually be just fine with Don MacLean staying on as the full-time color commentator next season. I’d also probably be fine with Ryan Hollins. Based on the fact that the two of them got so much air time with Ralph, I sort of presume it will be one of them. I think we’ve likely seen the last of Corey Maggette, fortunately or unfortunately.
Nate Jacobo: Ralph will truly be missed by all of Clipper Nation, here’s to hoping he makes a guest apperance of some sorts next season. Brian Sieman has covered televised games in the past but I truly don’t mind bringing back Don MacLean. It would be fitting though to pair Sieman with a former Clipper.
Logan Rapp: I’ve been beating the Kristina Pink / Jeanne Zelasko drum pretty hard throughout the back half of this season. I’d like for either or both of them to get some games in the booth.
Matt Chong: Oh, that would be awesome. Those two are always so great in the pre and postgames. I actually kind of enjoyed a rotating cast of color commentators, so if we could just have a mix of they and the other guys, it would be awesome.
Nate Jacobo: Both are solid candidates as well as Mike Hill too. Sieman and Hill seemed to have great chemistry when talking on the pre-game shows. They loved cracking jokes among each other and Hill has a history of calling games and of course being an anchor on ESPN.
Logan Rapp: I do enjoy Mike Hill. Or we could just go with Randi’s idea and have her in the booth.
Nate Jacobo: Randi, Billy Crystal, Bill Walton and Brian Sieman it is!
Logan Rapp: But for real, Nate, I know it was a one-time thing for Ralph’s retirement, but Billy Crystal was surprisingly damn good as color commentator. I don’t know how you could work him in, but give him a game in the late season, I say.
Randi Geffner: I’m all over it. My mom was a radio reporter back in the day; I have the DNA for this.
Nate Jacobo: He was fantastic I thought as well. His insight and knowledge of basketball was pure and him being a comedian, his jokes on LeBron and all other things Clippers and Lakers that night were hilarious.
Logan Rapp: I mean, we knew the jokes were going to be there, because, well, he’s Billy Crystal, but the knowledge of the game, of the history, and his ability to just bring that out and time it with the pace of the game just makes me want more out of him.
Anyway. Randi for Clippers booth. Start the petition now.
With Ralph retiring, Payman Benz (director of multiple Brooklyn 99 episodes and longtime Clips fan) had an idea:
Nate Jacobo: That would be a great way to carry Ralph’s name and legacy forward. Clippers basketball is Ralph Lawler. I believe I also saw an idea from him where he said all arena’s should have a ceremonial first free-throw before each game.
Logan Rapp: I agree, Nate. And with this Clippers fandom growing and getting more animated, I think a perfect, simple way to start bringing them together is just everyone yelling “bingo.”
And it’s the one way you can keep Bingo in the family without it feeling like a cheap imitation. It was Ralph’s thing, Ralph has retired, and now it’s the fans’ thing.
Randi Geffner: They tried that at the last regular season home game. Everyone was supposed to hold up a sign that said BINGO and yell for every three pointer. I think it worked for about 10 minutes.
Logan Rapp: 300 section kept holding it down — you one-percenters gotta step it up!
Randi Geffner: Ouch.