4. Say “Bingo!” is better than “Bang!”
This one is very, very important. I know how cool Mike Breen’s “Bang!” is. I really do. It’s super cool.
BUT.
You’re a lifelong Clipper fan now. You are dedicated to upholding the legacy of Ralph Lawler. Forever.
Ralph is kind of a big deal to those of us who grew up with the Clippers. Did I write about his retirement and what he meant to me? Yes, I did. You should go read that, too. You know, for research.
Ralph had a lot of Ralphisms that shaped the way that Clipper fans describe basketball. Things like “Oh Me Oh My,” for an incredibly great or incredibly terrible play, and “the lob, THE JAM,” for, well, I’m sure you can figure that out. What did he shout on three pointers? BINGO.
Opposing player caps off a run with a three to put their team up late? A very sad, very curt Bingo. JJ Redick curls off a screen to hit a three early in the game from an impossible angle? A very happily surprised, almost laughing Bingo. Opposing player puts the Clippers down big early? A very low, ominous, drawn out Biiiiiiingo. Landry Shamet hits a three in Oracle to cap off the greatest comeback in Clippers’ playoff history? A VERY LOUD AND JUBILANT BINGO, INDEED.
The word was versatile and would fit any situation it was put in. Does Breen’s “Bang!” do that? Not really, because he has to be at least somewhat impartial because he’s a national broadcaster. But it still makes it less fun than Ralph’s “Bingo!”. Advantage “Bingo!”. Write that down.