Lawler’s law

After Ralph Lawler had to spend so many years in the giant shadow cast by Chick Hearn, it’s wonderful that Lawler is finally receiving some of the recognition he deserves for being such an outstanding basketball announcer. Bill Dwyre was right when he wrote that “frequently, the most entertaining thing about a Clippers game is not the Clippers game. It is the Ralph and Mike Show.” Game after game, it is enjoyable to listen to Lawler and his partner, Mike Smith.

Is Lawler much better than his Lakers counterpart, Joel Meyers? I’d say it’s a slam dunk. Meyers comes across as being so tilted toward the Lakers on virtually every play that he evidently feels it’s necessary to be a “homer,” as if he were still calling a college game as the UCLA announcer. For Lakers broadcasts, I wish I could hit the “undo” button and replace Meyers with Paul Sunderland.

Jon White

Monrovia