Bingo! - Forty Years in the NBA

Bingo!: Forty Years in the NBA is the memoir of legendary Los Angeles Clippers and sports broadcaster Ralph Lawler. Bingo! 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 stint 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 narrative. Included among the myriad stories and reflections are 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, coaches, and fellow broadcasters from throughout the NBA.

As Lawler used to memorably 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, including the definitive answer to the burning question all NBA fans want to know: What are the origins of Lawler’s Law?

About the author

Ralph Lawler is best known for his 40-year tenure as the voice of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. However, he is one of a select few announcers who has called games in each of the four professional U.S. sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL). Lawler was named a 2019 Curt Gowdy Media Award recipient by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and has also been awarded with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, three Emmys, a Telly Award, and inductions into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the California Sports Hall of Fame.

Summary

Bingo!: Forty Years in the NBA is the memoir of legendary Los Angeles Clippers and sports broadcaster Ralph Lawler. Bingo! 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 stint 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 narrative. Included among the myriad stories and reflections are 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, coaches, and fellow broadcasters from throughout the NBA.

As Lawler used to memorably 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, including the definitive answer to the burning question all NBA fans want to know: What are the origins of Lawler’s Law?

Foreword

The person in charge of Editorial Content for the NBA has offered to help promote the book across the NBA’s media and social media channels, including The NBA Channel, NBA.com, Hoop magazine, and across the NBA’s various social media feeds and platforms. They love Ralph Lawler and Bill Walton and are happy to partner with us in promoting the book.

Publicity will be focused on major sports media outlets and Southern California media outlets, including ESPN, TBS Basketball, NBA Radio, FOX Sports, NBA.com, Bleacher Report, SLAM, NBA TV, SB Nation, HOOP, L.A. Times, Orange County Register, KLAC-AM.

There will be a book launch celebration at Staples Center before a Clippers game with a book signing at the Clippers store and interviews with the Clippers broadcasters at halftime.

Ralph Lawler has a significant social media reach, with over 21,000 followers on Twitter and over 6,000 on Instagram.

The book will be promoted on the NBA’s social media accounts, which include over 35 million Twitter followers and over 60 million Instagram followers.

The book will be promoted on the Clippers social media accounts, which include nearly 2 million Twitter followers and over 3 million followers on Instagram.

Chris Paul (preface) will help promote the book. He has over 10 million followers on Twitter, and over 8 million followers on Instagram.

Bill Walton (foreword) will help promote the book. He has over 116,000 followers on Twitter, and over 83,000 followers on Instagram.

Doc Rivers (afterword) will help promote the book. He has 60,000 followers on Twitter.

Additional text

"Ralph Lawler—a rare and different dude, and a spiritual force of nature beyond description—is as fine a broadcaster, friend, and human being as has ever lived."—Bill Walton

Product details

• Authors: Chris Epting, Ralph Lawler
• Assisted by: Chris Paul (Foreword), Chris Paul (Introduction), Bill Walton (Foreword), Doc Rivers (Afterword)
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 08.11.2022, delayed
• EAN: 9781595801104
• ISBN: 978-1-59580-110-4
• No. of pages: 320
• Illustrations: 50 Photos
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature > Letters, diaries; Guides > Sport > Ball sport; SPORTS & RECREATION / Basketball, SPORTS & RECREATION / History, PERFORMING ARTS / Radio / General