Old Reliable

Today longtime Los Angeles Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler will call his 2,000th game, and LAist could not be more happy for one of the all-time great guys in LA sports.

For years, Lawler has been lost in the shuffle in a city that boasts great announcers like Vin Scully, the late-Chick Hearn, and Bob Miller. But Lawler is a top-tier announcer who has always epitomized class. You'd think that calling the vast majority of games for a team Sports Illustrated once dubbed "The Worst Franchise in Professional Sports History" would get someone down after 28 years. But not Lawler.

Lawler still broadcasts Clipper games with all the excitement of a kid at a candy store. It is remarkable that he has continued to inject energy into Clipper broadcasts for 2,000 games. LAist also loves how Lawler is probably the only NBA announcer to prefer a hand-held microphone to a headset microphone.

While Chick Hearn has a street and a media room named after him at STAPLES Center (and deservedly so), it's time that the Clippers find a special way to honor Lawler. He should be rewarded for his patience, loyalty, and for being a darn good broadcaster too.