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Never a discouraging word for Lawler

Ralph Lawler really should be in the Hall of Fame.

Which one? Pick one.

How about the Riverside Community College athletic hall of fame? Riverside is where Lawler made his bones from 1961 to ’70, as a young broadcaster out of Peoria, Ill., who came to work for the old KPRO/1440 and found himself on the same career ground floor as a young basketball coach named Jerry Tarkanian.

In fact, while Lawler has a potential audience of millions these days as voice of the Clippers, his calls of RCC’s three straight state championships in 1964-65-66 — an experience he still says was as much fun as he’s ever had in broadcasting — were immortalized on vinyl. Even now, copies are still kicking around.

You’d have to think that the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will eventually get around to bestowing its Curt Gowdy Media Award on Lawler for his 33 seasons as the Clippers’ play-by-play voice — a recognition of endurance through trying times, at the very least.

The excitement and promise of the current Clippers has at last caught up with the enthusiasm Lawler has maintained from day one with the club.

“I don’t know if there’s (extra) spring in my step, but I get a little more feel in my stomach — I wouldn’t say anxiety, but a little more tension,” said Lawler, who makes the 2½-hour drive from his La Quinta home with his wife, Joy, on game nights. “Each night is more like an opening night might have been in years past, because there is a brighter spotlight on this club.”

Jim Alexander, The Press-Enterprise