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Not sure if Mike Smith quit or was fired, but this comes as a surprise:

Clippers hire Bruce Bowen to be analyst replacing Michael Smith

Broderick Turner

The Clippers have hired Bruce Bowen to be the analyst on team broadcasts, said several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak on the matter.

Bowen replaces Michael Smith, who was let go this summer after 19 seasons.

Bowen, who won three NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs, had been working for ESPN since 2009.

He will work alongside Ralph Lawler, who will be entering his 39th season with the team.

Bowen will start his assignment when the Clippers play the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 1 and 3 in exhibition games in Hawaii.

The Clippers also reached out to TNT analyst Reggie Miller about being the team’s analyst, the executives said.

The Clippers have also hired Jeanne Zelasko as the team’s pre- and post-game radio host, the executives said, replacing James Koh.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-bowen-20170921-story.html

I actually liked Mike and Ralph as a duo, they had chemistry even though Mike would say some outlandish things. It's gonna take some time to get used to Ralph and Bruce.

I am, however, glad they didn't get Reggie Miller. Dodged that bullet.

agree on everything sad.

i'm actually really sad mike's going.

nickhx2 wrote:agree on everything sad.

i'm actually really sad mike's going.

I'm sad too. It's been a nice little family. Homey.

But the family vibe really fit the CP era. We were fam, there were even kids in the locker room. [No naked bodies, no chicks, no swearing.] Those days are gone. There was a clunkiness to it all which I loved, but now the Clippers are looking at the Lakers coming back to prominence. And if LeBron comes in 2018, we're gonna get blown off the map.

The org has to get 21st century as much as possible. The one advantage we still have is that the Lakers broadcasts, game, pre- and post- are all abominable. Clunky in the most amateurish way, and boring as hell. Stu Lantz and James Worthy are among the worst in the business. [By contrast, Mike Smith was always smooth and professional.]

I don't know if anybody actually listens to the radio, but although Isaac Lowenkron was competent, Jeannie will add a better aural contrast to Brian Sieman, and she knows her s***.

I've been very pleased over the years with the Clippers broadcast presentations on every level--esp compared not just to the Lakers but other franchises as well--but I see where the pot needs to be stirred a little.

As for the #1 issue, as of March, Ralph was not contemplating retirement. But without his partner of the past 13 years, maybe that'll change, esp if the team doesn't jell and it gets to be like work.



And I wonder about Corey. I love him as part of the fam, but he's really not very good either in style or substance.

I had major issues with Mike Smith. Every time he was on the show, Smith would often times expose major Clipper flaws in his color commentating. Yes, it's the job of a sports broadcaster to detail everything that is going on in the game as well as whatever on-court issues the Clippers need to clean up, but the way he approached it rubbed me the wrong way. He seemed too proud of being a Clipper homer that, by coincidence, the opposing team would instantly exact every action nearly word per word of what Smith was trying to say. Smith was like a mole for the enemy, and I couldn't take it. I'm okay with his departure.

There was a report going on that Smith was in the middle of a court case. Until now, I've not heard anything about this. Welp...

(from The Beverley Hills Courier, http://bhcourier.com/clippers-announcer-mike-smith-acquitted-of-grand-theft/)

Los Angeles Clippers announcer Mike Smith was acquitted of grand theft today in a case resulting from his failure to repay a $735,000 loan to a close friend.

An Orange County jury took about two hours to return its verdict.

“I’m relieved, obviously, but mostly I’m just grateful to the judge and jury who saw to it (that) the truth came out,’ Smith said. “This was a very difficult thing to go through for me and my family.’

Smith failed to repay the loan from his late friend, Bill Steinriede, to help finance a failed real estate deal in Dana Point.

“The debt was never really an issue,’ said Smith’s attorney, Dyke Huish. “It was whether he was a thief. And I don’t care what the district attorney says, they were wrong and the jury backed me up.’

What was at issue was whether Smith ever intended to repay the loan when he signed a contract with Steinriede. Deputy District Attorney George McFetridge contended that Smith knew he could not pay back the loan and went through with it anyway.

But the jury accepted Huish’s argument that it was a business deal that no one could have known would go south.

Since his leave from the Clippers, Smith has supposedly entered the world of golf.

Wammy Giveaway wrote:I had major issues with Mike Smith. Every time he was on the show, Smith would often times expose major Clipper flaws in his color commentating. Yes, it's the job of a sports broadcaster to detail everything that is going on in the game as well as whatever on-court issues the Clippers need to clean up, but the way he approached it rubbed me the wrong way. He seemed too proud of being a Clipper homer that, by coincidence, the opposing team would instantly exact every action nearly word per word of what Smith was trying to say. Smith was like a mole for the enemy, and I couldn't take it. I'm okay with his departure.

There was a report going on that Smith was in the middle of a court case. Until now, I've not heard anything about this. Welp...

(from The Beverley Hills Courier, http://bhcourier.com/clippers-announcer-mike-smith-acquitted-of-grand-theft/)

Los Angeles Clippers announcer Mike Smith was acquitted of grand theft today in a case resulting from his failure to repay a $735,000 loan to a close friend.

An Orange County jury took about two hours to return its verdict.

Brother Wammy, that was 2010. Probably not a factor.

Yes, it's the job of a sports broadcaster to detail everything that is going on in the game as well as whatever on-court issues the Clippers need to clean up, but the way he approached it rubbed me the wrong way. He seemed too proud of being a Clipper homer that, by coincidence, the opposing team would instantly exact every action nearly word per word of what Smith was trying to say. Smith was like a mole for the enemy, and I couldn't take it.

The opps would use Mike Smith's analyses against us? I never thought of that. Hmm. We should only hire crap color men?

Settle down Mike Smith

leave it to wammy to find a way to bash mike smith while everyone else is in mourning

well done, just couldn't be prouder of you

I'm upset with this decision. I think mike smith was underrated. He really studied each team and had good chemistry with Ralph Lawler. I also don't like Bruce Bowen. I always thought he was a dirty player and I haven't been very impressed with his skills as an analyst

I like that our duo weren't homers. I liked hearing about the other teams, not just ours. I would listen to a lot of games on the radio and my God the homerism had me wishing XM had our feed. Listen to the Jazz, Celtics and I think it was the Pelicans radio broadcasts some time. I considered it unprofessional it was so one sided

I never liked Mike Smith. got attached to him over the years, but I never thought he was actually any good. Ralph can make any color commentator sound good and entertaining. Bruce will probably do just fine. I find that choice odd, but Mike Smith is replaceable. Ralph is not. Ralph is our Vin Scully, our Cheek Hearns.

on the other hand, I miss the big red. Bill Walton was hilarious with his hyperboles. you old timers remember when we were losing games in a bunch, without hope, then suddenly some random clipper would do something remotely awesome and Bill would say, "that is the greatest dunk/pass/clutch shot/etc,etc... I have ever seen!" and Ralph would look at him like Bill was a little kid meeting batman for the first time.

I am sorry to rain on your parade, fellas. I never hated on Mike Smith, and Im sure he was a pretty decent guy despite the 2010 incident. I thought everybody knew about that already, but I'm guessing Wammy was a young little lad back then. but it was time. we needed to move on to bigger and better. I even thought Don MacLean would make a better color commentator than Mike with his in depth analysis and tell it like it is attitude of his post game commentaries.

and lastly, if being an ex clipper is a bonus for the color commentating job going into the future (in case Bruce doesn't work out), I just want to remind everyone that Mike Smith was a clipper for just 29 games in his career. Corey Maggette spent 8 seasons with us. Eric Piatkowski spent 9 years with us. I would much rather have one of those guys next to Ralph than Mike.

Smith used to get on my nerves so I'm glad to see the back of him, but Bowen? why? never thought he was very insightful whenever I catched him on NBATV or ESPN, and at least Mike knew the entire playbook by memory, and could explain what they were gonna do before they did it.

Getting Bill Walton back would've been so awesome though, I barely remember him commentating Clippers games cause I was a little **** just getting into basketball when he left for national TV, but he had to make the most amazing duo with Ralph.

Mike Smith had great info on other teams. He would tell stories about the past of some of the opposing players. From what a player used to eat for lunch in high school to who taught him how to do that sweet post move. He did his homework. I don't know which other duos in the NBA know more about opposing players than Ralph and Mike did.

And Bruce Bowen? What an odd selection. Dude has no connection to the team whatsoever. Couldn't they have hired someone who does? Brent Barry? ****, even Mark Jackson. But I guess TNT and ESPN pay them higher respectively.

Akklaim1 wrote:And Bruce Bowen? What an odd selection. Dude has no connection to the team whatsoever. Couldn't they have hired someone who does? Brent Barry? ****, even Mark Jackson. But I guess TNT and ESPN pay them higher respectively.

I guess the Clippers chose Bowen because of his connection to the Spurs, who are looked up to as the Good Samaritans of the NBA.

But there may be another reason why he's in: DeAndre Jordan.

(from an old Clipperblog: http://clipperblog.com/2012/11/12/deandre-jordan-call-of-duty-bruce-bowen-and-free-throws/)

Jovan Buha wrote:A couple of weeks ago, on Prime Ticket’s Clippers-Lakers telecast, it was revealed that Jordan has recently sought advice from former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Bruce Bowen (news to which Jordan responded: “They said that? Damn, they’re telling my business, man.”), a poor free throw shooter and excellent defender in his own right.

Ever since the two met in China, when Jordan and the Clippers were playing the Miami Heat in a couple of exhibition games, they clicked and have spoken on the phone daily.

“Bruce is a great guy. It’s always good to have a mentor like that,” said Jordan. “Someone who has played the game and who can share some of his experiences with me, both good and bad, so I can improve as a player and a person.”

Whatever Bowen’s telling Jordan is working. 2012-13 D.J. is unlike any version we’ve ever seen. He’s aggressive and assertive, two traits he’s lacked in the past. Best of all, he’s developed a soft touch around the basket, converting one-dribble power hook shots with ease from either hand.

I was surprised to see that Mike is being replaced. Ralph and Mike have fantastic chemistry but I guess the organization wants to go in a different direction. I honestly thought Mike Smith would be here until he decided to retire.

The fact that Mike said that it "Wasn't his decision" has me extremely curious. Wonder what happened?

I thought Mike by himself was just an average color commentator, but he and ralph played off of each other phenomenally. As an avid league pass subscriber, their chemistry was up there with any annoucning team in the league. My only issue with Mike was his overexaggerations for both the Clippers and the opponent. But it got so bad that it became funny to me, and I grew to appreciate it.

QRich3 wrote:Getting Bill Walton back would've been so awesome though, I barely remember him commentating Clippers games cause I was a little **** just getting into basketball when he left for national TV, but he had to make the most amazing duo with Ralph.

he did, and they were fun.

Hmm, didn't see this coming, but Bowen is an interesting choice.

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Neddy wrote:

QRich3 wrote:Getting Bill Walton back would've been so awesome though, I barely remember him commentating Clippers games cause I was a little **** just getting into basketball when he left for national TV, but he had to make the most amazing duo with Ralph.

he did, and they were fun.

Ralph has hinted several times that the Big Redhead was his favorite partner.

Mike is nice but Walton could make him laugh. Ralph's a funny guy and had to drag Mike along in that department. Shpritzing with Walton made the job easy.

I did like a lot of the little analytical tidbits Mike would throw in there, it's nice to have that mixed in, but we'll see how Bowen does.