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?

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.

Chris Epting is the author of 30 books, including James Dean Died Here (Santa Monica Press), Roadside Baseball (Santa Monica Press), John Oates’ memoir Change of Seasons (St. Martin’s Press) and the Doobie Brothers’ memoir Long Train Runnin’  (St. Martin’s Press).

Bill Walton was NCAA player of the year at UCLA from 1972 to 1974, when UCLA set an NCAA record 88 consecutive-game winning streak. A two-time NBA Champion and the NBA’s 1978 MVP, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. He has also had a successful award-winning broadcasting career with ABC, ESPN, NBC, MSNBC, CBS, Turner, and Fox, among others.

Chris Paul is a 12-time NBA All-Star, a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner, was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2006, and played for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2011–2017.

Doc Rivers is a former NBA All-Star, was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2000, won an NBA Championship as the coach of the Boston Celtics in 2008, and was the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers from 2013–2020.