“Based on how I’m feeling, I may have retired too early,” he said. “But I didn’t want to be too late.”
It helps, he said, that he left the broadcast in good hands with Brian Sieman, who moved over from the radio side to replace Lawler on Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket, the Clippers’ television affiliate. Sieman has his own style and is forging his own path. Lawler said he was planning this season to avoid Staples Center — where the Clippers and the Lakers play — because he did not want to be a distraction.
“Brian is like family,” he said.
Still, this new life has not always been easy. Lawler said he was talking with a neighbor who confessed that it had taken him five years to adjust to retirement. Lawler hopes it does not take him quite so long — but he understands. He misses his co-workers. He misses the ushers. He misses the adrenaline of the crowd and the connection he felt with the fans watching at home.
“I miss not having a microphone around,” he said.
During Sunday’s game, Lawler offered some of his hallmark analysis. When Lou Williams misfired on a jumper after going to his right, Lawler noted how Williams shoots the ball more effectively going to his left. And when Patrick Beverley grabbed one of his seven rebounds, Lawler opened Twitter to praise Beverley’s pound-for-pound toughness.
But while Lawler avoided shouting “Bingo!” at his wife whenever the Clippers made a 3-pointer or unleashing an “Oh me, oh my!” whenever Leonard soared to the rim, there were occasional bursts when he might as well have been leaning into his microphone at Staples Center.
“We have a game, gang!” he said when the Pelicans briefly rallied to cut into the Clippers’ lead.
It all started in 1978, when Lawler, after working as a broadcaster for several years in Philadelphia, moved to Southern California to call games for the Clippers — and took a pay cut for the privilege. The Clippers rewarded him with a winning season, then followed that with 12 straight losing ones.
Over the years, Jo Lawler, 74, became nearly as much a part of the fabric of the team as her husband. After she retired from her career as an executive with a home-building company in 2006, she began traveling to road games and resided in Section 119 at home games. Lawler would refer to her as “Sweet Jo” on broadcasts.
