The Minnesota Timberwolves visited the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night and picked up the win. The preceding sentence is completely incidental compared to a truly marvelous moment of broadcasting that took place in the second quarter.
VIDEO: No One Can Believe J.J. Barea Is Dating Miss Universe
Bill Hanstock is a writer, author and Emmy Award-winning producer. He began writing for SB Nation in 2011.
First, let me mention that the Clippers television announcing team is one of the most entertaining in all of sports and a welcome contrast to the local Lakers commentators. Listening to a local Lakers game on TV is like listening to three Joe Bucks bicker about whatever happens to flit across their magpie-like brains while basketball happens somewhere nearby.
The backstory for this setup goes like this: Timberwolves guard J.J. Barea has been dating former Miss Universe Zuleyka Rivera for some time and the couple recently had a baby. Longtime Clippers announcer Ralph Lawler was informed of these things while the game was in progress and he simply could not believe his ears.
The way you’d hear Lawler tell it, you’d think that J.J. Barea looks like an extra in a Tod Browning film, but that’s just part of the charm of the announcer. He quickly segues into a pun on Barea’s name and a 90s FOX sitcom-esque double entendre. The only thing this was missing was Lawler yelling, “Bingo!” So watch the video again and yell “Bingo!” at the end. It’s worth it.
For all news and information regarding the Minnesota Timberwolves, please visit Canis Hoopus. For all noteworthy things blurted out by the Los Angeles Clippers announce team, check out Clips Nation.
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