National Sports Journalism Center

Los Angeles Clippers television play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and analyst Michael Smith returned to the jobs Monday following a one-game suspension, the Associated Press reports. Lawler and Smith were suspended by the Fox Sports Prime Ticket network Friday for some off-the-cuff remarks made on the air last Wednesday at Memphis about Grizzlies Iranian-born center Hamed Haddadi. The duo declined interview requests, but the AP reports that during the opening of Monday’s telecast, Lawler said: "I want to get something out of the way right here off the top of the show. Speaking for Mike, both of us deeply regret anything that we might have said in that ballgame against Memphis last Wednesday night that may have offended any good Clipper fan, or anybody else. We’re glad to put it behind us, we’re glad to be back, the Clippers wind up with a 106-99 victory over Denver — Mike, I guess we missed a pretty darn good game."