July 1, 2019
Hello everyone,
Chris Roberts
We are so very proud to announce additions to our SoCal Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame President’s Award and Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award. It happens in January at Lakeside Golf Course with the exact date to be announced later.
Congratulations to our broadcasters.
Matt Stevens is one of our inductees into the SoCal Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
He has been with the UCLA football broadcasts now for 23 years. Starting out as a sideline reporter he worked his way into the broadcast booth as the expert analyst of the Bruin gridiron.
A veteran of both radio and television we have seen him on Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket. His color commentary is heard during the UCLA football season on the Bruin Radio Network.
He has won the award for color commentary in the past. SoCal Sports Broadcasters named him as top analyst in 2001. Now in January he will be inducted into the SCSB Hall of Fame. His roots at UCLA are as the starting quarterback who engineered a dynamic victory in the 1986 Rose Bowl. A 45-28 win against heavily favored University of Iowa and legendary coach Hayden Frye.
He was originally recruited out of Fountain Valley in Orange County to Westwood and UCLA. Congratulations Matt. Great honor for you.
Next, Bill Macdonald joins Stevens as our other inductee into the Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Macdonald is the TV play by play voice of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.
He joined Prime Ticket when it first came on the scene in 1985. It seemed like he was on everything sports related for the next 27 years – that includ- ed play by play to hosting duties.
Bill Macdonald Stu Lantz
He was then selected for what he calls, “The job of a lifetime,” play by play broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers.
His broadcasting partner Stu Lantz was inducted into the SCSB Hall of Fame in 2018. Only fitting now that both Lakers TV announcers are recognized for their excellent broadcast work.
Congratulations Bill. You have worked hard and deserve it.
Also, we are proud to announce that this year’s President’s Award goes to Vic “The Brick” Jacobs.
A native of Queens, New York, he still has the east coast delivery that has been his trademark. In addition, “Feelin You,” is his signature phrase that you will hear a lot while tuning him in.
Currently he is heard on AM570 Sports Radio L.A., Vic started in broadcasting in 1979. He came to Los Angeles in 1988 working on Channel 13.
In those early days of TV he had a foam rubber “brick” that he would throw at the camera about stories he didn’t like hence the nickname Vic “The Brick” Jacobs. As noted by Vic:
I threw the brick venting against the corruption and greed that resonates thru the sports world… The brick is a beacon of truth… Tranquility within the tumult…
We salute Vic’s 31 years in Los Angeles broadcasting and his longevity to keep us entertained during that span.
This year the prestigious Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award goes to long time Clippers play by play man Ralph Lawler.
He is the 40 year veteran who has called Clippers games since 1978 when he started broadcasting the for the team after they moved from Buffalo, New York to San Diego.
Lawler broadcasted over 3200 Clippers games on radio and/or televi- sion. He retired at the end of this 2019 basketball season. What a run!
He already is in our SoCal Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In Sep- tember of this year, he will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Bas- ketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Ma.
Lawler to his credit has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, too.
What a career for a guy born in Ohio and raised in Peoria, Illinois. Worked in Philadelphia, broadcasting Flyers games in the NHL, the 76ers of the NBA, and Phillies of Major League Baseball. “Fasten your seatbelt,” Ralph. (one of his signa- ture phrases in tight games). You have done it again! “Bingo” (another Lawlerism for a 3 pointer) with all the accolades you have collected we hope you will cherish this special honor for the rest of your life.
Jo and Ralph Lawler
Congratulations Ralph Lawler on receiving the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award!
Again, congratulations to our newest inductees to the SoCal Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Matt Stevens of UCLA and Bill Macdonald from the Lakers.
Also congratulations to Vic “The Brick” Jacobs recipient of the President’s Award and Ralph Lawler – the 4th recipient of the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award.
The presentations will take place at our traditional January awards luncheon at Lakeside Golf Course with a date to be determined.
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Chris Roberts
President SCSB
