Walton Back on Telecasts of Clippers
Bill Walton, fired as Channel 13’s Clipper commentator after missing a couple of telecasts late in the season because of CBS college basketball commitments, has been rehired.
Rick Feldman, Channel 13 station manager, said Tuesday that Walton will work 90% of Channel 13’s 36 Clipper telecasts, which begin Saturday, Nov. 7, with a game at Phoenix.
“We realize that Bill is in high demand, so there’s a clause in his contract that allows him to miss four or five telecasts,” Feldman said.
Feldman fired Walton last season after Walton failed to show up for a telecast.
“I made a serious mistake that resulted in my termination, and I was willing to do whatever it took to get this job back,” Walton said. “I’m glad that Channel 13 accepted my apology and my guarantee it will never happen again.”
Feldman also said Mike Fratello will not be back because he has too many other commitments and would miss too many games.
Both Walton and Fratello worked with play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler on most of Channel 13’s Clipper telecasts.
Walton also will work SportsChannel’s Clipper telecasts with Joel Meyers, and, when available, UCLA basketball telecasts on Prime Ticket.
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