According to the Los Angeles Times, Clippers legendary play-by-play man Ralph Lawler and color analyst Mike Smith have each been suspended for one game after calling Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi an “Eye-ranian”:

Veteran play-by-play man Ralph Lawler and analyst Mike Smith (above, left and right) were suspended for tonight’s Clippers telecast on Fox Sports Prime Ticket for comments made during Wednesday’s telecast, according to sources with knowledge of the decision but not authorized to speak publicly.

Fox issued this statement at 5:03 p.m. today: “We regret the remarks made by Clippers announcers Michael Smith and Ralph Lawler during Wednesday’s telecast. While we believe that Michael and Ralph did not intend their exchange to be offensive, the comments were inappropriate. We extend our apologies to Hamed Haddadi of the Memphis Grizzlies and to anyone who was offended. We have addressed the situation with Michael and Ralph and have taken appropriate action.”

Wednesday’s comments came near the end of a dreary Clippers loss, 106-91, in Memphis as rookie Haddadi, a 7-foot-2 center and the first Iranian player in the NBA, came into the game.

In a 40-second exchange Lawler and Smith began talking about Haddadi. A Clippers fan who watched Wednesday’s telecast complained about the verbal exchange and said he received an apology today from Fox Sports.

Personally, I think the suspension is a little extreme. Most Americans, whether right or wrong, pronounce it “Eye-Ran” so I find it hard to believe that Lawler and Smith were being malicious when referencing the Grizzlies’ 7′2″ center. In all reality, this was simply an honest mistake that did not require a suspension, and a simple apology letter would have been adequate.

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