SAN ANTONIO – After more than two decades as the Spurs’ permanent voice on television, anchor Bill Land is hanging up his boots and retiring. Land sat down with KSAT’s RJ Marquez to discuss his five decades in television and much more.
“I love San Antonio and wish I had moved here a long time ago,” Land said.
Land had a great career. Being part of the great Spurs teams and making the playoffs is something he will miss the most.
“What I really enjoy is those moments in the game, no matter when they happen, whether it’s a fan you’re watching or the Spurs are going out there,” Land said. “You really feel like the roof of the building is going to fall off.”
That passion fueled Land’s 50-year career in television, but one of his most memorable moments with the team came when he wasn’t on TV.
“I was on the radio with Bill Shoening, just his sidekick. And when the Spurs crushed the Miami Heat in Game 5, there were several moments during that game where, again, it felt like the roof was gone. I literally got chills,” Land said.
Last season, Land publicly announced that he was battling a rare form of blood cancer. The support he received was overwhelming.
“People were coming up to me at games and giving me cards and hugs and stuff,” Land said. “And then when the Spurs announced their retirement, I got some reactions on social media. I expected at least two or three of those reactions, like, ‘Hey, I’m glad you’re gone,’ but maybe those reactions have been eliminated. It’s been amazing and I’m very grateful for it.”
Land underwent a stem cell transplant in May and just completed his 100-day recovery period. He said he’s feeling better every day, but it’s time to move on. Land said she was already thinking about retirement before last season began, and her diagnosis only made that decision clearer.
“People have been very supportive, not only with the broadcasting that we’ve done over the years, but also when I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last year,” Land said. “I still want to do a lot of things. Whether it’s traveling — both of our sons are high school basketball coaches here in Texas — I want to be able to see more of their games. We have a grandchild and another one on the way. I don’t worry about having to fill my time and play a lot of golf as well, and watch a lot of Spurs games.”
Over the years, Land has had a front-row seat to many of the team’s greatest moments alongside Spurs legend Sean Elliott.
“He embodies class. Everybody knows Sean is a good guy. He has great humility. He always cares about other people,” Land said.
Despite the wins and losses, the long road trips and the late nights, Land said it’s the camaraderie of the TV crew that he’ll miss most.
“We travel with the team, but we don’t really spend a lot of time with the team, but we do with each other,” Land said.
He will also regret not having been able to see the big names of the time up close, from David Robinson to the era of the Big Three with Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and now Victor Wembanyama.
“It’s a pleasure to be able to play in these games and the team is very respected around the country,” Land said. “Coming back to where we are, the Spurs haven’t been in the playoffs in a while and you see how good they really are.”
Spurs fans will no doubt miss his professionalism and his “Oh Mama” shout. That dates back to the 1970s when he began his career in Illinois.
“I got the opportunity to do color on the campus radio station broadcast. My parents lived about 270 miles away from me. They obviously couldn’t get the broadcast,” Land said. “My mom was so happy for me that I got into it and I just wanted to honor her even though they couldn’t hear it. She passed away a long time ago, but every time I say it, I still think of her up there looking down.”
Land said what ultimately kept him in San Antonio all these years was the people, the fans and the organization.
“The city of San Antonio seeps into our souls, that’s what a friend once told me,” Land said. “We love San Antonio and the organization exemplifies that… RC Buford and Gregg Popovich and all the players they’ve brought here and the staff are really committed to being good citizens of the community.”
Land rides off into the television sunset, grateful to Spurs nation but eagerly awaiting what’s next.
“My family and my wife Gayle have become champions. The support I have received from her and our sons, Taylor and Cooper, means the world to me,” Land said. “I am so grateful. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
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