Why Spurs broadcaster Bill Land’s blood cancer diagnosis won’t stop him from doing what he loves

Not long after 4 p.m. Wednesday, Spurs television broadcaster Bill Land walked into the media room at the Frost Bank Center, on time as always.

He pored over a stack of notes to prepare for that night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, then headed to the pregame interview session with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

Afterward, Land headed to the arena bowl and took his familiar seat on the second row near the home bench and settled in to call another night of Spurs basketball. With any luck, he will find the occasion to bellow at least one signature, “Oh, mama!”

When Land was diagnosed with a blood cancer called multiple myeloma in August, the thought of giving up any of this never occurred to him.

“I still love doing the games,” Land said. “The guys on the (TV) crew are some of my best friends. And I needed a distraction.”

For the 71-year-old Land, who is in his 21st season doing play-by-play for the Spurs, it has been a life-changing past few months.

The cancer Land has is incurable but “very treatable,” doctors have told him.

It is something Land will be living with for the rest of his life – and so he aims to keep living it.

“When he first told us, he was very matter of fact about it,” said Mike Kickirillo, Senior Director of Broadcasting for Spurs Sports & Entertainment. “It was, ‘This is what’s going on. It sucks, but I’m going to fight through it and give you everything I’ve got.’ ”

 For Land, the saga began in May when a routine annual physical uncovered some abnormalities in his bloodwork.

Land did not fret much about it at the time.

When he returned for a follow-up three months later, those abnormalities had become alarming. After a battery of tests at Texas Oncology, doctors diagnosed Land with multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks plasma cells.

“It was like a slap in the face from reality,” Land said.

Land threw himself what he called “a one-day pity party” and then threw himself into the fight.

“If I’m going to handle this thing,” Land told himself, “I better get after it.”

Every Monday and Thursday, Land goes in for a series of injections. Each day for 14 days, he takes a chemotherapy pill.

Then he will get a week off from treatment. He will complete this cycle four times in the next three months.

The side effects from the treatment range from “annoying” to “sometimes debilitating.”

When Land spent one recent night unable to sleep due to persistent leg cramps, all he could do was shrug.

“I’m learning this is the new normal,” Land said.

Fatigue is an almost guaranteed constant companion. Land says he can find himself winded simply from bending over to place a golf tee.

Land doesn’t know if the treatment procedures will change his appearance on television, or affect his voice in any way.

That is part of the reason he decided to come public with the diagnosis.

So far, viewers likely have not noticed anything askew.

“His energy level has been great,” Kickirillo said. “It’s the same Bill. You’d never know.”

Land’s longtime broadcast partner agrees.

“You can’t really tell anything is amiss at all when he’s on the air,” Spurs color analyst Sean Elliott said. “Bill is handling it like it’s everyday business for him.”

Given the uncertainty of Land’s health situation, the Spurs TV crew must be nimble enough to adapt to anything.

When Land found himself in too much discomfort to make the Spurs’ first game against the Clippers on Monday, studio host Dan Weiss was able to slide into the play-by-play chair on a moment’s notice.

“That’s a testament to the character of Dan, to be able to seamlessly transition like that,” Kickirillo said. “He’s prepared every game.”

For Land, the outlook is positive if unclear.

Having already scaled back his workload in recent years, Land had signed on to call 55 games at the start of the season. That number may change to accommodate his treatment schedule, or as other complications or conflicts arise.

If all goes to plan, Land will be eligible for a stem-cell transplant in January that doctors believe should kick-start a period of remission.

“I’m extremely optimistic,” Land said.

He is also grateful.

Recently, Land recalled a story from his days calling baseball games for the Texas Rangers in the early 2000s.

He was in the press box at the old Ballpark in Arlington, alongside color commentator Tom Grieve. They were awaiting a visit from former manager Johnny Oates, who had been diagnosed with a lethal brain tumor.

It was a typically sweltering Arlington afternoon, and the windows to the booth were open. Both broadcasters were grumbling and sweating when Oates walked in.

“Wow!” Oates exclaimed, “What a beautiful summer day!”

Looking back, Land understands how Oates’ perspective on even the weather had been changed by his diagnosis.

Now it is Land’s turn to appreciate the beautiful summer days – even in November.

This year, Thanksgiving Day also marks his 72nd birthday. Land plans to spend the holiday at his Fair Oaks home with his wife Gayle, hosting his older son Cooper and his family.

On Friday, Land and his wife are set to board a plane to visit his younger son, Taylor, in Virginia.

He will not be in San Francisco for the Spurs’ post-Thanksgiving game at Golden State.

As much as Land loves his job and will continue to do it, he has discovered the key to living with a cancer diagnosis lies in the living.

“It’s such a cliché, but every day is more special,” Land said. “You absolutely realize what’s important in life. Your family and your faith is everything.”