The words ring out like a slogan and the somewhat forced voice of the commentator accentuates the impression of irresistible power: “Oh Mama, Wembanyama! ” has gone viral among San Antonio Spurs fans. Since the start of the season, with each broadcast of the Texan team on the channels of Bally Sports which holds the rights, Bill Land has had a blast. When Victor Wembanyama performed a spectacular action (that is to say very often), the commentator punctuated the Frenchman’s gesture with his exclamation which became a signature.
“I tried not to overdo it too much,” confides this emblematic voice and face of the channel, commentator on Spurs matches for 21 years. On social networks, many fans now use the expression to illustrate Wemby dunk or block videos. “It’s a beautiful tribute, it makes me very happy! “, continues Bill Land. The formula seems to have been tailor-made for the French rookie… However, this is far from being the case.
“Some people don’t like it but I don’t care!” »
“No, not at all: I created this expression a long time ago, when I commented on university championship matches for an Illinois radio station (Editor’s note: near Chicago), explains the journalist, now aged 72 years old. As my parents could not listen to my comments, the radio was not available where they lived, I created this little habit which allowed me to think of my parents and my mother. They were very proud of me and were happy that I could do what I love for a living. It stuck and I have often used it over the years, on exciting actions, when I see things that seem special to me, out of the ordinary. »
However, his “Oh Mama” has never suited a player so well: “It’s true, when the Spurs won the draft lottery last year, I immediately thought of it. I said to myself: this is going to be easy to use! It was sort of natural. » Bill Land is accompanied at each match by a former Spurs player, Sean Elliott, who has become a TV consultant. He also invented an expression that fans have seized on: the “dad block”, when Victor Wembanyama grabs the ball without jumping, just raising his arm and grabbing the ball, like an adult would do it to a child.
“It’s so colorful and it suits what Victor does when he grabs the ball like that!” says Bill Land. It’s like you have your 7 year old in your driveway, and you decide to stop him from shooting. You almost hear: ‘Come back when you’re older and you can jump!'”
“Oh Mama Wembanyama” is not appreciated by everyone, however. “I was criticized for this sentence, some don’t like it,” admits the commentator. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion, but I don’t care! It was for my mom and it was important to me. » Years later, a young basketball player of barely 20 years old from France gave new life to this expression which has never been so popular.
