Those who know the history of San Antonio's only pro sports franchise can appreciate that it still exists there.

Few picked the small market Spurs to succeed in all the ways they have.

When people referred to San Antonio as a "dust bowl" in 1972, there were far less rebuttals available. San Antonio now boasts the ninth-largest population in the United States, and has headquartered some of its most successful corporations, including Clear Channel Communications and AT&T—which recently skipped town.

The Spurs embody San Antonio—not everyone likes to look at them, but no one can deny their presence or greatness.

A group of 36 investors, including Central Texas legend Red McCombs, for whom UT-Austin's business school and a string of car dealerships are named, purchased the Dallas Chaparrals in 1972 and moved them to San Antonio.

Some things about that '72 team stuck—the silver and black motif and the noisy and obnoxious fans—and others didn't. Imagine Bruce Bowen in a red, white and blue "Gunslingers" jersey. Fitting, no? Even Spurs fans can laugh at popular conceptions of the team's players.

The contrast between a 1970s team that belonged to James Silas and George Gervin and the 2000s team that Tim Duncan has manned is stark.

McCombs fired coach Tom Nissalke after a decent 17-10 start because he detested the team's slow, defense-first approach.

New hire Bob Bass transformed the team into an offensive juggernaut. The Spurs' ABA record of holding opponents below 100 points 49 times turned to the squad heaving up record numbers of shots. "You shoot it 100 times, we'll shoot it 107 times," Gervin once said.

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