Wayman Tisdale (1964-2009)
[Guest post by DRJ]
Basketball player Wayman Tisdale has died after a 2-year battle with cancer. He was 44.
Wayman Tisdale was a stellar basketball player for the University of Oklahoma Sooners and played 12 years in the NBA. He still holds OU’s career scoring record, career rebounding record, and the school’s single-game scoring record. Tisdale is one of only 10 three-time college All-Americans and played on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. And if that’s not enough, he was a successful jazz musician with several albums in the Billboard Top 10 and had one of the most infectious smiles I’ve ever seen.
My condolences to his family, friends, and legions of fans.
— DRJ
I heard him play on a PBS special some years back – I had no idea how talented a musician he was. Sad.
Dmac (1ddf7e) — 5/15/2009 @ 4:27 pmI liked him even with the hated Pacers, and he was one of the good guys on the Suns, back when the Bulls beat them in the finals. Heck of a bass player, and that SWV album was awfully good. He will be missed.
carlitos (aa025a) — 5/15/2009 @ 4:42 pmA smooth left(wrong)-handed jumper and graceful for a big fellow. Sad. He was a force in college.
JD (fc72cc) — 5/15/2009 @ 5:08 pmAs a fellow Oklahoman and Tulsan, I and all of my fellow Sooners are deeply saddened by his passing. He will always be remembered as a class act and ambassador for our state. I played pickup B-ball with him a couple of times. Made a steal off of him once and started toward the other end. He yelled “I’ll have you for lunch”. I turned around and saw all of him hot on my tail. I’m only 5’9″ (snack size) so I just picked up the ball, turned left, took off up the bleachers at the speed of light and sat down on the top bench. Damn near soiled myself. He was laughing at me with that unique Tisdale smile so I knew I would not be eaten that day.
Spinrbait (2213c8) — 5/15/2009 @ 6:10 pmHe will always represent everything that is great about Oklahoma. God rest good servant.
I worked floor camera at Arco Arena (Sacramento) in the late 80s and early 90s. Tizzie was a truly nice guy all the time, win or lose.
The radio tributes from Grant Napier, Jerry Reynolds,Kings former players and fans today and tonight on KHTK are very special. He loved playing and practicing his bass guitar so much that no one wanted a room next to his when they were on the road.
RIP
harkin (c36792) — 5/15/2009 @ 9:01 pmI remember watching him at Oklahoma, and he was an absolute beast, nearly impossible to contain, and he went on to have a solid NBA career. The one common denominator is the respectful way that he treated people.
The good ones always seem to be taken from us the soonest. RIP Wayman.
Another Chris (a3bb8f) — 5/15/2009 @ 10:22 pmHe was an excellent musician. It’s a shame. My condolences to his loved ones.
JEA (48fee4) — 5/16/2009 @ 12:48 pmI heard his song “circumstances” at a bookclub meeting in 1995, ran out and bought his first album that night at 9:45pm. and listened a month ago! Amazing Spirit that will be missed…Peace, Strength and Love…Oakland, CA
Michele (Oakland, CA) (6d2c3e) — 5/16/2009 @ 10:24 pm