Wayman Tisdale

[NYDukie]

Just heard that Wayman Tisdale, the former great OU Sooner passed away after a battle with cancer. I remember back in the early-mid 80s when I was growing up and getting into college basketball how great he was along with the Ewing's, Olajuwon's and Jordan's. I remember them all on the 1984 Olympic team, the last great all collegiate team. Just thought I'd pass this along.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4168852

[JasonEvans]

Dude was a phenomenal jazz guitarist too. We are talking about one of the best around. After his playing career in the NBA was over, he toured the country as a part of a jazz band and recorded several albums.

To be so accomplished in two very different and extremely competitive careers... wow. A truly special human being.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/tailgate/2008/04/medium_wayman_tisdale.JPG http://www.champoli.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/wayman-tisdale.jpg

-Jason "sad day" Evans

[BobbyFan]

He always had that infectious smile to match his upbeat personality. Very sad news.

[cspan37421]

After many years, my memory got fuzzy - or perhaps I never really knew what was up. I was at Duke v Oklahoma in 1986, nationally televised. There was a sign, and maybe I only remember it because it went into the yearbook, that read, "Can OU beat Duke? No Wayman". At the time I thought maybe he was injured, but apparently he had already entered the NBA, it was OU's first season since he left. Anyway, kind of funny that Wayman, who wasn't even there anymore, was still clearly in the minds of our fans.

Seems like a nice guy who made the most of what he had.

[lazee]

To be honest, I didn't even know he played basketball at first. I'm a fan of his music (smooth jazz being my favorite type of music...his version of Luthor Vandross' "The Glow of Love" is my fave and is currently my ring tone). By becoming his fan, I found out he was a great basketball player at OU (wow...3-time first team All American). He also had a good NBA career (ESPN posted something like his career stat was about 15 pts 6 rebs I think).

His talents and smile will surely be missed.

R.I.P. Mr. Tisdale

[Jim3k]

Here's a clip from 2006. Let's Do It Again (http://lnmc.crooksandliars.com/maxmarginal/cls-late-night-music-club-wayman-tisda) Wayman Tisdale, Guitar Man.

[weezie]

This is so sad, what a loss. God bless him.

[rthomas]

Here's a clip from 2006. Let's Do It Again (http://lnmc.crooksandliars.com/maxmarginal/cls-late-night-music-club-wayman-tisda) Wayman Tisdale, Guitar Man.

There is a good question posted on the link you provided:

Has anyone other than Tisdale won both an an Olympic Gold Medal and a Grammy?

[CathyCA]

This is really sad news. My heart goes out to his family.

Wayman Tisdale is one of those guys I remember from his high school days. He was a phenomenal player and an outstanding person. Any college would have been lucky to have him as a student and player. Coach K recruited him during the same time he was working on Dawkins, Alarie, Bilas, Jackman, Williams, Henderson and others.

[rsvman]

Here's an obscure piece of NCAA history involving Wayman Tisdale.

I remember him hitting the winning shot for Oklahoma over little Lousiana Tech, which boasted a monster power forward whose name will probably be familiar to most of you: Karl Malone.

The pass went down to Tisdale in the low post. He made a move, then shot the turnaround jumper. The ball rolled around on the rim, off the backboard, rolled on the rim again, costing La Tech about 2 seconds (or more) of playing time before it dropped through.

La Tech tried an alley oop to Malone from halfcourt on the ensuing inbounds play, but the pass wasn't exactly in the right place, and the attempt missed, allowing Oklahoma to advance.

By all reports, Mr. Tisdale was not just a great basketball player, but a great human being. He was beloved by all Sooners fans. Blake Griffin chose the number 23 because it was the number Tisdale wore. He asked for permission from Tisdale himself.

He will be missed.



(By the way, the instrument Tisdale played and is holding in the picture Jason posted is an electric BASS, not an electric guitar. The man was a great bass player, and was featured in Bass Player magazine at least once.)

[pamtar]

Very sad news. My mother lost a leg to cancer at 17 so Wayman's story was one that at admired greatly. Its a shame when someone with that much heart and talent gets taken too early. CANCER SUCKS!! Just one more reason for us all to help in the search for a cure in any way we can...

[Jim3k]

Here's an obscure piece of NCAA history involving Wayman Tisdale.


(By the way, the instrument Tisdale played and is holding in the picture Jason posted is an electric BASS, not an electric guitar. The man was a great bass player, and was featured in Bass Player magazine at least once.)

Can we agree it is a bass guitar?

We should find a clip of "Hey Mr. Bass Man" to honor him with.

[Duke #33]

Here http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Wayman-Tisdale-was-Blake-Griffin-way-before-Blak;_ylt=AuVfh49QAb4PR9u9cRgg8eHevbYF?urn=ncaab,1 63744 is an article about Wayman Tisdale and Blake Griffin.

[Newton_14]

Very sad to see him pass. For those that did not get to see him in college, you missed a player. He was a stud down low and made it look easy. Just one of the great players from back in the day and was always great to watch. If my memory serves me correctly his running mate at OU was a kid named Mookie Blaylock. OU had a strong program during that era.

Way too young to die....

[Indoor66]

I agree - too young to die.

He played with a smile on his face - seemed to always be happy and enjoying himself. It was contagious.

[Billy Dat]

Has anyone other than Tisdale won both an an Olympic Gold Medal and a Grammy?

If the following didn't win a Grammy then the Grammy needs to be put out to pasture:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jamJ4-C_TME

[rsvman]

Can we agree it is a bass guitar?



Yes.



But I'm a bass player, too, and the original phrase "jazz guitarist" still doesn't work for me, and it wouldn't work for any bassist I've ever met.