Wayman Tisdale
Today the world has lost a great sports figure as well as musician. It’s rare that you come across people in this day and age that by their very presence can liven up a room. Many in this world of sin and corruption will pursue fame, they’ll pursue fortune, they’ll pursue pleasure and they will do whatever it takes to grab hold of material things. This man was not one of those people. This man was one who worked hard on the basketball court to produce solid results by becoming a three-time All-American, as well as claiming the record for most points scored by any player in their freshman and sophomore years. He won a gold medal as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic basketball team coached by Indiana University’s Bobby Knight, and the Indiana Pacers made Tisdale the second overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. As a center and power forward, Tisdale averaged over 15 points and six rebounds per game in a 12-season professional career with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. His best season was in 1989-90 with the Kings, when he averaged 22.3 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. Tisdale and Mitch “The Rock” Richmond combined to one of the most dynamic duos in the NBA. In 1997, Tisdale retired to focus on his musical career. Tisdale released his debut CD, Power Forward, in 1995. In 2002, he was awarded the Legacy Tribute Award by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. As a result of Tisdale’s fight with cancer, his experiences have led him to create a foundation to raise funds to help amputees with the prosthetic process, which is not always covered by health insurance. His efforts on the court have been doubled by his work in his own surrounding communities as well as throughout the nation.
In April 2009, Tisdale accepted an award from the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa, and then set off on a 21-date national concert tour.
Tisdale died on the morning of May 15, 2009, at age 44, at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was admitted to the ER for breathing troubles.
I am a musician as well as a fan of the game of basketball, and I will miss this man greatly.
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