NBA superstar turned Jazz Musician was honored at the ACM Music awards with a tribute by friend Toby Keith and fellow Jazz Musician Dave Koz. Wayman Tisdale played in the NBA for 12 seasons, from 1985 until 1997, as a member of the Indiana Pacers, the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns. Following his retirement from professional basketball, Tisdale embarked on a recording career as a jazz bass guitarist. In early 2007, Tisdale was diagnosed with bone cancer.
Tisdale lost his battle with bone cancer on the morning of Friday, May 15, 2009. He died at the age of 44.ESPN.com: Sooners Legend Tisdale Dies at 44
Wayman Tisdale Tribute by Toby Keith and Dave Koz
The song Cryin' for Me was performed at the ACM awards and is available for purchase from iTunes as a fundraiser for Cancer
Cancer
Tisdale was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2007 after slipping on stairs and shattering his knee. Doctors were puzzled that someone with his athleticism and relative youth would endure such a drastic injury from a fall, and eventually pinpointed the underlying cause as osteosarcoma, a malignant form of bone cancer.ESPN: Tisdale's biggest rebound comes after loss of leg to cancer (December 3, 2008) In order to prevent the disease from spreading, Tisdale underwent chemotherapy and had a portion of his right leg amputated.Chicagotribune.com: Tisdale Has Part of Leg Amputated (August 27, 2008) He died on May 15, 2009.
Albums
Career NBA Stats
- Games played: 840DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Points: 12,878DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Points per game: 15.3DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Field goals made: 5,338DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Field goals attempted: 10,575DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Field-goal percentage: .505DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Total rebounds: 5,116DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Rebounds per game: 6.1DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Assists: 1,077DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Steals: 464DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
- Blocks: 500DatabaseBasketball.com: Wayman Tisdale Stats
Toby Keith and Dave Koz: ''Cryin' for Me''
Smooth jazz by Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, and Arthur Thompson combined with a heartfelt song by Country Music star Toby Keith expresses goodbye to Wayman Tisdale.
Featured Video
Toby Keith Tribute to Wayman Tisdale: ''Cryin' for Me''
Country Music star Toby Keith, long time friend and fellow musician, released a single in tribute to Wayman Tisdale. The song, called Cryin for Me, is a part of Keith's American Ride album. The video, featured below, highlight's Tisdale's life.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
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Birthplace
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Died
May 15, 2009
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Fact:
Three-time All-American
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Fact:
Played for University of Oklahoma for three seasons
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Fact:
First college freshman to become an All-American
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Won a Gold Medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics
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Drafted second overall in the 1985 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers
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Inducted to the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009
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Recording debut
Power Forward (1995)
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Band
The Fifth Quarter
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Fact:
Diagnosed with bone cancer in 2007
