Wayman Tisdale was a once in a lifetime person; and it had nothing to do with his basketball fame or his musical talents or his premature death. It was because of how he lived his life. Despite ‘Tis being 6’9” and over 240 lbs., the first thing that you noticed about him was his smile, and it never left his face. He grew up in Tulsa and his first loves were music and church, he later realized his God given talents in basketball. He went on to star at the University of Oklahoma, where he was named a three time Big Eight Conference Player of the Year, and was the first ever player to be named 1st team All American as a freshman, sophomore and junior (he went pro prior to his senior year). His number 23 is retired for the Sooners, although he gave Blake Griffin his blessing to wear it. He won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics and was the proudest person on the podium when they played the National Anthem. He went on to be drafted 2nd overall in 1985 by Indiana Pacers and later played for Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns. He retired in 1997 to focus on his music career. In March of 2007, he sustained a broken leg that led to the discovery that he had cancer; soon after he had his leg amputated. Even this news, could not bring Wayman down, he established the Wayman Tisdale Foundation to raise funds for amputees with the prosthetic process. On May 15, 2009 Wayman Tisdale passed away due to issues affecting his breathing; he had over 4000 people attend his memorial service. He was survived by his wife Regina and four children. The NCAA’s Outstanding Freshman Award is named in his honor, and there is a parkway in Tulsa named in his honor.

News Story - Wayman Tisdale Passes Away

The Wayman Tisdale Story

He had 8 albums … click on one to buy

“Rebound” – July 2008

“Way Up” – June 2006

“Hang Time” – July 2004

“Presents 21 Days” – November 2003

“Face to Face” – March 2001

“Decisions” – October 1998

“In the Zone” – August 1996

“Power Forward” – June 1995

  "Cryin For Me" (Wayman's Song)    by Toby Keith

Toby Keith Tribute to Wayman Tisdale

 

"Wayman, through this fight of his, was the most courageous person that I've ever seen.  He was so positive he almost made you feel he was okay when you knew he wasn't.  It's a shock.  I don't know of any athlete at Oklahoma or any place else who was more loved by the fans who knew him than Wayman Tisdale.  He was obviously, a great, great player, but Wayman as a person overshadowed that.  He just lit up a room and was so positive.  This is a really hard loss and makes any loss in basketball or any other sport insignificant.  He was a great human being.  I'll miss everything about him."

Billy Tubbs, former Oklahoma men's basketball head coach 

 

"He was the nicest man in the world with the biggest heart and an even bigger smile. I thank him for befriending me and showing me there is more to life than just basketball,"

                      Reggie Miller, former Pacers star who played with Tisdale