Wayman Tisdale: Graceful legend remembered
BY World Editorial Writers
Sunday, May 17, 2009
5/17/09 at 3:42 AM
Wayman Tisdale wasn't just a remarkable gifted athlete, he was a gentleman.
He made you proud to say you came from the same city he did.
Tisdale, 44, died Friday after a two-year struggle with cancer.
Tisdale was a basketball standout of championship teams at Booker T. Washington High School and the University of Oklahoma. He was an All-Stater in high school, a three time All-American in college, a gold medalist on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and a 12-year professional in the NBA. After his basketball career ended, he had a successful career as a jazz musician.
Throughout, Tisdale handled the spotlight with humility and grace.
In victory, he shared credit and spoke of team accomplishments not personal ones. In adversity, he never whined. He had the same infectious smile to the end.
We — the people of Tulsa and Oklahoma — will always remember Tisdale's athletic and musical accomplishments because he had a marvelous way of making us feel like we were part of them.
But more important than his medals and trophies is the example he set for us.
Wayman, Tulsa is proud of you and we will miss you.
