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Tisdale hits the road: Ex-Sooner star says he's beaten cancer, kicks off national tour

Wayman Tisdale, a former star at Booker T. Washington and OU, laughs at a ceremony Thursday night where he received the Legacy Award at the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 4/17/2009  2:21 AM
Last Modified: 4/17/2009  3:35 AM

 On Thursday night, only one week removed from his most recent chemotherapy treatment, Wayman Tisdale received the Greenwood Cultural Center's Legacy Award.

Making the presentation was his former University of Oklahoma basketball coach, Billy Tubbs. Making remarks was current Sooner coach Jeff Capel. Making their presence felt were scores of Tisdale's friends, fans and former teammates.

Following the banquet, Tisdale and his band mates boarded a bus and headed to Memphis, where on Friday night they launch a 21-date jazz concert tour that extends through late September. After the Memphis gig, they will bus 520 miles to Panama City, Fla, and perform again on Saturday.

For two grueling years, the 44-year-old Tisdale has battled cancer. In August, his right leg was amputated just above the knee.

During a press conference before Thursday's banquet, Tisdale was asked this question: Are you fighting cancer now or have you beaten cancer?

His response: "I've beaten it. In my mind, I've beaten it."

"I'm up and at 'em, but I've got to take it easy," said Tisdale, who was an All-State center at Booker T. Washington High School and a three-time All-American at OU. "I keep reminding my doctors (that) I'm going to take it easy. I promise, I'm going to take it easy."

But, he added while flashing his famous smile, "I really don't know how to take it easy."

In recent months, Tisdale who is fitted with a prosthetic leg has been seen walking with the assistance of a cane. On Thursday, he was in a wheelchair.

After his 12-season NBA career ended in 1997, Tisdale became a commercially and critically successful jazz musician. Primarily a bass player, he has recorded eight albums, with the 2001 release "Face to Face" climbing to No. 1 on Billboard's contemporary jazz chart. He wrote and recorded his most recent release, "Rebound," after being diagnosed with cancer.

"(Music) definitely keeps me going and it gets me by," Tisdale said. "Takes my mind away from everything."

"I feel good and I hope I look good," he continued. "I've been through rounds of (chemotherapy), and I went through my last round and I feel great. I'm really excited about now getting back to normal. I've come through chemo with minor complications."

Tisdale's stamina is about to be tested. His concert tour includes bus trips to such locales as Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Hollywood, Atlanta and Detroit. Typically, his band plays a 90-minute set.

"I've got to get back into show shape," Tisdale said. "It's work. It's definitely a process. I'll have to start conditioning again."

While Tisdale's health was the primary conversation topic on Thursday, basketball also was discussed. During two seasons at Oklahoma, national player of the year Blake Griffin had six 30-point performances. During his three Sooner seasons, Tisdale reached the 30-point mark on 32 occasions.

Tisdale remains OU's career leader in scoring (25.6-point average) and rebounds. But when asked about Griffin, Tisdale said, "Blake is better in a lot of ways. He showed some things and I was like, 'Wow. I don't remember me dominating in that area.' It was great to get a breath of fresh air back into the (Sooner program). He wanted to wear the number (Tisdale's jersey No. 23), and it really made me proud that he did that."

Attending the Legacy Award banquet was Mike Mims, who coached Tisdale for six seasons three as the Booker T. Washington head man and three as a Sooner assistant.

"I can define the difference between (Tisdale and Griffin)," Mims said. "Wayman could smile and kick your butt, while Blake uses brute strength to whip you."

Tubbs on the Tisdale-Griffin comparison: "Wayman Tisdale was a building block in establishing the OU program into what it is today. He is probably largely responsible for Blake Griffin being at the University of Oklahoma. If the program hadn't progressed to this point, maybe Blake wouldn't have been interested. They're both great, great players."
Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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9 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
Better Than, (4/17/2009 11:43:38 AM)
wotko who hadn't had a run in with their contractor, especially when building a house. The Tisdale family are genuine people, known them most of life.
Report Comment
psychedelikrelik, Tulsa (4/17/2009 2:04:39 PM)
Several years ago, my daughter was fortunate to spend some time with Mr. Tisdale at the North Mabee Boys and Girls Club, where they worked on her basketball skills.

She won ten bucks from him. He paid up. Nice guy.
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (4/17/2009 2:40:51 PM)
Great man.
Report Comment
Edgar, Norman, (4/17/2009 3:19:52 PM)
Is the Tisdale Expressway any relation. Always wondered that.
Report Comment
Crimson_Tide95 , (4/17/2009 6:03:01 PM)
Edgar: The L.L Tisdale Expressway is named after Waymon's late father, the Rev. Louis Tisdale who passed way in 1997. Rev. Tisdale pastored the Friendship Baptist Church for over 20 years and was a pillar in the Tulsa community which resulted in the highway being named in his honor.
Report Comment
debsam, (4/17/2009 11:25:53 PM)
If Waymon was unkind to wotko, he must have been doing something awfully unethical to the Tisdales. Waymon does not have a reputation of being anything but kind and warm-hearted. Wotko, envy is a sickness!
Report Comment
Rhymeister, Tulsa (4/18/2009 12:25:45 AM)
Wotko, sorry I don't buy the story. Have known the Tisdale family for quite some time, they are classy, genuine and salt-of-the-earth type people.
Report Comment
360, Olympia (4/18/2009 1:49:03 AM)
Well wotko my friend my dad and his grandfather; my great grandfather where pouring a sidewalk in collinsville; back in the day, of course, and they were told "not to let sundown come before your finished".

So what, right? How long ago was that.
Report Comment
soonerinflorida, Cape Coral (4/19/2009 4:05:22 AM)
Absolute class. Wayman performed in Florida couple weeks ago. Those of us from OK could tell he was not feeling well. He put on a fantastic concert. Made the Tulsan's feel like we were at Greenwood. What a class act! We are proud of Wayman and he is always in our prayers.
 

 
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