I just (like a couple minutes ago) found out that Wayman Tisdale died of cancer.  He was only 44 and leaves a wife and 4 kids...and one granddaughter.  I found out via msn, but there is a more complete summary on cnn.com...see below.  I was a fan when he played ball, but I became a bigger fan of his jazz.  Didn't even know he had cancer or his leg amputated.  RIP, Wayman.  The worlds of basketball and jazz will miss you.  :\'(



Wayman Tisdale, who became a successful jazz guitarist after retiring from pro basketball, died Friday morning following a two-year battle with cancer, his agent said.

Tisdale, 44, died in a Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital, where his wife took him when he had trouble breathing early Friday, agent Scott Pang said.

Tisdale death was “a complete shock” and came as he prepared to return to the recording studio next week to work in a project with jazz guitarist Norman Brown, Pang said.

“He was a real testament to the power of positive thinking,” said Pang. “Even after the cancer and amputating his leg above his knee, he never lost that smile on his face.”

Doctors discovered Tisdale’s bone cancer after he broke his leg in a fall down a flight of stairs, according to the official biography on his Web site.

“It really showed me what’s important in life, man,” he said in his bio. “It’s not getting as many houses as I can, not driving the biggest cars. What’s important is family and being healthy.”

Tisdale scored 12,800 points during his 12-year NBA career, which he was played with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, according to his Web site.

His jazz recording career began in 1995 — two years before his 1997 NBA retirement — with a debut CD that rose to number four on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart and crossed over onto the R&B charts, the bio said.

Subsequent songs — including “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” “Can’t Hide Love” and “Don’t Take Your Love Away” — were top radio hits.

Tisdale is survived by his wife, four children and one granddaughter.

Ashley's dad? ???

Ashley's dad? ???
I doubt it. He was probably not old enough to be her pops. If they ARE related, he could be her uncle.

Ashley's dad? ???



Um, not likely.  Click on link for a story--and picture

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/15/obit.wayman.tisdale/index.html

Sad news... I loved watching him play basketball

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/244725.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0EDD170A956B8281AB3284831B75F48EF45

I loved his jazz....

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:geFnE449ycWgCM:http://inlinethumb46.webshots

I loved his jazz....

http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:geFnE449ycWgCM:http://inlinethumb46.webshots


I bought that CD for my dad not knowing anything about it...it was good.

He is the type of athlete that the "news" doesn't report. RIP   :\'(

Um, not likely.  Click on link for a story--and picture

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/05/15/obit.wayman.tisdale/index.html


I see your point.  But she could be adopted...

Sad news... I loved watching him play basketball

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/244725.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1934A2752006EF5F0EDD170A956B8281AB3284831B75F48EF45

I remember him also mostly from his college playing :\'(

His death is a little close to my heart with him being an ex-Pacer. And being an accomplished musician makes it harder to deal with. I hope Wayman is in a better place so he can continue to play his instrument for God. It's really a shame that this story locally takes a back seat to the 500 Race (no pun intended).  :\'(

I remember Wayman Tisdale as a player for the Sacramento Kings. "NBA Inside Stuff" in the early 90's which was a show dedicated to story's about teams and players in the NBA did a piece on Tisdale and showed him beside being an NBA player he was a jazz musician as well. He seemed like a very happy guy on the piece that NBA Inside Stuff did on him in the early 90's.

I remember him during his NBA days. RIP Wayman Tisdale.  :\'(  :\'(

I see your point.  But she could be adopted...



She could have been, but I have to believe that the connection would have been stated if that were the case  ;)