Wayman Tisdale Video Inspires Basketball Players; Cruise In His Honor
A 20-minute video showing the basketball exploits of the late Wayman Tisdale is being used to help motivate members of the University of Oklahoma basketball team. The Oklahoman newspaper in Oklahoma City reports that coach Jeff Capel had tried benching his players, challenging them publicly and privately, and taking away their access to an upscale posh locker room and the privilege to wear the team’s logo during practices.
The newspaper say Capel’s done this to try to kick-start the effort and attitude he feels is missing as his team experienced a disappointing start to its season.
He then showed the team the video on former Sooner Tisdale, who died in May at age 44. “Wayman, after he got his leg amputated, wanted to put OU Sooners on his artificial leg,” senior forward Ryan Wright told the paper. “It just showed us what we’re playing for and what the name on the front of the jersey means to everyone in OU athletics.”
Basketball players aren’t the only ones Tisdale continues to inspire. Tisdale, who went on to have a successful smooth jazz career, is being remembered this week on a smooth jazz cruise that sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Tisdale was to be a co-host on the cruise. Now, the cruise is dedicated to his life and music.
Among those on the cruise are Dave Koz, Keiko Matsui, Peter White, Gerald Albright, Rick Braun, Eric Darius, Jeff Golub, Earl Klugh, Jonathan Butler, Euge Groove and Richard Elliot.