Thousands turn out to mourn Wayman Tisdale

[May 22, 2009]  TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- With thousands swaying to gospel tunes, Wayman Tisdale was remembered Thursday as a basketball star and gifted musician who led a "blessed life."

A horse-drawn carriage held the casket carrying the former Oklahoma All-American, making a 3-mile trip to the downtown arena for the public memorial. There was live jazz music, clapping and shouting in honor of the man who died last week at 44 after a long battle with cancer.

"Wayman lived a blessed life," said Billy Tubbs, Tisdale's former Sooners coach. "He did more in his 44 years than most people can do in 88 years."

Country music star and fellow Oklahoman Toby Keith played the Willie Nelson tune, "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground." He said he had written a song about Tisdale, but that he wouldn't be performing it given the emotion of the day.

"We had so many big plans," Keith told mourners. "Every time I tried to say goodbye to him, he never let me."

Tisdale recorded eight albums. A bass guitarist who often wrote his own material, his most recent album, "Rebound," was inspired by his fight with cancer and included guest appearances by several artists, including saxophonist Dave Koz and Keith.

His "Way Up!" release debuted in July 2006 and spent four weeks as the No. 1 contemporary jazz album. His hits included "Ain't No Stopping Us Now," "Can't Hide Love" and "Don't Take Your Love Away."

Tisdale played 12 seasons in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers, the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns. Former NBA players Charles Smith, Rory Sparrow and John Starks paid tribute Thursday.

"He, in my opinion, was the first athlete to really put Tulsa on the map," said Starks, also from Tulsa. "Wayman was a person I looked up to."

[Associated Press; By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS]

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