Joe Tait retiring after 2011

[rk]

Via Vince The Polack:

http://www.wtam.com/cc-common/news/sect ... le=7124644

[TouchEmAllTime]

Will one of his Cosby sweaters hang from the rafters after next season?

[Ziner]

I'd love for them to hire Reghi as the radio guy.

1. He would be off the radio on KNR

2. I never have to listen to the radio broadcasts.

[papacass]

If you're honest with yourself, it would be fitting if Joe Tait spent his last season behind the mic calling beatdown after beatdown of the post-LeBron Cavs.

Tait cut his broadcasting teeth on some of the worst NBA basketball ever put to the airwaves, which helped him elevate the sarcastic quip into an art form. And now, he might finish his career doing what he has always done best: make crappy basketball seem somehow listenable.

[Cease]

Will soak up one more year of Joe Tait, a voice I've known now for 25+ years. All good things...

[jb]

If you're honest with yourself, it would be fitting if Joe Tait spent his last season behind the mic calling beatdown after beatdown of the post-LeBron Cavs.

Tait cut his broadcasting teeth on some of the worst NBA basketball ever put to the airwaves, which helped him elevate the sarcastic quip into an art form. And now, he might finish his career doing what he has always done best: make crappy basketball seem somehow listenable.

One of ur best and most accurate takes ever, Erik.

[waborat]

I'd love for them to hire Reghi as the radio guy.

Nah, Reggie Rucker

[fundamentals]

I think I have "Kenny Carr, line to the lane, got it" etched in my mind courtesy of Joe Tait.

[waborat]

I think I have "Kenny Carr, line to the lane, got it" etched in my mind courtesy of Joe Tait.

"Sites it, shoots it, got it "

And the infamous, "Have a goodnight, everrrybody"

[fundamentals]

I think I have "Kenny Carr, line to the lane, got it" etched in my mind courtesy of Joe Tait.

"Sites it, shoots it, got it "

And the infamous, "Have a goodnight, everrrybody"

Yes sir. "Nothin' but cotton"

I remember listening to a game waaaaaaay back, think it went into quadruple overtime against the Lakers where I thought Joe Tait was the greatest. That thought hasn't changed over the years.

[Larvell Blanks]

I remember listening to Joe Tait call the Cavs games during the Miracle of Richfield season. I'd listen on my little radio in the bedroom, hoping my mom wouldn't hear. Joe painted the pictures of the game going on so well. It's nice to listen to him now and know that he calls the game the same way he did 35 years ago.

The calls of "BINGO! Bobby Smith with 2 more""
It's basketball time here at the Coliseum/Gund Arena/The Q"
"To the line, to the lane.....good
Use of the term, between the circles.
And of course...
"Have a good niiiight, everybody"

The fact that on the radio he has never caved and added a color analyst speaks volumes to him and the way he broadcasts a game.

[Cease]

It's BASKETBALL time at the Coliseum

A whistle... and WHAT?!

Across the timeline, between the circles, the line, to the lane.

[waborat]

I remember listening to Joe Tait call the Cavs games during the Miracle of Richfield season. I'd listen on my little radio in the bedroom, hoping my mom wouldn't hear.

Some of the funniest times were when Tait would go into the 3WE booth w/ Pete Franklin after the games in '81 and they would rip TS down...

You could see the writing on the wall...

He has to down (along with Herb Score & Hal Lebovitz) as one of the most loyal sport's figures in this town

[oberle]

My favorite Joe Taitism:

From the Miracle in Richfield.

I listened to the games on a rooftop in Puerto Rico, on Armed Forces Radio. Some memorable times, but the best is:

'Austin Carr is playing like the old days' druing the one game where the Cavs ran the Bullets off the floor (well, it was a double digit win, anyway)

[jb]

I think I have "Kenny Carr, line to the lane, got it" etched in my mind courtesy of Joe Tait.

"Sites it, shoots it, got it "

And the infamous, "Have a goodnight, everrrybody"

Yes sir. "Nothin' but cotton"

I remember listening to a game waaaaaaay back, think it went into quadruple overtime against the Lakers where I thought Joe Tait was the greatest. That thought hasn't changed over the years.

About 1977 or so and kareem scored about a million points but we won?

[googleeph2]

"That will give the ball BACK... to-the-Cavaliers."

Back when he announced Tribe games- his opening line:
"It's a BEAUTIFUL day for baseball"
Even if it was in a dome or pouring rain ha

[fundamentals]

About 1977 or so and kareem scored about a million points but we won?

I think I found it:

Cavaliers beat Lakers 154-153 in four overtimes January 29, 1980
The Cavaliers had a busy off-season before the 1979-80 campaign, including naming Stan Albeck as the new head coach. That year, the Cavaliers played one of the most incredible ballgames ever witnessed at the Coliseum, a 154-153 quadruple overtime win over the World Champion Lakers. Four Cavaliers -- Mike Mitchell, Dave Robisch and Randy Smith -- scored 30+ points in the epic victory

.

[jb]

About 1977 or so and kareem scored about a million points but we won?

I think I found it:

Cavaliers beat Lakers 154-153 in four overtimes January 29, 1980
The Cavaliers had a busy off-season before the 1979-80 campaign, including naming Stan Albeck as the new head coach. That year, the Cavaliers played one of the most incredible ballgames ever witnessed at the Coliseum, a 154-153 quadruple overtime win over the World Champion Lakers. Four Cavaliers -- Mike Mitchell, Dave Robisch and Randy Smith -- scored 30+ points in the epic victory

.

Randy Smith is one of my fav unsung cavs of all time. Nice player with Buffalo / SD IIRC and one of those solid career professionals in an era with lots of goofballs.

Sorry to TreeDawgJack the thread, but that team is yet another that had just enough players to keep us mired in mediocrity.

Stepien fixed that pronto. Unfortunately he forgot to keep the dang draft picks!

Wasn't the transitive property ultimately Don Ford for James Worthy?

[hermanfontenot]

Wasn't the transitive property ultimately Don Ford for Clark Kellogg?

Fixed.

[RIBrownsFan]

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/multimedia ... 08-44.html

[jb]

Wasn't the transitive property ultimately Don Ford for Clark Kellogg?

Fixed.

Then it was Mike Bratz for the pick LA used for Worthey? I thought we got Ford from LA. Or are you just making the point of speculation?

[hermanfontenot]

Wasn't the transitive property ultimately Don Ford for Clark Kellogg?

Fixed.

Then it was Mike Bratz for the pick LA used for Worthey? I thought we got Ford from LA. Or are you just making the point of speculation?

No, no, you were right- it was the Worthy pick for Ford. I was just giving my opinion that the Cavaliers would have passed on Worthy for Special K had they kept he pick.

[Bigfist]

The Cavs started their initial year (1970) with a long road trip...I believe it was 7 games. There were three expansion teams that year..the Cavs, the Buffalo Braves, later to become the San Diego, and then LA, Clippers, and the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Cavs started the season in Buffalo, lost, and then went on a long west coast trip.
Tait was not the broadcaster at the beginning of the season...I can't remember who was, but Tait did not start broadcasting until the Cavs returned home, as I recall.

Everyone knows Tait did Indians games for years, but he also broadcast some Cleveland Barons games in the spring of 1971. Tait had nearly no experience broadcasting hockey, and while he wasn't Dan Kelly or Mike Emrick, he was pretty good.

Early in his career, Tait complained a lot about the officiating, with the Cavs always on the short end of the stick...as he got older, he did less and less complaining, and in recent years, I rarely heard him say much about the officiating.

[Cease]

Joe drives past my place on his way downtown (according to is wife). Radio will never be the same. A tough day to realize.

[StewieG]

Apparently FSO will use Tait's call for the second half of the game tonight.

[jerryroche]

Any Joe Tait fans who need more after his retirement: Pluto is working on a bio; no release date planned yet.

[peeker643]

Any Joe Tait fans who need more after his retirement: Pluto is working on a bio; no release date planned yet.

Wrong one is stepping away.

[waborat]

Any Joe Tait fans who need more after his retirement: Pluto is working on a bio; no release date planned yet.

Bring it on, I want all the dirt...

Unfortunately, Joe's such a humble dude, that he probably won't give us the good stuff

[Spin]

Apparently FSO will use Tait's call for the second half of the game tonight.

That's great. Cuz the game is blacked out on the radio because of some douche bag NBA blackout rule. WTF?

[Spin]

Thank you Fox Sports Ohio.

Thank you Joe. You were first class all the way, and will be severely missed.

[waborat]

Hell of a run, end of an era

[jb]

Any Joe Tait fans who need more after his retirement: Pluto is working on a bio; no release date planned yet.

Bring it on, I want all the dirt...

Unfortunately, Joe's such a humble dude, that he probably won't give us the good stuff

You mean the man who once said , " He got what he deserved. He had the morals of a dog." after learing Magic Johnson ws HIV positive?

[jb]

Any Joe Tait fans who need more after his retirement: Pluto is working on a bio; no release date planned yet.

Terrific. Terry is a gifted author. Love all his sports books. Just a rediculously lazy and banal sports columnist.

[MartyM]

The ALS Assocation of Northern Ohio is honoring Joe this year with the Iron Horse Award on May 19th at its annual Strike Out ALS Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction at Progessives Field in the Club Lounge. I can just here his speach. "I am humblend and honored to get this award. Thank you and have a good night everyone."

Come one, come all for a great night of food and extraordinary silent auction items.