Joe Tait, voice of Cavaliers, dies at age 83

LAFAYETTE TWP. — Joe Tait, voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers for 39 years, died Wednesday at age 83. He lived at his home on Coon Club Road in Lafayette Township, and hospice recently had been called in. He died after a lengthy battle with kidney disease and liver cancer. Information on services is not yet available. Tait, born May 15, 1937, in Evanston, Illinois, became the radio voice of the Cavs during their first season in 1970-71. He had a two-year break when then owner Ted Stepien got rid of him in 1981-83. However, he returned when Gordon Gund purchased the team and worked through the 2010-11 season when he retired. His name was synonymous with the team, and he called many of the major moments in team history including the "Miracle of Richfield" in 1976, The Shot by Michael Jordan in 1989 and the Cavs' first trip to the NBA Finals in 2007. Tait's last game was April 13, 2011 — the last of 3,100 games in his illustrious career. Section 126 in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will always be known as the "Joe Tait Perch." "The Cleveland Cavaliers mourn the passing of one of our beloved founding fathers and the original, long-time voice of the franchise – Joe Tait," the team said in a statement. "From the team's inception in 1970 through the next four decades, the Basketball Hall of Famer informed, entertained and inspired generations of Cavs fans – painting a picture of the game with an unmatched mix of passion, precision and humor. "A dedicated husband and father — generous with his talent and spirit — Joe received every major sports broadcasting award there is over the course of his career in Northeast Ohio. And like some of the most legendary Cavaliers he chronicled, Joe joined them with his own banner hanging in the rafters of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. A friend and mentor to many over the years, Joe Tait wasn't just a member of the Cavaliers family; he was a part of the Cavs story like no one else and his voice and unique, candid perspective reverberates throughout the team's history. He will be dearly missed. "Joe was also famous for his dry wit and his pragmatic view of life and probably wouldn't have wanted a big, sentimental sendoff. So, to paraphrase the legend, himself – Let's not say: 'goodbye.' Let's just say: 'Have a GOOD night, everybody!' " On his final game, he signed off with, "Have a good life, everybody." Tait was awarded the Naismith Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Media Award in 2010. He was elected to the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1992, received its C.S. Williams Founders Award for long and meritorious service in broadcasting in 1996 and its Legacy Award in 2004. He was named Sportscaster of the Year in Ohio in 1974, 1976, 1978, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2002 and 2004. One of Tait's best friends was the Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto, who had visited with Tait on several occasions the last few weeks. "He was a special guy to all of us," Pluto said. Tait was facing so many ailments, but Pluto said he handled it well. He is survived by his wife, Jean, who is also in hospice. Another good friend, Cavs radio announcer Tim Alcorn, said he's going to miss the phone calls he had with Tait. "I'll miss seeing that name coming up on my cell phone," he said. Alcorn, formerly of WEOL, which is owned by The Gazette's parent company Lorain County Printing and Publishing, said he spoke to Tait three or four times a week. Sometimes, Tait would comment on something he said during one of the Cavs' broadcasts — good or bad. "There was no words to describe what his relationship meant to me," Alcorn said. "We'd have hours long conversations with nonstop laughter. He could make me laugh." He said he met Tait while attending Kent State and got a press pass for a game at the Richfield Coliseum. "I felt I was on top of the world," Alcorn said. "Joe was just sitting there. We just developed this friendship. I don't know what he saw in me, but we were unbelievable friends." Alcorn said Tait loved doing Lorain County high school games with him. "At the end, Joe wasn't comfortable with the NBA games and the flames and the music," he said. "He relished going to high school gyms. The older the better. He loved that. That was who he was." Alcorn was at Tait's house Wednesday night after he died. "I talked to him briefly on Sunday," he said. "He went out on his own terms. We all know battling health issues. He loved this home and the pond and the surroundings. He loved it here." Cavs television announcer Austin Carr has known Tait since 1971. "Yes, he was very special," he said. Through the years, Tait developed a special kinship with Cloverleaf High School and stepped in as public address announcer from time to time for some of the Colts' games. "It's funny, after he retired, he was asked if he was going to go back and watch the Cavs play," Cloverleaf Athletic Director Craig Walkup said. "He said, 'No, if I want to watch some basketball, I'll go down and watch Cloverleaf play.'" Walkup said Tait came down and did one of the girls basketball games last year. He had his daughter drive him to the game. "It was probably the last game he called," he said. "He was always supportive of the school. He didn't live far from our school. If you knew him, he was just a down home and down-to-earth person; just a good guy." Walkup said Tait also enjoyed being the master of ceremonies for the Medina County Sports Hall of Fame banquet. He loved interacting with the athletes. One year, he was going to miss the banquet if the Cavs advanced in the playoffs. However, they lost and he was able to attend. "He said he was there courtesy of the Chicago Bulls (who had beaten the Cavs)," Walkup said. Contact reporter Bob Finnan at (330) 721-4049 or rfinnan@medina-gazette.com.