Wayman Tisdale Dead at 44

Legendary basketball player and guitar great Wayman Tisdale died today at about 8 a.m. in Tulsa. After three years at Oklahoma, the 6-foot-9 Tulsa native spent 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns, then became an award-winning jazz musician, with several of his albums making the top 10 on the Billboard charts.

Tisdale first learned he had cancerous cyst below his right knee after he broke his leg in a fall at his home in Los Angeles on Feb. 8, 2007. He said then he was fortunate to have discovered the cancer at an early stage. "Nothing can change me," Tisdale told The Associated Press last June. "You go through things. You don't change because things come in your life. You get better because things come in your life."

His leg was amputated last August and a prosthetic leg that he wore was crimson, one of the colors of his beloved Oklahoma Sooners. He made a handful of public appearances in recent weeks, including on April 7 at an Oklahoma City Thunder game, at which he received the team's Community Hero Award.

Also within the past month, Tisdale was honored in a ceremony at the Greenwood Cultural Center in his hometown and presented with the Legacy Award. During the ceremony, he spoke about his fight with cancer, saying "In my mind, I've beaten it." Last month, Tisdale also learned he had been chosen for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Enjoy the smooth sounds of Tisdale.

Chuck Daly Succumbs to Cancer at 78

Everyone who knows me personally knows that my favorite sport is basketball and the I am a die hard Detroit Pistons fan. I know that got swept in the first round of the playoffs (I digress). A huge part of my love for this team is because of their coach during the 80's and the 90's, Chuck Daly. Chuck passed away today, a victim of pancreatic cancer.

Growing up in lower Michigan we spent an abundance of time watching or attending sporting events. From the Tigers to the Red Wings, there is something magical about the teams and the fans of Michigan. Detroit had never been a real power house on the basketball front, but that all changed when Chuck Daly showed up on the scene and took a group of very diverse (some would call misfits) individuals to championships, not once, but back-to-back! Chuck accomplished with such style and grace. He was one of the greatest coaches of all time in my humble opinion. I mean after Chuck, nobody else was ever able to truly coach Dennis Rodman.

Not only did he coach the "Bad Boys", but he also coached the 1994 Olympic "Dream Team" to a gold medal. In fact he was the first coach to win both NBA and Olympic titles. Daly was voted one of the 10 greatest coaches of the NBA’s first half-century in 1996, two years after being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Daly had a career regular-season record of 638-437 in 13 NBA seasons. In 12 playoff appearances, his teams went 75-51. He led Detroit Pistons’ in regular-season and playoff victories.

NBA commissioner David Stern said, "Chuck did much more than coach basketball games, he positively impacted everyone he met, both personally and professionally, and his love of people and the game of basketball helped develop the next generation of coaches". Daly also made the right moves for the Pistons, who were notorious for their physical play with Bill Laimbeer and Rick Mahorn leading the fight, Rodman making headlines and Hall of Fame guards Isiah Thomas and Dumars lifting the team to titles in 1989 and 1990. Through it all Daly was able to take the team to the highest levels of play and taught his players what teamwork is all about. He laid the foundation for a style of play that still exist among today's Piston team.

With all of his accomplishments, one of the attributes that sticks out in my mind was Chuck Daly's style. His dress was impeccable. He wore the nicest suits and everything was always color coordinated down to the socks! Former Piston John Salley gave Daly the nickname Daddy Rich for his impeccably tailored suits. The National Basketball Coaches’ Association created pins with the initials “CD” that many coaches and broadcasters are wearing as it dedicates this postseason to Daly. The organization also established the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be given annually.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Chuck's family in this time of mourning. Rest in peace Chuck.

Former Bad Boy Displays Bad Behavior?

I always knew that Rick Mahorn was the baddest of the bad boys and a force to be reckoned with during his Detroit Piston days. He was so respected that basketball fans were happy to see him come back as an first as a game announcer for the Pistons and later as an assistant coach for WNBA expansion team the Shock. The Shock met the Sparks yesterday and in the last five seconds of the game Mahorn appeared to come out on the court and push star player Lisa Leslie down onto the court during an altercation involving many of the players from both teams.

I don't know what Rick was thinking but it is the consensus among those on the sideline, including Spark coach, Michael Cooper that he was trying to break up the brawl between the players on the court. Lisa Leslie stated that if this was the case he should have went to his players and restrained them. He ended up getting ejected from the game when the dust settled.

This is not the first time Mahorn has been involved in a team related altercation since he left the game as a player. He was also involved in the 2004 Piston-Indiana brawl when he served as a Detroit Piston announcer. At that time is was said to be playing peacemaker by trying to prevent Ron Artest from entering the stands and attacking fans. Do you think Mahorn should be punished for his behavior or was he just trying to help? Read the story here and watch the clip from the game and decide. I am also including a clip of the Mahorn's response to the incident.

Candace Parker Serves It Up!

It was about six years ago when it first happened, but now another Los Angeles Spark player has done it again. In a game against the Miami Sol, the Sparks' Lisa Leslie received a pass from her team mate Latasha Byears on a fast break, took it to the hole, dunking for the first time in WNBA history. The crowd and the team went crazy.

Well, over the weekend rookie extraordinaire Candace Sparks matched that historic moment. In a game against the Indiana Fever, after a missed shot and long rebound, Parker ran the court, found herself alone and dunked the ball, making it her first dunk in a WNBA game and only the second dunk in WNBA history (Lisa's dunk came in a playoff game).

"Just trying not to miss," Parker told the LA Times of her approach on the dunk. "It's exciting to do it in front of Los Angeles, at home and on the same basket that Lisa did it on."

NBA Super Stars Who Never Received a Championship Ring

It is with a heavy heart that I write this…Alas, my beloved Pistons will not be going to the finals once again. Beat out by Boston in an upset on their home court, the Pistons have let another chance for the championship slip through their hands yet again. Although the team has no super stars, the players are cohesive group that compliment each other. When I realized “The Fat Lady” was singing loud and clear, I found myself feeling badly for team members like McDyess, who played their hearts out only to come away empty handed.

In the midst of my pity party I remembered some of the truly great players who never received a ring. Here is a short list; there are others out there as well. Feel free to name players that were great, but the “bling” of the ring eluded them.

Karl Malone (1985-2004)

He's considered the one of the greatest power forwards of all time, but the mailman didn't deliver a title. The Utah Jazz went to the conference title twice, but sadly there was a man named Michael Jordan standing (or dunking) in Malone and the Jazz's way in 1997 and 1998. As a Los Angeles Laker he did get to the NBA Finals with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, but dreams of championship bling were shot down by the Detroit Pistons.

Charles Barkley (1984-2000)

Barkley could out-muscle and out-rebound anyone on the court, he had attitude, earned 11 NBA All-Star Game appearances and two Olympic gold medals and was always good for a colorful quote. But alas, never ever once did he win a NBA title. Barkley came close to championship glory in 1993, when he led the Phoenix Suns to a berth in the 1993 NBA Finals. However, the Suns lost to some fella named Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in six games.

Patrick Ewing (1985 - 2002)

It was "our year" ever year for the Knicks, and every year they and the big man fell short. His final years were plagued by injuries and he ended his career with the Orlando Magic in 2002.

Dominique Wilkins (1982-1999)

He was one of the best dunkers the game had ever seen, but he couldn't find a way past Larry Bird. The Atlanta Hawks' superstar never played in a single NBA Finals series.

John Stockton (1984-2003)

Regarded as one of the best point guards in NBA history, Stockton, like his Utah Jazz teammate, Karl Malone, had Air Jordan standing in his way of championship bling two consecutive years. Stockton retired in 2003 and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Reggie Miller (1987-2005)

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride, Reggie Miller's Pacers fell to the Lakers in their one appearance in the Finals. Sad? Yes, but not as heartbreaking as the five conference finals the team lost, which includes three Game 7s. Ouch.

Chris Webber (1993-2008)

Maybe if it wasn't for those missed free throws in the Kings' Game 7 OT loss to the Lakers in 2002 or the missed three-pointer at the buzzer in Game 7 against Minnesota in 2004, we could say that Webber would have a championship ring. Then again, who has time for should have-could have-would haves?

Elgin Baylor (1958-1972)

Baylor played in eight NBA Finals ... and lost them all. To say that was frustrating is quite the understatement. He called it quits during the 1971-72 seasons, becoming one of the first greats to retire without a championship ring.

Pete Maravich (1970-1980)

Long before Magic Johnson, 'Pistol Pete' was the showman on the court, perfecting behind-the-back and between-the-legs passes. However, his playoff record was a bit sketchy and he retired ring less.

Tim Hardaway (1989-2003)

Hardaway's Heat balled their way to the '97 conference finals ... until running into Michael Jordan and the Bulls, who destroyed them. Tough, but losing in the first-round to the eighth-seeded Knicks in '99 packs a bigger bite.

Adrian Dantley (1976-1991)

You know you're working with a little bad luck when the two teams that traded you, in Dantley's case: the Lakers and Pistons, win championships right after the deal ... without you.

Alex English (1976-1991)

A prolific scorer, English scored more points in the 80s than any other NBA player. Impressive? Yes, but his Denver teams were shutdown by the Lakers in his one trip to the conference finals.

Bernard King (1977-1993)

He had a shot with the Knicks, who took the Celtics to seven games before losing. Yet as great as King was, most of his teams were never in title contention with the exception of that 1984 Knicks team.

Bob Lanier (1970-1984)

His Pistons teams in the '70s were never in contention. During his 14 years in the NBA, Lanier scored 19,248 points, 9,698 rebounds, and 1,100 blocks, yet he retired in 1984 without ever winning an NBA title.

George Gervin (1972-1986)

When he was in the East it was the Bullets, in the West it was the Lakers that shot down 'The Iceman's title hopes. His famous finger roll and prolific scoring never made an appearance in an NBA championship.

Lenny Wilkens (1960-1975)

Scoring a Hall of Fame career and considered one of the greatest playmakers in NBA History, Wilkens never won an NBA championship ... as a player. However, as a coach, he led the Seattle SuperSonics to the '79 NBA title.

Chris Mullin (1985-2001)

Mullin played 787 games ... 33 playoff games ... and had 0 championship titles to show for it. In what looked like his chance to finally get a ring, the Warriors traded him to Indiana before the 1997-98 season. Yet the ring remained elusive as the Pacers lost in the conference finals twice and once to the Lakers in the finals.