The One About The “New Expression”
October 27, 2010Cavs Offbeat: Rookie Doughnut Duty is Alive and Well
October 27, 2010
Everyone’s favorite sweater-wearing Cavs announcer has had a rough couple of weeks medically. After going to the hospital in Houston with pneumonia, doctors discovered problems with Joe Tait’s heart. Tait is expected to miss the bulk of this basketball season – his 39th – which was also supposed to be his retirement tour.
The team reported yesterday that Tait underwent catheterization, which is a partially diagnostic procedure. Depending on how this surgery goes, doctors determine what else needs to be done. In Joe Tait’s case, the diagnosis is a double bypass and aortic valve replacement scheduled for next week.
There is good and bad news in all this. First of all, it is good that Tait ended up in that hospital in Houston so they found out all his ailments. On the other side though, it isn’t exactly providing Tait and all his fans around the area a chance to say goodbye to the legendary voice of the Cavaliers on his and their own terms. I know I for one was looking forward to another year of “Wham with the right hand!” and DiGiorno Pizza plugs.
As of right now, you have to be skeptical that he steps back behind the mic anytime this season, but I am hopeful he can make it back for some sort of “last hurrah.” I wrote about how there could never be another Nev Chandler in relation to the Browns a few weeks ago. Make no mistake Joe Tait does have some detractors out there. I am not one of them, though. I am guessing that after a few years, no matter how good Joe Tait’s replacement, I will be saying the same thing about Tait that I said about Nev Chandler.
3 Comments
Here’s hoping he has an easy and quick recovery. I approached him a few times at road games, and he was always gracious. And of course, he’s the voice and the character of the Cavs that I grew up on.
A little bathos: It really seems like we can’t catch a break this offseason. But at least Joe didn’t end up in Miami.
When his docs were huddling after discovering the heart condition I imagine him in his hospital bed, elbows on his food tray, growling: “NOW what?”
He said covering LeBron made him want to hang on at 70; I hope he hangs it up now instead of going all exasperated over a rebuilding team. Thirty nine years, 41 road games a year, well-played, sir. You were really great, now stay home with Jean.
if you see a Joe Tait detractor, please slap them upside the head.