The Greatest Man in Cleveland Basketball

If you're not aware of Cleveland's Joe Tait, you're missing the best part of Cleveland basketball.

Joe Tait was the original play-by-play man of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He's known for his clarity, his exciting calls... And his brutal, brutal honesty.

That may have been why Ted Stepien fired him for two seasons in the early 1980s, in his worst move as a basketball owner. For many years, Tait seemed like the only reason to follow the Cavs.

He has what you might call a "long leash" with the Cavs--He was former owner Gordon Gund's eyes in the game. Since then, he has become a basketball advisor and personal commentator to the part-owner, as well as the VP of Cavs broadcast operations. No one knows more about the Cavaliers now, or ever, than Mr. Tait.

He'll always tell it exactly as it is, good or bad. When it's good, he's an unstoppable announcing machine, calling out every player, location, and play. He's excited, and exciting. Joe is in full control of the listeners' emotion during the game. He deftly inserts enlightening commentary into his announcing, including commentary on the players that other broadcasters do not dare to make..

He is also the team's most tenacious critic when they're losing. Tait's brash honesty is why I am writing to you tonight.

The Cavs played without LeBron on Thursday night. On both ends of the floor, the Sonics massacred the Cavs, and Tait took no prisoners on the dilapidated Cavaliers.

Here are some quotes from last night:

"I could have made that shot! There was nobody around him!"

(announcing a promotion) "...If you want to rebound for the Cavs during a pregame shootaround. Or, if you want to rebound for the Cavs tonight."

"I'd like to leave, but I'm stuck here without a ride until the end of the game."

"If these referees have any mercy at all, they will call only fouls that result in broken bones or blood."

"The Cavaliers are dying a miserable death here at Key Arena."

"They're going to put two seconds back on the clock, which is considered by many to be cruel and unusual punishment."

"The Cavaliers have failed to get the last hoop of the first half--In fact, they've failed at just about everything they tried. Mike, do I envy you; you're going HOME when this halftime is over. I have to stay and watch the rest of this atrocity."

Seattle's shooting 61% from the field, the Cavaliers, 34%. And now before I break down and cry, let us pause for more on the Cavaliers radio network."

"Just leave (the interview request sheet) right there. I'll start a bonfire with it later."

Some audio clips of better times.

Well there you have it, the last truly honest man in sports broadcasting. He's one of the last relics of old-time basketball and straightforward, unsweetened game commentary.

Listen to the next game on NBA League Pass audio. He makes every game worth it, even a horrific loss like Thursday night.