- Joe Tait
Infobox Celebrity
name = Joe Tait
imagesize = 220px
caption =
pseudonym =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1937|5|15|mf=y
birth_place =Evanston, Illinois ,United States
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = American
occupation =Sportscaster , Play-by-PlayAnnouncer , Area Announcer
years_active = 1966 - PresentJoe Tait (born
May 15 ,1937 inEvanston, IL ) is the radioplay by play announcer for theCleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. With the exception of two seasons in the early 1980's, he has been the radio announcer since the team's inception in 1970. In October 2006, he signed a two-year contract extension, which ensures that he will be the team's voice until at least the 2008-09 season. fact|date=December 2007Background Sketch
Tait began his radio career while a student at
Monmouth College , doing play-by-play on the college radio station and sports reports on WRAM. He taught sportscasting atOhio University from 1966 to 1968, served as the network voice ofIndiana University football, and was the pre-game host for theIndiana Pacers in 1969.The following year, Tait began his longtime association with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were in their first year of existence. Tait was fired from his post with the Cavaliers by controversial owner
Ted Stepien prior to the 1980-1981 season. For the next two basketball seasons, Tait was a TV announcer for first theNew Jersey Nets , and then theChicago Bulls . Tait returned to the Cavaliers for the 1982-1983 season, and has remained ever since. In 1987, he was named vice president of broadcast services, a job that he continues today.During the basketball off-season, Tait was also a radio play by play voice for the
Cleveland Indians from 1973-1979, then switching to television from 1980-1987.cite news
title = Indians Broadcasters
publisher = The Cleveland Indians
date =2007
url = http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/history/broadcasters.jsp
accessdate = 2007-12-23] During the past few years, Tait has done TV play by play for theMount Union Purple Raiders, a Division III college football team.Joe Tait also calls high school basketball games for
WEOL -AM 930.On March 26th, 2008 Joe announced his 3000th Game for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he sat at half court.
The mid level seat area from which he normally calls the games has been forever renamed "Joe Tait's Perch".
Tait resides in
Lafayette Township, Medina County, Ohio . fact|date=December 2007References
External links
* [http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/multimedia/Joe_Taits_Greatest_Calls-59408-44.html Joe Tait's Greatest Calls]
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