Cleveland Legend Joe Tait Visits Crocker Park

Joe Tait was to the Cleveland Cavaliers as vinyl was to record albums.

With a distinct voice and no-nonsense announcing style, Tait quickly became a fan favorite and was eventually deemed the official voice of the Cavs.  

Following his retirement last April, the veteran broadcaster teamed up with sports writer Terry Pluto and co-wrote a memoir, giving fans a play-by-play account of his storied announcing career. 

On Saturday afternoon, Tait arrived to book store to share memories and sign copies of, “Joe Tait: It’s Been a  Real Ball.” 

Over 100 people came with their copy in hand. 

“It’s great to finally meet Joe,” said Westlake resident John Mullen. “The guy’s a local legend who really brought the game to life.” 

In their writing, Pluto and Tait chronicle the Cavs rocky beginning in 1970, reminisce about the “Miracle at Richfield” and talk candidly about the LeBron James era. 

In a phone interview with Westlake Patch prior to the signing, Tait was eager to talk about the franchise’s past as a young and inexperienced Cavs team fought for legitimacy in the NBA. 

“I miss the first years we were in the league when the guys were all kind of banding together because we weren’t any good, and when the other team got to town you knew you were in trouble right off the bat,” he said. “We ate together, we went to movies together, we traveled together because it was kind of a General Custer at the Little Big Horn mentality.” 

Tait, however, was hesitant to talk about what lies ahead for the NBA, particularly as the league chaotically rushes to compose itself following a long and winding collective bargaining process that took months to negotiate. 

“I’ve not paid one minute’s attention to the NBA since I walked out of the building and have no intention of doing so now or in the future,” Tait said. “It’s not a knock against the Cavaliers or the NBA, it’s just that that part of my life is over and I’m moving on to other things.” 

The next chapter, he said, will focus primarily on spending time with his wife and reading up on years worth of railroad journals.