'Voice of Cleveland' Joe Tait Headlines Hoover Hoops Tip-Off Dinner

Joe Tait, the radio voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers for more than 40 years, will share his sports stories and Cavs history with attendees at this year's Hoover Hoops Tip-Off Dinner.

The 11th annual event kicks off at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at Skyland Pines Banquet Center with a happy hour, followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and Tait's speech at 8 p.m.

Varsity basketball coach Randy Montgomery said students, parents and sports fans alike will enjoy hearing from Tait that night.

"We certainly are excited to have him; he'll be a great person to entertain the crowd and get them ready for the tip-off of the season," Montgomery said.

He anticipates the audience will be impressed with the breadth of Tait's career.

"Probably the biggest thing about him is his longevity," Montgomery said. "He’s been with Cleveland sports since its inception of Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1970s. He's broadcasted for all those years and he’s seen all the different players ... and of course the LeBron James era and the Michael Jordan era."

The annual dinner is known for bringing stellar sports speakers, having brought Jerry Tarkanian, Austin Carr and Larry Johnson, to name a few.

Last year, the dinner spotlighted Bobby Plump, the Indiana native who sunk the infamous buzzer-beating winning shot for the Milan Indians when they played Muncie Central in the 1954 Indiana state basketball finals.

Tait — who began his longtime association with the Cavaliers in the first year of their existence, 1970 —  was also the radio announcer for the Cleveland Indians along with Herb Score from 1973 to 1979. He was also the Indians TV announcer with a variety of co-announcers from 1980 to 1987. From 1997 to 2003, Tait was the radio play-by-play voice of the WNBA’s Cleveland Rockers. 

In 2004, Tait was selected as a founding member of the Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame. In 2010, he received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame. He co-authored his memoir, “Joe Tait: It’s Been a Real Ball.”

Montgomery said audience members that night can expect an entertaining and off-the-cuff talk from Tait.

"He’s candid in his remarks," he said. "He doesn’t really hold anything back.”

The dinner, which raises money for the basketball program, also will feature a $1,000 cash prize.

For tickets, contact Emily Iero at 330-280-2407. Tickets are $100 a person. If tickets are purchased in pairs, the first is $100 and second is $25.