CAVS vs. ATL

Joe Tait in 2011, one of his final broadcasts for the Cavs.

(Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the first time this season, Joe Tait watched an entire Cavaliers game.

"Not the whole game," said the former Cavs broadcaster. "I missed part of the second quarter when I had to get the garbage together and take it out."

Tait laughed.

The Cavs winning the NBA title has him in a very good mood.

Tait's first game for the Cavs was in 1970, when the franchise was born. Other than missing two seasons during the Ted Stepien Era, Tait called the Cavs games through 2011.

But after he retired, he lost interest in the NBA. He spent a lot of time as a caretaker for his wife, Jean, who has battled several health issues.

Tait is also a close friend. We wrote a book together a few years ago called It's Been A Real Ball.

We often talk about the Cavs. He was interested in how LeBron James has grown as a player and person since returning to the Cavs in the summer of 2014.

Tait had noticed the difference when seeing James interviewed on television.

"I wanted to see Game 7 because I thought they'd win," said Tait. "I wanted to see history."

Why?

"I had a sense LeBron would will it," said Tait. "He's always had the desire to win. But now, he has the maturity, the smarts and he's won titles before. He's a real leader. I believed if the troops would stay with him, he'd lead them and they'd win."

Tait mentioned James often "didn't have troops" like they do now in the second tenure of James.

"He can't win a title playing 1-on-5," Tait said. "But if he has some talent with him, he'll win. He has grown into one of those athletes who -- when he sets his mind on something -- he's really hard to stop."

A DIFFERENT ERA

I wondered if Tait had a desire to broadcast that historic game.

In his four decades calling the Cavs games, the only season they reached The Finals was 2007. They were swept by San Antonio.

"I've done my games," said Tait. "I'm 79 years old. I was very content just to watch the game."

It was a tight game. The score was tied for nearly four minutes at 89-89 until Kyrie Irving swished a 3-pointer with 53 seconds left.

The Cavs ended up winning, 93-89.

"Even though it was close, I just thought they'd win," said Tait.

That's a very un-Cleveland-like attitude, it seems where gloom and doom have hung over the fan base because of all the disappointments.

"I guess the sun is out more here in Lafayette Township where I live," said Tait.

He then went back to James.

"He is one of the greatest players I've ever seen," said Tait. "He has an incredible will to win."

AN INDIANS FAN

Tait says he watches or listens to the Tribe nearly every day. He was a broadcaster for the Tribe in parts of the 1970s and 1980s.

"At my age, I guess I don't mind three-hour games," he said. "I really like this team. I enjoy the games. I like to watch Corey Kluber pitch. The (Tyler) Naquin kid is a fresh face, I love how he approaches the game. They're fun."

Jean Tait is now in an assisted living facility. That has given Tait more time to watch games after he visits her each day.

"I listen to Indians game on the radio after seeing Jean," he said. "Tom Hamilton is great, just great. I don't care if they are up nine runs or down nine runs, Tom Hamilton is worth listening to. I also think Rosie (Jim Rosenhaus) really compliments Tom. I like both of them."

Tait said he has become such a hardcore Tribe fan, he checks out the replays of Tribe games the following morning on TV.

"If I fall asleep before the game is over, I check out it the next day to see the rest of the game," he said.

FACING A BATTLE

Tait was recently diagnosed with cancer.

"I came down with blood poisoning," he said. "As the doctor told me, I was about three days away from being 'The late Joe Tait.' I was really sick for about a month."

Tait said an MRI showed, "I had some tumors floating around."

A biopsy indicated they were malignant.

"They are still doing some more tests to determine exactly where the cancer is located," he said. "But the doctors feel pretty good that I have several good years left. They believe they can keep it under control."

Tait is very upbeat, despite cancer entering his life.

"I've been very fortunate," he said. "I know a lot of people in much worse shape than I am."