Tisdale Accepted Money From Agent, Paper Says

A Tulsa sports agent claims his firm gave Wayman Tisdale, the former University of Oklahoma All-American, and his brother, William, more than $2,100 to get Wayman to sign a sports representation contract, according to a published report.

The Sunday Oklahoman, in a copyright story, said Larry T. Johnson, vice president of Intersouth Sports Management Corp., said the money included checks written by Intersouth, an all-expense paid weekend in Dallas, and two watches worth $400. Johnson said he made the payments through William Tisdale.

NCAA rules prohibit athletes from accepting money from agents while they have college eligibility remaining. The newspaper said the payments were made before and during Wayman’s junior year at Oklahoma. He opted to leave the university for the National Basketball Assn., bypassing his senior year to play with the Indiana Pacers.

The contract between Wayman Tisdale and Intersouth was one of several contracts and promissory notes involving current and former University of Oklahoma athletes, the newspaper reported. The contracts and notes were used by Intersouth to get a $125,000 loan from Triad Bank of Tulsa, according to a foreclosure suit filed by the bank.

Another brother, Weldon Tisdale, president of Progressive Management Associates of Tulsa, told the Oklahoman that both the contract and Johnson’s allegations are false.

The newspaper said three checks were made out to William Tisdale for a total of $1,300. It said checks were marked as for “loan proceeds” and for a “counseling fee.”

Johnson said Intersouth also paid off a loan Wayman had taken out to buy a stereo. Weldon said Progressive Management Associates paid that loan off a few weeks ago.

Attempts to reach Wayman, Weldon and William Tisdale on Saturday night were unsuccessful.