When Sports Athletes Sing

It has become something of a cliché for sports athletes to confess that they could do nothing else if they were not scoring goals, points, touchdowns – or, generally, winning championships. Part of the reason that they are so successful is that they have put everything into being the best in their chosen field, with all other distractions left behind.

There have always been athletes who have fancied themselves as singers, however. Muhammad Ali was releasing records when he was still known as Cassius Clay, and there have been plenty of other athletes who have followed in the great man’s footsteps. But even though they are the type of stars who would feature on all the best mobile betting sites, they have not always set the pop charts alight.

These days, the immense wealth and access to tech that all the top sports athletes have means it is not a surprise when you hear they have spent some time in the recording studio. But here are some big names from the past who gave singing a go – but mostly proving that sports and music don’t always mix.

Macho Man Randy Savage

If ever there was a “sport” that should produce entertainers, it is pro wrestling. Legally referred to as “sports entertainment”, WWE (and WWF before that) produced countless showbusiness icons, so it is hardly surprising that some of them picked up the microphone and attempted to launch music careers as well.

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The most memorable attempt was probably by Macho Man Randy Savage. The wrestling showman had appeared on a WrestleMania album in the 1990s but released his own rap album in 2003, which contained a diss track about Hulk Hogan and a surprisingly touching tribute to fellow wrestler, Mr. Perfect, who had recently died.

Manny Pacquiao

One of the greatest boxers of all time, winning championships in four different weight divisions before becoming a successful politician in his native Philippines, Manny Pacquiao also  recorded a number of albums in what has been an incredible life. Unlike some of the other names in this article, however, Pacquiao’s music was much more than just a cynical cash-in.

Pacquiao was well-known for writing and recording his own entrance music for his fights – and then releasing them as albums for his millions of fans. His profile was so high that he was a regular on the late-night TV circuit in the US, where he sang many of his own songs, as well as covers. He retired from the music studio in 2015.

Carl Lewis

Speaking of cynical cash-ins. Carl Lewis might have been arguably the greatest sprinter – and long jumper – of the 1980s, but his incredible talents certainly didn’t extend to the recording studio. His 1987 single, “Break It Up”, bombed on its release and proved that there was actually something that Carl Lewis couldn’t do.

The reggae-pop stylings of “Break It Up” may not have won over the public, but neither did his ever-growing medal haul of the 1980s. Even though Lewis won four gold medals at the 1984 Olympics, as well as five others and a silver in a glittering career, Lewis was never really taken into the hearts of the American public. It’s no surprise, then, that they didn’t go for his music.

Clint Dempsey

He may be one of the greatest ever US soccer players, and one of the first to break into the English Premier League, playing for both Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. But his musical abilities didn’t go over with everyone. Dempsey is from Texas, and his love of the Dirty South style of hip hop prompted him to rap alongside some of his home-state natives.

Recording as “Deuce”, Dempsey famously produced the “Don’t Tread” track for a Nike advert tying in with the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The intention was to showcase the sport’s working class roots and the USMNT ahead of the tournament. He went on record a number of other singles, but is probably best remembered for his talents on the field of play.

Shaquille O’Neal

Shaq burst onto the sports scene as a teenager and took the NBA by storm. A larger than life character to go with his very large frame, Shaq quickly became a hoops star in the 1990s, when the league was really making a name for itself around the world. Never one to miss an opportunity, Shaq also launched a rap career that was surprisingly successful.

While he was winning championships on the court, Shaq – or Shaq Diesel, as he had named himself – surrounded himself with some of the finest rappers of the day to release a string of singles and albums throughout the 1990s. Shaq’s flow was actually not too bad, but he did inspire many others to give hip hop a go, to varying results.

Deion Sanders

When you think of some of the real showman of sports that have delighted us fans over the decades, it is not surprising that some of them have looked to widen their sphere of influence. Music or the movies is a natural step for some, and that was certainly the case for one of the brightest stars of them all – Deion “Prime Time” Sanders.

Now a top college football head coach, Sanders won two Super Bowls titles and is the only athlete ever to play in the football championship game as well as a baseball World Series. A big friend of MC Hammer, Prime Time’s showy suits and jewelry were the perfect look for hip hop of the 1990s, and he released an album on Hammer’s label and appeared in a number of high-profile videos of the time.0