When Athletes Attack Music

Jocks Who (Try to) Rock

As long as birds sing and fools fall in love, ballers will want to be musicians. In theory, there's nothing wrong with an athlete pursuing a music career, but statistically, their efforts tend to end up producing albums that are silly, OK, just plain hilarious. Take a look at a few of the athletes who've dropped their pads and picked up mics to bust a flow.

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Deion Sanders

In case you didn't know Deion Sanders was filthy rich, the two-sport star took some time to let everyone know on his 1995 album, 'Prime Time.' Released on MC Hammer's Bust-It Records imprint, the off-key album featured tracks such as 'Must Be the Money,' where Deion talks about, well, his money, 'Y U NV ME?' and '2 B Me.' Are you sensing a trend? (Someone loves himself waaaay too much.) In what can only be described as cheesy hip-hop mixed with new jack swing gone bad, the brash athlete proves just because you can play baseball and football -- doesn't mean you can carry a tune too.

Shaquille O'Neal

When it comes to ballers rapping, Shaq is the granddaddy of them all. His catalog is so deep that he even has a greatest hits album. One would think you actually need hits to have a greatest hits album, but hey, we're talking about a guy who played a rapping genie in the movie 'Kazaam.' Logic clearly doesn't apply here. The big man has given us such treasures as 'Shaq Diesel' and 'Shaq Fu: Da Return.' And who could forget him teaming up with young, frosted-tipped Aaron Carter in 'That's How I Beat Shaq'? Nothing earns street cred like Disney rap.

1985 Chicago Bears

"We're not here to start no trouble. We're just here to do the Super Bowl Shuffle." Winning football games in 1985 wasn't enough for the Bears; they had to rap about winning games too. Complete with arrogance and awkward footwork, the brash Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew blew listeners minds with 'Super Bowl Shuffle.' Some thought it was bigheaded for the Bears to make a music video before they actually won the trophy, but as Mike Singletary said "It's not arrogant if you deliver." And deliver they did -- the Bears won Super Bowl XX, scored a radio hit and earned a Grammy nomination.

Bernie Williams

Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams knows his way around a baseball field and a recording studio. In 2003, the classically trained guitarist released 'The Journey Within,' a contemporary jazz album, which was met with glowing reviews. The legendary Paul McCartney said that he was "blown away" by Williams's talent. It probably won't trump winning the World Series, but a ringing endorsement from a former Beatle -- not too shabby for a musical jock.

Allen Iverson, aka Jewelz

There wasn't enough soap in the world that could make Allen Iverson's '40 Bars' clean enough for radio. Recorded in 2001 under the pseudonym Jewelz, Iverson's 'Misunderstood' album was never released due to his, let's just say, controversial subject matter. A.I.'s lyrics were criticized for attacking homosexuals, encouraging domestic abuse and promoting violence in the form of murder. Sure, that's one way to bring street cred to an album, but record execs wanted no part in "understanding" the NBA star and pulled the plug on the project.

Kobe Bryant

Like Allen Iverson's 'Misunderstood,' music execs pulled the plug on Kobe Bryant's 2000 rap album 'Visions.' Yet, unlike A.I.'s disc, the album wasn't shelved because it contained vulgar and controversial lyrics. No, the album was squashed because, well, it was bad. Despite Columbia Records putting the kibosh on the project, the single 'K.O.B.E.' was released in the spring. When it came to this sinking ship, Bryant wasn't stranded alone -- Tyra Banks joined him on the track to drop a few rhymes too. Why, oh, why?

Ron Artest

Ron Artest earned the reputation for being "the poster boy for bad behavior" after he lost his mind in the infamous Pistons vs. Pacers brawl in 2004. And what do all bad boys do? They cut a rap CD, of course. In 2006, Artest released 'My World,' which featured the NBA star rhyming about the mean streets, the hoops hustle and taking some shots at his foes, which for some absurd reason included NBC's Matt Lauer. Sadly, 'My World' sold a mere 343 copies its opening week. How bad is that? Kevin Federline sold more albums. Yep. That's bad.

Roy Jones Jr.

During his prime, Roy Jones Jr. was considered by many to be one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. But king of the music ring he was not. His 2002 debut rap album, 'Round One,' featured tracks 'Who Wanna Get Knocked Out,' 'You Don't Wanna Go There,' and 'Y'all Must've Forgot.' Forgot? Who can forget Jones boasting about his ability to bash his opponents faces in? Not us. (Although we wish we could.)

Chris Webber

If only Chris Webber had chosen to save the drama for his momma, because chances are she's the only one who bought his 1999 '2 Much Drama' CD. True, Webber cost Michigan a national title in 1993 when he called an imaginary time out, but how much drama really was in C-Webb's life. Sorry, but having a multi-million dollar NBA contract and dating Tyra Banks isn't exactly an episode of 'The Young and the Restless.' If so, please sign us up for that type of "drama."

Gary Payton

Payton's 'Livin' Legal and Large' is accompanied with a hot Bay area beat. Surprisingly, it sounds like something Too Short or E-40 would rhyme over. Not surprisingly, they don't. And if you must know, Payton considers himself "much better than the average bruh." Good to know.

Terrell Owens

There's no doubt T.O has mad skills on the field, but those talents don't exactly transfer smoothly into the field of music. But such a tiny detail wasn't big enough to stop the wide receiver from putting out a diss track against his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Sure, the repetitive 'I'm Back' portion of the track is catchy, but catchy doesn't make you a music artist. (Although, it probably could get you to the top of the pop charts.) So please T.O., don't quit your day job.

Tony Parker

Moonlighting as a rapper was just too tempting for Tony Parker to pass up. We have no idea what T-Pizzle is rhyming about because it's all in French, but we're pretty sure it has something to do with how hot Eva Longoria is and how great it is to be an NBA baller with tons of cash. Just a guess on our part. The real question of the hour is: would this album sound any better in English? Probably not.

Wayman Tisdale

In 1995, former NBA star Wayman Tisdale traded baselines for bass guitar with the release of his debut album, 'Power Forward.' Tisdale soon became one of contemporary jazz's rising stars; his album spent 13 weeks near the top of the Billboard charts. Since his debut, he's released six albums and toured with jazz heavyweight Dave Koz.