/ Source: The Associated Press
Boston Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo is just the latest pro athlete to moonlight as a musician. A list of some other hitmakers — and some misses:
- Shaquille O'Neal. The Miami Heat big man is also the biggest name among all the athletes posing as rappers. Shaq has released five albums — one of which is a greatest-hits collection.
- Bernie Williams. The New York Yankees center fielder's instrumental jazz guitar disc, "The Journey Within," was a best seller and earned positive reviews in 2003.
- Wayman Tisdale. After 12 years as an NBA power forward, Tisdale has recorded five albums as a R&B and jazz bassist and performed on the Dave Koz and Friends concert tour.
- Mike Reid. The former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle earned a Grammy for best new country song for writing "Stranger in My House," a hit for Ronnie Milsap in 1983. He's also written for Bonnie Raitt and Bette Midler.
- Jack McDowell. "Black Jack," as the former American League Cy Young winner was known, named his rock band Stick Figure as a reflection of his 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame. Musical friends include Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
- Tony Conigliaro. The late, great Tony C, whose promising career as a Red Sox outfielder was derailed in 1967 by a beanball to his face, recorded several 45s in the mid-1960s. He also sang on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and "The Merv Griffin Show."
- Allen Iverson. The 76ers superstar didn't earn any new fans among women and gays following the release of his rap CD in 2000.
- Kobe Bryant. His upper middle-class background didn't exactly give him street cred when he tried to launch a rap career a few years ago. (Just one more example of Shaq coming out on top.)
- Ron Artest. The Indiana Pacers forward asked for time off to work on his rap album _ and he got it once he was suspended for the rest of the season for his role in last year's brawl with the Detroit Pistons and their fans.
- Deion Sanders. The NFL star who likes to refer to himself as "Prime Time" shows his softer, more sensitive side with hip-hop ditties like "Must Be the Money" and "Y U NV ME?"
- Roy Jones Jr. The boxer's 2002 debut rap album, "Round One," includes songs titled, appropriately enough, "Who Wanna Get Knocked Out" and "Invincible."
- Carl Lewis. Do a Google search for "Carl Lewis" and "music video" and you'll find an event that the nine-time Olympic gold medalist definitely didn't win. Lewis looks vaguely like Grace Jones as he sings while pumping iron in the gym.
- 1985 Chicago Bears. They're not here to cause no trouble. They're just here to do "The Super Bowl Shuffle," one of the most insanely catchy one-hit wonders ever.