Five athletes who were

once musicians

> They weren't half bad, either!

Davie Wong
Sports Editor

 

thletes are known for many things: Their rippling

bodies, their varying personalities, and the number
of records that they may or may not hold, just to name a
few. One of the things that you don’t often hear about an
athlete is their musical talent! And I mean, why would
you? It turns out that some athletes had quite the secret
double life as star musicians. Here are just some of the
many athletes that have made splashes in the musical
world.

Shaquille O’Neal

That’s right. Before the 71” giant of the NBA gained
worldwide infamy for his massive boards and huge
dunks, he was throwing down in the studios. Between
1993 and 1999, the big man released four studio albums,
and they were far from terrible.

In fact, Shaq made it into the top 25 on the US
Music Charts, and within the top 8 of the US R&B Music
Charts, His first album, Shag Diesel, went platinum,
and his second, Shag Fu: Da Return, made it to gold.
Although his success on the records never launched him
into the clouds, one could say his bars of fire were a slam
dunk.

Manny Pacquiao

While it feels like the name Manny Pacquiao just
never disappears, it’s because the man won't let it. From
legendary fights to causing drama in the Filipino Senate,
Manny Pacquiao just seems to be everywhere. Including
on record?

Unknown to many until only a couple years ago,
the superstar boxer is actually a published musician.
Manny has released three albums, nearly all of them in
Tagalog. And while his music may not be a hit to many,
it definitely isn’t a knockout for his bank account, as his
career in the ring gives him more than enough cash to
publish whatever he wants to.

Deion Sanders

When you think of legendary two sport players,
there aren't many on the list. Deion Sanders is one of
them, playing in the NFL and the MLB. Sanders was
better known for his career in the NFL, but it didn’t
stop him from playing both. Along with being a father,
Sanders constantly had his hands full.

Yet he still found time to make music. Sanders has
released two studio albums, with his best being in 1994.
His album, Prime Time made it to number 70 on the US
Hip-Hop charts, and topped at 14 on the US Heatseekers
charts. How he found time to crank out smash hits while
making, taking, and giving hits, I'll never know, but then
again, Deion Sanders is truly a man from another world.

Guy Lafleur

Well here’s a name that no one expected to see. Guy
Lafleur is a household name out east, but even out there
it was because of his legendary hockey career. What
many often forget is that during his reign on the ice
in the late ’7os and early ’80s, Guy loved himself some
disco. In fact, he loved it so much, he made his own
album.

Guy Lafleur is a published disco dude. Wow, try

 

Image via @tvonetv via Twitter

saying that five time fast. But in all seriousness, Lafleur
published his own disco album in 1979. Being the
multicultural man he was, Lafleur put the record out in
both English and French. I can’t say it did too well, but I
mean, give the man some credit—at least he tried!

Floyd Mayweather

No, I’m not calling him Money Mayweather...
Crap, I just did, didn’t I? Well, his nickname isn’t an
understatement—the man is made of money. And if
he’s taught us anything, it’s that money can buy you
anything, including places on music albums.

Mayweather has been featured on multiple albums
from famous musicians like G-Unit and Ludacris. Unlike
everyone else on this list, Mayweather hasn't published
his own album, but his involvement in music makes him
a musician nonetheless. And perhaps his decision to
not create his own music is the wisest one. I know ’'m
already tired of hearing from him.

(¥ UFV makes for a Funky visit

(¥ No banging before a big game

(¥ From the bottom right to the top

And more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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