Just the right pitch…..

I subscribe to the Sporting News Today which is a daily sports page delivered to my email box everyday. It reminds me of Frank DeFord’s brilliant and underappreciated sports daily, The National that was published in the early 1990’s.

One feature of the Sporting News Today that I enjoy reading is titled, “My Profile (what you won’t find on Facebook even if you are a friend)”. The featured athlete/coach answers questions like “What’s on your iPod?” What car do you drive? “First Job?” The one question that always creates the most interesting answer to me is “Talent you’d most like to have?” and inevitably the talent that most athletes would like to have is to sing or play a musical instrument. Conversely, it amazes me how many musicians, by their actions, wish that they were athletes. We see them every year at the various all star festivities playing softball or hoops. On occasion I’ll catch Bob Seeger or Alice Cooper playing golf in a celebrity Pro Am at Pebble Beach or some other exotic and challenging course. I thought it would be interesting to take a listen to athletes who have actually tried to be musicians and take a look at musicians who have actually tried to be athletes.

The Athletes!
Bernie Williams: The former New York Yankee outfielder was so graceful throughout his career in the Bronx. I think you’ll find Bernie one of the best athletes turned musician. He is a phenomenal guitarist as you can see and hear:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxk2F1u9v4U]

Shaquille O’Neal: We all know Shaq has skills on the hardwood but how about his skills on the mic? Sorry it’s NOT the clip that he’s most famous for (kids might be reading).

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPKTLLb80Ns]

The late Wayman Tisdale could really play the bass as evidenced here. Unfortunately cancer took him from us way to early. Check him out…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jRRkcRmWCk&feature=related]

Carl Lewis: How painfully memorable was this?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJLvCM4j2mg]

Chris Jericho: the WWE may be fake but Jericho is a Rocker without a doubt.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LMAsjoo8TI&feature=fvw]

The Musicians!
Mark Walberg: before Entourage and all the films there was Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qp-Gx9JylE&feature=related]

Here’s Mark teeing off in a celebrity pro am. Looks like he’s got some game…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMMmyUyQAZs]

Master P: Record producer and rapper extraordinaire!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGbfymq9rAg]

NBA baller? Not so much… But a great cover of Kurtis Blow’s “Basketball”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDc-k_rPBBA&feature=related]

I think the athletes that are also musicians win out in this comparison. What do you think?

Kelly
Strategic Account Manager
PlayNetwork, Inc.