There are an incredible amount of sports stars that have dipped their toe into the world of music over the years and here we take a look at some who will probably wish they hadn’t!
5. Mike Tyson
Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has led a very colourful life, so it was no surprise that he jumped at the chance to make a cameo in the ‘Hangover’ franchise.
We got a taste of Tyson’s vocal range in the first ‘Hangover’ movie when he briefly covered Phil Collins’ classic ‘Something in the Air Tonight’, before landing one of his famous right hooks on lead character Alan Garner.
He really came into his own in ‘The Hangover Part 2’ when putting his unique slant on Murray Head’s ‘One Night in Bangkok’.
It’s fair to say the American didn’t have record labels queuing up to hand over a deal after the movie hit cinemas in 2011.
4. Andy Cole
Andy Cole achieved a huge amount of success on the pitch in 1999, helping Manchester United to win the treble, however, off the field he scored a major own goal.
The striker, clearly riding a wave after United’s heroics in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, felt the time was right to release a rap single.
‘Outstanding’ promised a lot from the outset with the opening line “No one can do it better” – unfortunately Cole failed to deliver.
Cole later admitted in an interview with FourFourTwo that his song, which included the line “The son of a miner, funkiest rhymer”, was “shocking”.
3. Tyson Fury
Named after the previously mention Mike Tyson, Fury was always seemingly destined for big things in the world of boxing.
The Gypsy King has achieved a huge amount of success in the ring and currently holds the WBC world heavyweight title after beating Deontay Wilder in February.
Boxing fans aren’t often short changed when they tune in to see the Brit in action as he tends to do a stint on the mic post-fight.
After stopping Wilder in round seven, Fury didn’t disappoint as he led the MGM Grand Garden in a rendition of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’, which also featured a brief input from promoter Bob Arum.
2. Carl Lewis
Former American track and field athlete Carl Lewis picked up nine Olympic gold medals in a career that spanned from 1979 to 1996.
Lewis shot to prominence at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, winning four gold medals, and for some unfathomable reason he released a record just two years later.
‘Break It Up’ encapsulates everything good and bad about the 80s, while the music video is also as baffling as his decision to go ahead with the project in the first place.
A special mention must go to his love interest in the oversized sunglasses.
1. Peter Ebdon
Peter Ebdon is Top of the Pops as far as this list is concerned.
The Force, who lifted his first ranking title at the Grand Prix in 1993, recorded a cover of David Cassidy’s aptly named ‘I Am A Clown’ in 1996.
Ebdon didn’t receive much recognition for his debut single but that didn’t deter him from releasing a second song – ‘Fall of Paradise’ – which wouldn’t look out of place with David Brent behind the mic.
Thankfully, the 2002 World Champion didn’t pursue his music career any further but after retiring in April 2020, he may be tempted into having another go.
