Top 5 Moments in which Music and Sports Intertwined

So a friend of mine is writing a book on music, and he wanted me to contribute to it. He also wanted me to give him some sort of sports list for the book as well. While I did think this was a bit of an odd request, I did what I always do: I went out there and got it done. Here is the list I made for my friend’s book. This is the Top 5 Moments in which Music and Sports Intertwined:

5. Shaq’s Rapping Career – While it lacks the cultural impact of Shaq Fu, the Big Diesel’s rapping career was a thing of beauty. On his first CD, we learned that Shaq’s fans didn’t want him to shoot or pass it, but they just wanted him to slam it, slam! On one of his later CDs, we learned that Phil was, in fact, his real father, because his biological didn’t bother. Aside from several humorously obscure references, Shaq’s rapping also brought us Mark Madsen’s celebration dancing, which is still funny no matter how many times I see it. Thanks for the memories, Shaq.

Mark Madsen, Make-A-Wish Foundation recipient since 2000.

4. 2K6 Soundtracks – For some reason, 2K6 video games decided to flip the switch on sports video game soundtracks last year. Instead of filling their NBA and MLB games with crappy radio hits and/or unlistenable screamo songs, the 2K6 crew went out and decided to fill their games with great indie music. The NBA game’s soundtrack is filled with such artists as RJD2, Blackalicious, Common, Little Brother, Aesop Rock, Redman, The Roots and Aceyalone. The MLB game is power-packed with college radio favorites, including Belle and Sebastian, Yo La Tengo, Pavement, Stephen Malkamus, Interpol, Mogwai and Pretty Girls Make Graves. Just a great collection of artists for these soundtracks. And nothing on earth could have prepared me for the moment when the MLB games’ AI agrees to trade Scott Kasmir for Russ Ortiz straight up, while Le Pastie De La Bourgeoisie blares from my TV speakers. Nothing.

3. Mariah Carey @ 2003 NBA-Star Game – Any male with an active pulse remembers Mariah Carey’s tribute to Michael Jordan during halftime of the 2003 NBA All-Star game. Mariah came out wearing a gown/jersey hybrid of MJ’s. There’s really nothing more I can write about here, so I’ll just let the picture sum things up for you.

P.S. Is it gay that the most attracted I've ever been to Mariah was when she was wearing guy's clothing? On second thought, don't answer that.

And boom goes the dynamite…

2. Whitney Houston’s National Anthem @ Super Bowl XXV – I was 6 when this happened, and I only vaguely remember it. The U.S. was in the midst of Operation Desert Storm, and the entire country was feeling a little bit uneasy. In walks Whitney Houston to bravado the hell out of the National Anthem. Most everyone agrees that this is the best possible version of our Anthem, and that Houston’s rendition sent our Patriotism soaring through the roof. I’ve seen video replays of this and I get chills every time. But as great as this was, for my money it wasn’t even the best National Anthem moment at a sporting event…

1. Maurice Cheeks’s National Anthem Assist – …That would be this one. Let me set the scene for you. By all accounts, Mo Cheeks was/is a stand-up guy and a pretty darn good coach. Unfortunately for him, he’s stuck in basketball coach purgatory. He was coaching the team that was then known as “The Jailblazers”. The team had acquired this nickname because over half of the players on the team had been arrested at some point in their careers, and stories were constantly getting leaked that there were multiple fights in practice daily. So here’s Cheeks, stuck coaching a bunch of thugs in the 2003 NBA playoffs. His team is trailing 2-0, going into the 3rd game at Portland. Enter local singing phenom Natalie Gilbert, age 13. Gilbert begins to sing the National Anthem, but midway through she forgets the words. While everyone braces themselves for a train wreck moment, Portland head coach Maurice Cheeks steps in to save the day. He puts his arm around Gilbert and the two of them finish singing the Anthem together. The whole crowd joins in, and even most of the players start to sing the Anthem as well. What could have been an out-and-out disaster became one of the best moments in professional sports history, in my opinion. I feel strongly that Mo Cheeks will coach a team to an NBA Championship one day, just based on the karma he has built up from this moment.

I was too touched by this moment to even come up with a joke.

Well, that’s it for now. Check back later this week for some of the most depressing things you’ve ever heard.