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	I'd Rather Be Rapping

Com'on folks, it's not like Ron Artest is the first athlete to grow tired of putting his grovin' aspirations on hold for the game that's made him um ... admired, famous, and oh yeah, grotesquely weathy.

10. The Rock, wrestler: "It Doesn't Matter"
The Rock will always be a wrestler first, actor second, musician NEVER.

In 2000, the former University of Miami defensive lineman, whose given name is Dwayne Johnson, teamed up with Wyclef Jean on his rap single, "It Doesn't Matter."

And while his role was limited to a few lines of rapping and a constant blurting of, "It doesn't matter," The Rock's contributions were regrettable enough to make this list.

With no pattern or logical timing as to when he screams (and I mean screams) the trademark line, the entire song is disjointed and painfully rushed and unrehearsed.

Yikes, it does matter ... to my ears.

Memorable lyrics: "Yo, this is The Rock kicking it with the Refugee camp. And you're bout to smell what The Rock is cooking"

To listen: Click here and check out track No. 5.

9. Chris Webber, Sacramento Kings: "2 Much Drama"
Chris Webber has lied to a grand jury, cost Michigan a national title, been suspended for drug abuse, and taken Tyra Banks off the market. But to me, C-Webb's most dubious achievement was singing this putrid song back in 1999.

Hip-Hop And Hoop
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The lyrics are difficult to follow and at no point can the listener grasp what Webber is trying to say. He raps about death in one line, and than "The Jerry Springer Show" in the next. There's no message at all.

Meanwhile, the background music is ... well, have you ever banged a piano with your elbow? It's painful to both your elbow and your ears. Now, imagine that noise for four minutes, and you have the beat to "2 Much Drama."

C-Webb proves to be more clueless on the mic than during the final minutes of a big game.

Memorable lyrics: "They blind, I'm braille, so feel me."

To listen: Click here and check out track No. 20.

8. 1986 New York Mets: "Let's Go Mets"
In 1985, the Chicago Bears took America by storm with "The Super Bowl Shuffle." The eventual Super Bowl champs' tune was a hit because of clever lyrics and a snazzy music video. Neon lights, smiling faces, a funky beat and clever lyrics sent the nation into a Bears frenzy.

One year later, the New York Mets tried to recreate that magic with their version of a team-collaborative music video. The result: A lackluster flop, complete with B-List celebrity cameos, including way too much Joe Piscopo.

An obvious knockoff, "Let's Go Mets" was to "The Super Bowl Shuffle" what "'The North Shore" is to "The OC" -- a poorly executed rip-off.

Memorable lyrics: "We've got the teamwork, to make the dream work!"

7. John McEnroe, former tennis star: "Best of Me"
McEnroe is married to '80s rocker Patty Smyth, who's best known for her 1984 hit "The Warrior" with the band Scandal. Smyth has a great voice, and is respected throughout the music industry. Unfortunately, none of her musical talent rubbed off on her husband.

In fact, there are tales of audience members pelting Johnny Mac with tennis balls at live gigs. In his autobiography "Serious," McEnroe recalls one specific performance in Italy vividly, "A guy in the audience yelled, after our first song, 'You suck!' ... and then our equipment exploded."

The equipment, unlike McEnroe, knew when it was time to stop.

Despite two years touring in 15 countries, McEnroe's "Johnny Smyth Band" couldn't surpass "gimmick" status, and the band eventually folded in 1997.

McEnroe now works as host of a self-titled late-night show on CNBC, in which his interviewing ability plays a close second to his singing ability. Tennis anyone?

Memorable lyrics: "No more arguing about arguing. Not this trip again. No more yo-yo man."

	Barry Zito jams with musician Chris Isaak, but Page 3's Peter Schrager isn't impressed.

6. Barry Zito, Oakland A's: "Boy Next Door"
Michael Moore should consider a documentary on the propaganda surrounding Zito's music career. When I google "Sally Zito Project" (named for Barry's sister and musical partner), I found a slew of rave reviews. I'm here to tell you they're all lies, lies and more lies.

In "Boy Next Door," Zito's guitar work isn't that bad, but his vocals are unbearable -- his voice cracks more times than a kid at his Bar Mitzvah.

The world already has one too many John Mayer's; it surely doesn't need another with a Cy Young Award under his belt.

Barry, can I get you a throat lozenge?

Memorable lyrics: "I've got two sisters, and I know how girls can be. ... I will respect you, oh baby, yeah."

To listen: Click here and check out track No. 3.

And while Hulk Hogan, Capt. Lou Albano, and the Junkyard Dog all deserve ... uh, honorable mention, for their contributions to this classic 1987 album, it's Nikolai Volkoff's techno remix of the Jay and the Americans' hit "Cara Mira" that will remain etched in my mind forever.

Nothing says "chart-topper" like a Russian wrestler singing a '60s love ballad over a techno beat. Take it from me, Volkoff mastered the "foreign guy butchers the American song" bit before William Hung was out of diapers.

Volkoff's version of "Cara Mia" makes Hung's rendition of "She Bangs" sound like ... well, Ricky Martin.

His inability to hit high notes and over-the-top Russian accent, backed by a cheesy techno beat, earned Volkoff's musical effort a well-deserved place on this list.

Memorable lyrics: "Each time we part my heart wants to die. Darling hear my prayer, Cara Mia fair, I'll be your love 'til the end of time."

To listen: Click here and check out track No. 10.

4. Allen Iverson (a k a Jewelz), Philadelphia 76ers: "40 Bars"
Containing more curse words than a conversation with Dick Cheney, Iverson's rap single "40 Bars" is far from kid-friendly.

	Players like A.I. are the living embodiment of hip-hop in a basketball uniform.

The "Misunderstood" album was never actually released, but when listening to a bootleg version of the song during my freshman year of college, I nearly soiled myself from fear -- never had I heard such foul language.

The Answer released this message while working on the album:

"If individuals of the gay community and women of the world are offended by any of the material in my upcoming album, let the record show that I wish to extend a profound apology. If a kid thinks that I promote violence by the lyrics of my songs, I beg them not to buy it or listen to it. I want kids to dream and to develop new dreams."

I love that last line. Surely, there's a positive message hidden somewhere: Hey, it's OK to verbally attack homosexuals, encourage domestic assault, and promote murder as long as you couch those remarks by saying you want "kids to dream and to develop new dreams."

Memorable lyrics: "I know killaz that kill for a fee, that'll kill ya ass for free, believe me/How you wanna die, fast or slowly?"

To listen: Click here and check out the audio/video section.

According to The Daily Standard's Matthew Continetti,"The album was supposed to be out in March, but then they (Columbia) listened to it again, and it was so bad they put the kibosh on it."

Despite the album's premature death, the single "K.O.B.E." was released in the Spring of 2000. In a June 14, 2000, article in "SportsJones Magazine," columnist Elliot Vanskike wrote, "Wedged between his fretful silliness is the spelling lesson cum chorus which, if you hear it, will burrow into your brain and plant its hooks as it has into mine. It's not that 'K.O.B.E.' is catchy, because it's not. It's just that it will light up the same neurons that fire when you hear the Hamster Dance Song, and it's about as well produced."

That about sums it up.

Supermodel Tyra Banks joined Kobe on this disaster. Sadly, the reality is that the host of "America's Top Model" probably wouldn't make it through the first-round of "American Idol" with this performance.

But I'm going to give the talented Ms. Banks the benefit of the doubt, because its nearly impossible to make these lyrics sound good. Kobe speaks of "broads," "pigeons," and even suggests slapping a girl for being too loud in public.

In literature, they call this foreshadowing. In music, they call this a "never-released album."

Memorable lyrics: "Uh, what I live for? Basketball, beats and broads. From Italy to the U.S., yes, it's raw. I'ma search for the one that make my wealth feel poor. Who can ignore the spotlight life of Grandma."

2. Denny McLain, former Detroit Tiger: "Cute"
In 1969, a year after winning 31 games and an AL MVP award, the Detroit Tigers ace released his self-titled album, "Denny McLain: Live In Las Vegas."

This lounge music has the feel of entering the hotel bar at any Ramada Inn. While "Cute" plays, I couldn't help but picture McLain in a rented tuxedo, tickling the keys of his organ, while a single dollar rests in his lonely tip jar and he sneaks free hors d'oeuvres from a distracted cocktail waitress.

Since retiring from baseball, McLain has been jailed for extortion, drug abuse, and racketeering -- yet, it's safe to say his musical career is, by far, his worst offense.

	We're not sure if it's the money, Deion, but it definitely ain't the music.

Memorable lyrics: None, just nails on a chalkboard-like noise.

To listen: Click here and check out track No. 8.

1. Deion Sanders, former two-sport star: "Must Be The Money"
Being one of the most successful two-sport athletes of all-time apparently was not enough for "Prime Time." Coming off a Super Bowl XXIX victory with the 49ers, he decided to take a stab at a rap career when his alter-ego recorded the self-titled (are we sensing a pattern here?) album "Primetime."

"Must Be The Money" features "Neon Deion" gently whispering over a cheesy Casio Keyboard-style beat. Sanders is off-key, the music is out-of-tune, and the lyrics are offensively bad. Talk about a triple threat.

Memorable lyrics: "The way I live is oh so phat. I got two ladies and Prime Time is all that."

To listen: Click here.