# Athletes name-dropped in songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168 "2011-08-26T12:30:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/21 "2011-08-26T15:06:57Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Another House of Pain track, “Top of the Morning to Ya,” mentions auto racing legend Mario Andretti. “Put the gear in, now you’re steerin’, like Mario Andretti.” Come to think of it, the Beasties also mentioned Andretti in “Shadrach:” “Jerry Lee Swaggert or Jerry Lee Falwell You’re like Mario Andretti 'cause he always drives a car well.” And there’s this great lyrics from “Hey Ladies:” “I got more hits than Sadaharu Oh.” ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/22 "2011-08-26T15:19:46Z")
_Steppin into the jam and i’m slammin’ like **Shaquille** … and madboy grips the microphone with a fist full of steel!_ Fist full of steel - Rage Against the Machine (dang their first record was great) ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/23 "2011-08-26T15:21:12Z")
“Shirley” by L7: Shirley Muldowney. “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J: Muhammad Ali. "How Forever Feels: by Kenny Chesney: Richard Petty. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/24 "2011-08-26T15:27:03Z")
Dylan did a song about Catfish Hunter that appears on _The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3_. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/25 "2011-08-26T15:32:05Z")
Mario Andretti is also mentioned in Gwen Stefani’s “Crash.” ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/26 "2011-08-26T15:34:13Z")
Peter Hammill, “(No More) The Sub-Mariner”: “With cricket bat I saw myself as Peter May” Bob Dylan, “I Shall Be Free No. 10”: “I was shadow-boxing early in the day, figured I was ready for Cassius Clay” Ike Willis on Frank Zappa’s version of “Purple Haze”: “Isaac Hayes! Gabby Hayes! _Willie Mays!_ Helen Hayes!” ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/27 "2011-08-26T16:07:37Z")
Brooks & Dunn did a song about Dale Earnhardt called “The Intimidator.” It’s not that good, though… ---
**Author:** ![sco3tt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@sco3tt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sco3tt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/28 "2011-08-26T16:35:31Z")
Dan Bern’s [Tiger Woods](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tctfq4tplQ4#t=22s) namechecks and quotes Muhammad Ali. And then mentions Tiger Woods a few times too. Ali seems to be well represented, as he also shows up during the band introductions in Ween’s [Powder Blue](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYW5Gv2jQeA#t=2m25s). ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/29 "2011-08-26T16:47:07Z")
On more Mario Andretti, from “The Ballad of the Uneasy Rider” by the Charlie Daniels Band: “Mario Andretti woulda sure been proud Of the way I was movin when I passed that crowd” ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/30 "2011-08-26T16:56:34Z")
If you count references to his shoes Michael Jordan has to be the winner. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/31 "2011-08-26T17:09:26Z")
The Beastie Boys also mention Sadaharu Oh in the song “Hey Ladies”. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/32 "2011-08-26T19:11:45Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Billy Joel is a big sports fan, and has dropped a few names. > > In “Zanzibar,” he mentions Pete Rose. “Rose, he knows he’s such a credit to the game, but the Yankees grab the headlines every time.” > > And in “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” Billy mentions Joe Dimaggio, Sugar Ray (Robinson), (Rocky) Marciano, (Roy) Campanella, Mickey Mantle, (Sonny) Liston, and (Floyd) Patterson. The “Ali” in the opening line is a reference to Mohammad Ali ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/33 "2011-08-26T19:19:47Z")
Outkast - the whole world - catch a beat running like randy moss Aaron Carter has an entire song called - How I Beat Shaq ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/34 "2011-08-26T19:22:38Z")
If anyone wants to take the question up as a challenge, I’ll bet Jackie Robinson against anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/35 "2011-08-26T19:29:09Z")
Another Mario Andretti in…was it “Opposites Attract”? Some crappy Paula Abdul song. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/36 "2011-08-26T20:00:09Z")
Run DMC’s “You Be Illin’”: _Today you won a ticket to see Doctor J Front row seat – it’s free – no pay_ ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/37 "2011-08-26T20:03:12Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Another Mario Andretti in…was it “Opposites Attract”? Some crappy Paula Abdul song. Are you thinking of Amy Grant’s “Good For Me”? _You like to drive Like Mario Andretti I like it takin’ my time_ ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/38 "2011-08-26T20:04:00Z")
So, just skimming through the thread, I think that’s 3 for Andretti and 3 for DiMaggio. ETA I don’t think I’ve heard the song “Good For Me”, but I’m fairly sure I could sing all the lyrics to Opposites Attract (if it was on) and I don’t recall any athletes being named in it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/39 "2011-08-26T20:47:26Z")
Not dropping a particular athlete’s name but there’s a sports reference in “One Week” by the Barenaked Ladies. The last line of the song is “Birchmount Stadium home of the Robbie”. Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough, Ontario is where they play the annual Robbie International Soccer Tournament, which is a charity tournament for youth soccer. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168/40 "2011-08-26T20:49:40Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > So, just skimming through the thread, I think that’s 3 for Andretti and 3 for DiMaggio. Four for DiMaggio: “I Do the Rock” - Tim Curry “Mrs Robinson” - Simon and Garfunkel “Vogue” - Madonna “We Didn’t Start the Fire” - Billy Joel According to Wikipedia, there’s also: “DiMaggio Done It Again” - Billy Bragg and Woody Guthrie “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio” - Les Brown & His Band of Renown “Captain Crash & the Beauty Queen From Mars” - Bon Jovi “DiMaggio” - Mike Plume “The Great Joe DiMaggio’s Card” - Abie Rotenberg “Marilyn & Joe” - Kinky Friedman [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/athletes-name-dropped-in-songs/594168.md?page=3)