Athlete Name Drops by the Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys were three Jewish kids from New York who found widespread respect in a hip-hop world with few credible white performers. In a 25-year span that covered four No. 1 albums and more than 40 million records sold, the Beastie Boys played both prankster and pioneer, a groundbreaking act that helped bring hip-hop to the mainstream. For many, the Beastie Boys' lyrics — overflowing torrents of wit, humor and rhyme — were always the main draw. While other forms of hip-hop celebrated individualism, Mike D, Ad-Rock and MCA (who passed away in 2012) were a verbal tag team. Here's a look at athlete name drops in songs by the Beastie Boys.

Athlete Name Drops by the Beastie Boys

Sadaharu Oh — "Hey Ladies" (1989)

Takeo Tanuma for Sports Illustrated

"There's more to me than you'll ever know, And I've got more hits than Sadaharu Oh"

Phil Rizzuto — "What Comes Around" (1989)

Focus on Sport/Getty Images

"Bum cheese on rye with ham and prosciutto, Got more Louie than Phil Rizzuto"

Mario Andretti — "Shadrach" (1989)

Neil Leifer for Sports Illustrated

"Jerry Lee Swaggert or Jerry Lee Falwell, You love Mario Andretti cause he always drives his car well"

Dick Butkus — "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" (1989)

Neil Leifer for Sports Illustrated

'Well, you say f--- that, yo Holmes, f--- this, I'm the King Ad-Whammy, you're Dick Butkus"

Harthorne Wingo — "B-Boy Bouillabaisse" (1989)

Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images

"More updated on the hip-hop lingo, My favorite New York Knick was Harthorne Wingo"

Walt "Clyde" Frazier — "Pass The Mic" (1992)

Walter Iooss Jr. for Sports Illustrated

"So what you gonna say that I don't know already? I'm like Clyde and I'm rockin' steady"

Rod Carew — "Sure Shot" (1994)

Heinz Kluetmeier for Sports Illustrated

"I've got more action than my man John Woo, And I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew"

Bill Laimbeer — "Tough Guy" (1994)

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

'Butcher me on the court Too many elbows to report, Now you're poking me in the eye Bill Laimbeer motherf---er, it's time for you to die"

Shaquille O'Neal — "Tough Guy" (1994)

John Iacono for Sports Illustrated

"Tough Guy, you think you're like The Shaq, Keep running around, you'll catch a heart attack"

Anthony Mason — B-Boys Makin' With the Freak Freak (1994)

Manny Millan for Sports Illustrated

"I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason, Then I ride the I.R.T. right up to Penn Station"

John Starks — "Get It Together" (1994)

David E. Klutho for Sports Illustrated

"See I've got heart like John Starks, Hitting mad sparks"

Patrick Ewing — "Flute Loop" (1994)

Manny Millan for Sports Illustrated

"I'm like Al Goldstein, I'm all about screwing, Lead my team to sixty wins like my man Pat Ewing"

Latrell Sprewell — "Unite" (1998)

Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images

"Goin off the hook like Latrell Spreewell, I've got the ill technique so you know me fe well"

Leon Spinks — "B-Boys In The Cut" (2011)

Lane Stewart for Sports Illustrated

"A-D-R-O-C-K spells relief, There's holes in my story like Leon Spinks' teeth"