25 Sports One-Hit Wonders and the Songs That Define Their Careers

Much like the music biz, sports gives us a ton of talented people who are always waiting for that one big break.

When that opportunity comes, some take advantage of it, prolonging it into a steady career, while others seem to flame out after their 15 minutes of fame are up.

Though it's true there's a lot of luck involved with how someone's career turns out, those who flop can never seem to drop the one-hit wonder mantra that they're labeled with.

Since the two industries are so similar, we're giving you the top one-hit wonders in sports, along with the musical one-hit wonder that defined their career. 

These guys may have had dreams of stardom, but instead, were gone in a flash.

Jeremy Lin

Song: “I Can’t Wait” - 60 Nu Shooz

The verdict's still out on Lin after his breakout 2011 season with the Knicks, so we're being kind placing him at No. 25 on our list.

With him not being able wait on New York to make a decision this past summer, Lin took his skills to Houston, where he's got some talent around him to duplicate his success of last year.

Lofa Tatupu

Song: “Heart And Soul” - T’Pau

After appearing in three straight Pro Bowls to start his career, Tatupu proved to be the heart and soul of the Seahawks D.

Unfortunately for him, injuries slowed him down, forcing him to lose a step, and never allowing him to perform like he did early in his career.

Mike Anderson

Song: "Because I Got High" - Afroman

As with most running backs for the Broncos during the Mike Shanahan era, Anderson was a beneficiary of the zone-blocking scheme the team implemented.

After finishing fourth in the league in rushing, and second in the league in rushing TD's (15), during the 2000 season, Anderson sustained some injuries, and saw his role reduced to a fullback.

When called upon again as the featured back during the 2005 season, he responded with another 1,000-yard season and double-digit TDs, before falling back into obscurity.

Troy Hudson

Song: “Forget Me Nots” - Patrice Rushen

Nicknamed "The Laker Killer" in part to his stellar 23.5 point average against the Lakers during the Western Conference Finals in the 2003 playoffs—a series the T-Wolves ultimately lost 4-2—Hudson never averaged more than 9.5 points per game in his final five seasons in the Association.

But thanks to his unexpected playoff series, we'll never forget who Troy Hudson is.

Jaret Wright

Song: “Breakout” - Swing Out Sister

That's Jaret Wright pitching in Game 7 of the '97 World Series at the ripe young age of 21. He earned the start after breaking out to lead the Indians in the postseason with a 3-0 record.

For someone who started his career with such promise and acclaim, it's a little shocking to see his career record was 68-60, with a 5.09 ERA.

Guess no one knew what the hell they were talking about back then?

Sean May

Song: "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" - Eiffel 65

May was a dominant force during the Tar Heels' run towards the 2005 national championship, dropping 26 and 10 on the Illini in the title game and leaving opposing players and coaches with nightmares about the man in Carolina Blue.

But after getting drafted by his home-state Charlotte Bobcats, May wasn't able to bring the same type of game with him to the pro ranks, which leaves us wondering what went wrong?

Rich Beem

Song: "Take On Me" - A-Ha

Beem stood up to the challenge, taking on the No. 1 player in the world (Tiger Woods) during the 2002 PGA Championship and capturing the victory.

Since then, however, he's lost his tour card, proving to be just another lucky player who happened to stroke it for four days straight and win a tournament.

It just so happened his time came during a major.

Derek Anderson

Song: "Who Let The Dogs Out?" - Baha Men

Anderson had the entire Dawg Pound cheering after his breakout 2007 Pro Bowl season, in which he led the Browns to 10-6 record, passing for nearly 3,800 yards and 29 touches, while narrowly missing out on the playoffs.

But when a new regime came in, DA was sent packing and never regained the success he had in Cleveland.

Toby Bailey

Song: "Relax" - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

During UCLA's run towards the national title in 1995, it was Freshmen Bailey who was one of the most talked about players from the tournament, scoring 26 points and grabbing 9 boards in the title game versus Arkansas.

Though he earned a national title, played four years and received numerous accolades while playing in West Hollywood for the Bruins, he never was able to translate it into an NBA career, lasting only two uneventful seasons for the Suns.

Larry Brown

Song: “It Takes Two” - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock

In fact it did take two—interceptions that is—for Brown to steal and seal Super Bowl 30 for the Cowboys away from the Steelers.

After being named the game's MVP, Brown bolted for a bigger pay-day in Oakland, only to find there wasn't as much success in the Silver and Black.

Austin Croshere

Song: "You Get What You Give" - New Radicals

Thanks to Croshere working hard and helping the Pacers get to the 2000 NBA Finals, he was given a hefty seven-year, $51 million deal with the team.

But he fell out of favor with new head coach Isiah Thomas the following year and wound up becoming an NBA journeymen, never really earning his big pay day.

Maurice Clarett

Song: “19″ - Paul Hardcastle

Ten years ago, Clarett was a one of the most electric college football players in the nation, helping lead his home-state Buckeyes to their first national title since 1970.

So what happened?

At age 19, he challenged (and failed) to overtake the NFL rule for player eligibility—saying one must be three years removed from high school—and was ruled ineligible to return to the college ranks, forcing him to sit out a year.

He then got busted with carrying a concealed weapon during a car chase, and when he finally did get drafted by the Broncos in 2005, he was unimpressive, thus getting cut by the team.

And thus, he was gone before we ever got to really know him.

Don MacLean

Song: "American Pie" - Don McLean

You know you're a one-hit wonder when the only photos anyone can find of you are from your basketball cards.

That typically means you didn't do too much through the length of your career, which, in MacLean's case, happened.

Named the '94 Most Improved Player after averaging 18.2 points—a 12-point spike from the previous year—he never once averaged more than 11.2 in his remaining seven years in the league.

Freddy Adu

Song: "Teenage Dirtbag" - Wheatus

After being signed by Major League Soccer's D.C. United at the age of 14, Adu was prompted to be the savior of American soccer and expected to popularize the sport in the States.

However, Adu seems to have fallen flat. With unremarkable results thus far in his career, he has become a forgotten man from what people had hoped.

At least he's only 23, so he still has time to prove himself.

Juan Martín Del Potro

Song: "How Bizarre" - OMC

We can probably all agree that Roger Federer is hands-down a top three tennis player of all-time, right? Winning the most major titles usually does that to an athlete.

So, when the world's No.1 lost to the up-and-coming del Potro in the 2009 U.S. Open, it was more than a little bizarre.

Sure, del Potro's currently the No. 7 ranked player in the world, but he hasn't done much since knocking off Federer.

We'd say it was just a case of "Juan and Done."

David Tyree

Song: "Unbelievable" - EMF

Tyree made what's widely considered the greatest (and most unbelievable) catch in Super Bowl history, but besides that snag have you known him to do anything else?

Neither do we, as proof by his one season in the league following the tremendous play.

Brady Anderson

Song: "Bittersweet Symphony" - The Verve

Does anyone else remember when Brady Anderson jacked 50 homers during the '96 season?

It's pretty crazy stuff considering he was a leadoff man who never belted more than 21 in a season before that.

But for whatever reason, Anderson never even came close to approaching those numbers again for the remainder of his career, so the feeling was just bittersweet.

Brian Bosworth

Song: “The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" - Timbuk 3

Besides his outrageous haircut and outgoing personality, The Boz might be best remembered for being on the wrong side of plays during his NFL career.

Bo knows.

The overhyped, two-time All-American collegiate from Oklahoma never really lived up to his billing and was forced to retire after only playing 24 professional games.

George Mason Basketball

Song: “Far From Over” - Frank Stallone

Every time the Patriots seemed to get down in their unexpected run through the 2006 NCAA Tournament, they reminded us that it was always far from over, beating the likes of powerhouses North Carolina, Connecticut and Michigan State.

They may not have made it all the way to the National Title Game, but it was definitely a team fans still talk about.

Shane Spencer

Song: "Mickey" - Toni Basil

Spencer had Yanks fans thinking they found the next Mickey Mantle after the outfielder slugged eight homers during the stretch run of September, 1998—landing him on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and earning him the nickname "Roy Hobbs", in reference to the movie The Natural because of how he hit home runs.

He was never able to crack a loaded Yanks lineup, preventing Spencer from thriving in the Bronx, and he found himself a journeyman for the remainder of his career.

Tyus Edney

Song: "I Ran (So Far Away)" - Flock of Seagulls

You know what you can do in 4.8 seconds?

Some people may be able to eat a whole hot dog.

It might take others that long to tie their shoe.

But for Edney, he ran as fast as he could, going the length of the floor for eventual champ UCLA to avoid losing in the NCAA tourney back in 1995.

After playing for three teams in four years in the pros, Edney never made a name for himself besides his Bruins days though.

Appalachian State Football

Song: “In My House” - Mary Jane Girls

The little-known school from North Carolina traveled to the Big House to take on the No. 5 Wolverines, who were bringing back seniors Chad Henne and Mike Hart, along with stud junior receiver Mario Manningham, hoping to compete for the national title.

But when the Mountaineers brought their "nothing to lose" attitude and blocked a last-ditch field goal attempt by Michigan, it was one of the great college football upsets ever.

Ryan Leaf

Song: "Party All The Time" - Eddie Murphy

After being debated with Peyton Manning over who should be the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 Draft, Leaf ultimately went No. 2, ending up with the Chargers.

We all know what happened.

Dude flamed out, thanks to clashing with teammates and partying a little too much off the field, and is widely considered one of the biggest busts of all-time.

Like others on this list, it's his lack of living up to his billing that earns him a spot.

JaMarcus Russell

Song: "I Wanna Be Rich" - Calloway

Remember how Russell was the first overall pick in the NFL Draft back in 2007? 

And how he basically stole more than $39 million for having a win-loss record of 7-18, while tossing 18 touchdown passes to his 23 interceptions in his 31 career games?

Yeah, he may not have ever had a great pro season, but the fact he was thought of as a franchise QB lands him No. 2 on our list.

Buster Douglas

Song: "Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor

Yes, that's all-around badass Mike Tyson hitting the mat after Douglas knocked him out in what turned out to be one of the biggest sports upsets in history.

Going off at 42-1 odds is never a good sign, but Douglas beat the undisputed heavyweight champ in 1990, before never really being heard from again.

Douglas was as close to a real-life Rocky as anyone in sports history.