11/14/2008

in

Hoops star listens to rappers and crooners.

Jill Marino

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers is a tough guy on the court. So it's a surprise to hear that he has Barry Manilow on his iPod.  
  
After an interviewer told James that Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets (a friend of James), said last year that he listened to Manilow, the interviewer asked James if he also had the singer on his iPod.  
  
James scrolled through his playlist during the interview and said, "Nope. No Brian Manilow." When he realized his mistake, he smiled and said, "Oh, Barry Manilow. I was talking about his cousin."  
  
Such Manilow tunes on his iPod include "Mandy," "Copacabana," and "I Am Your Child." But don't think he listens to the easy listening crooner to get pumped before playing.  
  
The Associated Press reported that that honor goes to rapper Jay-Z, who is a good friend of the basketball superstar. James says that the Brooklyn-born rapper is usually always his choice to listen to before playing.  
  
However, he is open to pretty much anything in the music world. "I got all music," he said.  
  
But a rapper's delight is number one. He added, "I'm just going to listen to Jay-Z for right now."