Photo by Saul Young, Knoxville News Sentinel
Tennessee's Renaldo Woolridge, playing for the HT Group in the Rocky Top Basketball League celebrates after scoring against Richardson Construction.
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News Sentinel blogger Michael Silence says If this doesn't get you psyched, check your pulse.
See Swiperboy's MySpace page and his YouTube Channel
Tennessee basketball player Renaldo “Swiperboy” Woolridge sang “Yes I can” in his latest YouTube rap video, and then he did another video explaining why.
Woolridge is the Vols’ athletic community’s answer to the growing trend of young artists who share their crafts on the Internet, be it producing music or skits.
YouTube, MySpace, Twitter — Woolridge has his own place on all — and he’s not afraid to share them.
The son of former NBA All-Star Orlando Woolridge, Renaldo Woolridge has been rapping in talent shows since he was 10 years old, and he did a rap for a TV ad featuring Skippy Peanut Butter when he was 13.
Woolridge’s latest rap video, “Yes I can,’’ pays homage to all of UT’s varsity sports with lyrics and a video picture montage featuring current and past Vols’ greats.
“Ready for competition, and we’re steady on a mission, Bruce Pearl, Pat Summitt and welcoming Lane Kiffin...’’ Woolridge raps in the song.
The opening line, however, drew criticism.
Woolridge begins “Yes I can’’ by saying: “They say the sign of a true champion, is the work you’re willing to put in.’’
Apparently, some have taken the UT sophomore to task, questioning why he’s writing and producing music rather than practicing his basketball game in the gym.
Woolridge’s new video, “Swiperboy addresses the big question” features Woolridge talking into the camera in a 2 minute, 51-second explanation videoed in black and white.
“There’s been a lot of people talking about what I do musically in my free time, and a lot of critics say why don’t I put that time into my work in the gym working on my game,’’ Woolridge said. “...people don’t understand I’m not the type to go out to parties...I’m more of a person who’s a little more to myself as far as that aspect is concerned.
“When people say, `Why isn’t he putting that time in the gym,’ I look at y’all and ask you, ‘Why can’t I have free time to do something that I love?’‘’
Woolridge said he doesn’t feel he, or anyone else, should be criticized for doing something that’s different.
“There are kids out there with all kinds of talents...I just kind of find it funny because the second that it’s something different that they do, it’s looked down upon,’’ he said. “...to the haters out there I just want to let y’all know I’m going to keep doing it because it is what I do in my free time.’’
Woolridge performed a rap with Bruce Pearl and teammate Bobby Maze at the annual Volscars show, a presentation put on in April by UT athletes at the Vols’ athletic sports banquet.
He’s expected to play a backup role for the Vols’ basketball team this season, playing behind senior Tyler Smith at forward.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 45
hotrodvol writes:
GO VOLS!!! Yeah it fired me up. Can't wait until kick off now. How long is it Gerry?
TSNSD4UT writes:
nah didn't do it for me let's just do it on the field,court,pool,gym were ever you no.
TommyJack writes:
And I thought I hated rap....
TennVolAlum writes:
Pretty good. I would have rather seen action clips set to this tune, versus still pictures. That would have made this a hell of a lot better. go vols!
wtvol writes:
Sorry, I'm too old for rap. It would have been great without the words, or as TennVolAlum said, "with action clips".
BigOrangeVol writes:
YES I CAN!!!
Dang, Renaldo's got legit skills off the court!
The Answer/Swiperboy/Lil' 'O needs to bring it ON THE HARDWOOD this season.
I sure hope that this isn't some stupid NCAA violation.
y9since80 writes:
Im with you TJ, if this had been Gator song I believe I would have puked.
BigOrangeVol writes:
At 50, my playlist is mostly pre-1977 so Rap is beyond my purvey of expertise but show Renaldo some love. He's made a strong video that promotes UT in a very positive light. After this season when Bird and J.P. are gone...we've only got Renaldo and Hops to take their places. Support our VOLS!
Digger writes:
Would have been nice if KNS warned of the bad language on the site.
Down_The_Field writes:
......a new day......a new dawn.....it starts today.......fear the kiffin
golfballs03 writes:
what?
GerryOP writes:
And the journey begins...
32 -- Fear The Kiffin...
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
Diver but no swimmers? Nice to see most of the sports. Looking forward to a great Tennesse sports year!!! Go Vols!!!
pventimi#592480 writes:
Um, what bad language?
There was no bad language in this.
LDDFC912 writes:
THAT was Gangsta. Go swiperboy! Do Work!
OakyVol09 writes:
I have to say I liked it. Good beat and great subjest matter!!
the10sevol writes:
not a rap fan (blues for me, thanks), but i liked it. you guys tellin' me this kid is a Vol b-baller? cool...
GBO
tino2009 writes:
you want clips..check this one out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThXJG1...
lail#204076 (staff) writes:
We're updating this with a longer story from Mike Griffith, Enjoy!
flashbone writes:
yes we can
bigaldaddy writes:
hE HAS SHOWN THAT HE CAN RAP, NOW LET HIM SHOW THAT HE CAN ACTUALLY PLAY BASKETBALL.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Looks like the kid has some entertainment production skills, but I'd like to see a little more production on the court this season. At this point, I would have to say he has a much better shot at a music career than he does at a basketball career, but, you never know, he might surprise us all this year.
UTBEATEMALL writes:
I simply wish everyone could focus on being happy more! This kid is very talented and I am very proud to have him be a part of the UT family! Life lesson for Renaldo would be to never focus on the critics. In the public eye there will always be critics. If you want to be happy in life, the best thing you can do is focus on those supporting you and ignore the "haters"!
VOLKING writes:
How original of you. Yawn.
Orangeblood13 writes:
isn't it nap time little one?
Take your tired ole Pearl bashing to bed with all your other stupid remarks. It has gotten lame and old.
reidtownriverrat writes:
the whole team needs to be in the gym, they are physically weak looking. need to man up get some muscle then go compete.
smyrnavol writes:
somewhere down the road tarheelfool got cut from a girls summer league team coached by Bruce Pearl, and he's very very bitter. anywho GO VOLS!!!
GreerVol22 writes:
Only one excuse Heel, no point guard..the rest is just semantics.
GreerVol22 writes:
BTW, there are plenty of worse things Wool could be doing....
vol4gzus writes:
Geaux ahead and hang up....we will listen to Vol Fans. If all you can do is bash Coach Pearl you have no credibility. The question of going to the next level might be legit ,but this is an article On Woolridge. So on topic do your thang musically and do your thang on the bball court this fall to quiet them all.
TommyJack writes:
Does Rap require talent?
TommyJack writes:
He's no tarheel.
Slystone writes:
Couldn't agree more with you. Enough of the side bar hobbies. Yeah the kid can flow, but let's see how this translates out on the floor during a real game.
Slystone writes:
Anyone know why Pearl is not recruiting Casey Prathers out of Jackson,Tn area? Check out this short piece on him:
After averaging just more than 20 points per game in the adidas Super 64 event, four-star forward Casey Prather picked up an offer from Florida to go along with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Memphis, Michigan, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wake Forest. Ahhh... no offer from UT? The schools offering appear to be fairly good schools with excellent basketball programs. Is anyone not concerned that Pearl's recruiting class for 2010 might be taking a step back? Or is everyone inudated with Football right now? Just asking.
.
TSNSD4UT writes:
WD put some that shake in the ladys ragu then you be tight.
oldvolsfan writes:
go back in your cave numnuts
oldvolsfan writes:
NO OFFERS FROM THE TARHEELS go back to sleep numnuts
golfballs03 writes:
Luke Walton made a music video. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtUI5M...
tndrum#214683 writes:
Witch Doctor is rapping machine.
Bones may have lied bout a few things, but not this.
vol52 writes:
Renaldo has creativity and increased my desire for the VOLS of all sports to get cranking.
seventysevenvol writes:
Great comment!!!
golfballs03 writes:
Some Vandy player made a music video about their sports teams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXa9tX...
VOLDoll writes:
I hate to admit it but listening to everyone at my husbands club has me convinced that coach Pearl has taken us as far as he is capable or willing to. This year was a crucial year on the recruiting trail and he was more concerned with his own agenda than UT's.
Seems like he is just using UT as a stepping stone for his career. If this is true my husband and his friends will be very happy.
Vol_Jokes writes:
I'm just wondering why you people claimed the Tigers team of the last several years was full of thugs. Seems every vol basketball player has a rap video these days. Tattoos to match and a criminal record to go along with it. Yet, I read thru the comments and everybody is talking about how good his rap video is. Give me a break. Vol Jokes. By the way what will your excuse be for Pearl at the end of next season? You always come up with something. Sooner or later you'll all figure out that he's not going to take you any further than he already has. He's raking in the money and not really doing much of anything. Two seasons ago he had a good season going until that collapse after the memphis game. Since then..nothing... nothing but pay raises.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You must really be a barrel of laughs to hang out with if this is the way you talk to someone who actually AGREES with you! Sheesh!
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