With four of the five Dillo Day acts still unannounced, it got us thinking: who could Mayfest possibly be waiting for? And then it hit us. Maybe the acts are famous (or infamous) athletes-turned-singers who have busy schedules and can't confirm until the last minute. Not every sporty singing act can perform like the Atlanta Falcon's D-line, but we think some singers would make 2014's Dillo Day one you may actually remember.
Shaquille O'Neal
by Andrew Simpson
Guys. It’s Shaq. That’s the only reason you need. Who cares that it’s been 16 years since his last album, or that he somehow earned a doctorate and prefers going by Dr. O’Neal. If you’ve seen Shaqtin’ a Fool recently, you know Shaq is still a performer at heart. You want to know why Shaq has gold and platinum certified albums? The same reason Mayfest needs to bring Shaq to Dillo Day: everyone is willing to pay to see this guy dress like a ninja and rap about being “hardcore.”
Omar Jimenez
by Shannon Lane
Okay, so he's not technically on the Northwestern basketball team anymore, but he left the team presumably to pursue his passions for reporting and rapping. What better athlete-turned-singer to have perform at Dillo Day? He's a student rapper, after all, and a student rapper who isn't Chet Haze. Last summer he proved his chops on "The Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon" and won an on-air rapping competition. This June, it's only logical to assume he can do it again. On stage, he goes by O.J. Tropicana, promising a refreshing performance on Dillo.
Victor Oladipo
by Grant Rindner
He may have been snubbed for 2014 Rookie of the Year, but at least Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo has his surprisingly strong singing voice. Oladipo, who spent three years at Indiana and wound up as the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft thanks to his brilliant junior season, never missed an opportunity show off his pipes in Bloomington. He serenaded crowds of Hoosier fans at annual events like the Spirit of Indiana or Hoosier Hysteria, ripping through classics like Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and Usher's "U Got It Bad." R&B has always been a genre lacking from Dillo Day lineups; he'd be perfect for the late afternoon slot when people want a little bit more relaxing of a soundtrack for their time on the Lakefill.
Charles Barkley
by Ben Sanders
Simply put, there’s no one quite like him. On the court, he scored over at least 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. On TV, he’s somehow been able to maintain his career as a sports commentator despite numerous legal infractions, calling himself a dumbass on national TV, never actually talking about basketball and continuously botching the English language. Yet, there's something inherently entertaining about him. So, how great would it be if he took the stage on Dillo Day and performed his hit single “Turrible”? The crowd would lose it, and it might be as funny as his golf swing. Okay, nothing is as funny as that.
Bow Wow
by Ellen Schmitz
(Formerly) Lil' Bow Wow didn’t need snazzy shoes or electricity to tear up the rap game in Like Mike. Sure this guy isn’t really a pro athlete, but basketball is his favorite sport (he likes the way he dribbles up and down the court). And he’s a king on the microphone. Dillo, in short, would be ballin'. Adopting Bow Wow may be the best decision NU has made in awhile. This dawg isn’t lil' anymore, and he’s only getting better with age. Maybe he still has those shoes. And maybe he’ll leave them for our team. And maybe we'll be like Mike.
The Manning Brothers
by Shannon Lane
If hearing three-time Super Bowl champs Peyton and Eli Manning didn't change your entire NFL experience, you're lying. Listening to football's royal family (yes, Archie made an appearance, and it was awesome.) rap about "Football on your Phone" with those wigs and costumes has to rank up there with each of them hoisting the Lombardi trophy. Your phone is for footballing, after all, not calling. If they could add a few more beats to their repertoire, they could make an interesting and hilarious case for a spot on the Dillo Day stage.
1985 Chicago Bears
by Jasper Scherer
Mike Ditka’s 1985 Chicago Bears squad went 15-1 in the regular season and won Super Bowl XX behind one of the best defenses of all time, but the team’s legacy endures through its famous video, “The Super Bowl Shuffle.” The video’s awesomeness is a little overwhelming, from Mike Singletary’s bizarre glasses to punter Maury Buford rocking the cowbell. Somehow, the song is actually really catchy. Between the awkward solo raps and running back Calvin Thomas’ magnificent saxophone playing, the Bears show they were the best team in the league on the field and in the music studio. The only thing missing from the video is Coach Ditka himself.