MIAMI (AP) - Carlos Arroyo was headed to play a game with Puerto Rico’s national team earlier this summer, when a song he particularly liked started blaring on the radio.
His own song.
The Miami point guard hasn’t had much spare time this summer, what with playing for his country, working out a new deal to remain with the Heat _ plus writing and recording his own music, a part-time gig that’s turning into something more. Arroyo’s new release is called “Se va Conmigo,” which translates into “She’s coming with me,” and it’s one of the hottest new songs on the reggaeton charts.
“It’s my hobby, but like my wife said, at first it’s a hobby and now you’re doing music videos,” Arroyo said. “It’s a different satisfaction that I get out of it.”
The single, which Arroyo recorded with fellow artist Yomo at a South Florida studio just after this past Heat season ended, recently was one of the top 20 offerings among Latin sales on iTunes. The music video will start getting sold on iTunes around the end of this week, and Arroyo says he’s as proud of his off-court work as his real job.
And yes, there’s plans for his music career to continue after his playing days end.
“I’ll definitely do some more,” Arroyo said. “The people have embraced the song very well back home. I’ll be honest, I’m really happy with what the song has done on iTunes. It’s been a blessing. And I’m moving forward with this.”
Arroyo has been around music all his life, and this isn’t his first foray into recording _ which tends to make him susceptible to good-natured ridicule in NBA locker rooms.
He knows it’s all in good fun, and expects it to continue this season, especially because “Se va Conmigo” has been a success.
“That’s all part of it,” Arroyo said.
Arroyo’s ties run deep in Miami, where the Latin culture overshadows just about everything.
He played college basketball at Florida International, and after he joined the Heat, a number of fans showed up at every game either displaying the Puerto Rican flag or some other signs of his homeland.
Which makes this summer all the more significant for Arroyo.
He’ll lead his national team into the world championships that begin later this month, and do so buoyed by the fact that the new song has made him even more popular _ if that’s possible _ in his country.
“Reggaeton is the music of my country,” Arroyo said. “This is what the people my age are listening to, my people. It’s what I listened to growing up. Music and basketball, it’s a great mix. I feel very fortunate that I can go to a national team game in Puerto Rico and on the way to the game I can hear myself on the radio. It’s crazy. It’s overwhelming. It’s a blessing.”
Really, the whole summer has been that way for Arroyo.
He appeared in 72 games and made 35 starts at point guard for Miami last season, then decided to return to the club after a brief stint as a free agent. He averaged 6.1 points and 3.1 assists, plus had a stellar 4.17 assist-to-turnover ratio.
So by coming back to the Heat, Arroyo gets to join the most-talked about team in the NBA this summer, after Miami not only kept Dwyane Wade but lured LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Florida _ turning the team into an instant title contender.
“It’s been a great summer for me,” Arroyo said. “We’ve gotten to play in Puerto Rico, which we hardly ever do. People are getting to know the music side of me, and then with me signing with Miami, everybody in Puerto Rico might be more excited about that than anything. Right now, all eyes of the world are on that basketball team. So to have one of ours on that team, it’s truly a great opportunity for our people.”
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