Glenn Frey, founding member of iconic rock band The Eagles, died Monday at age 67, and although he was best known for co-writing hit songs such as “Hotel California and “Take It Easy,” among many others, he also was an enormous sports fan.
Frey was a star wrestler at his suburban Detroit high school and carried his love for sports throughout his life, even earning the nickname “Sportacus.” Frey was a Los Angeles Lakers season-ticket holder and even appeared in “Jerry Maguire” and “Arli$$,” a movie and a TV series, respectively, about sports agents.
Frey touched on his passion for sports in a 1982 interview with Oui magazine after a meeting with tennis star John McEnroe was mentioned.
Q: Speaking of John McEnroe, you’re a sports freak in general. I’ve seen you play baseball, and you take it all very seriously, don’t you?
“Yes, I’m quite a fanatic.”
Q: I remember your saying once that you would have loved to have been a sports star, but you were too short.
“I think I should have been bigger. I need to be about 6-foot-1 and 190.”
Q: You also said that you were glad that God had endowed you with the gift of music because it was easy to get girls. (Laughs.)
“I’m also fiercely competitive. Well, that helps in this business, too.”
Q: Do you think you chose the right profession? (Laughs.)
“Well, I’ll tell you, some mornings I’ve wondered. (Laughs.) At night, it always seems right.”
Later in life, Frey enjoyed appearing on sports talk shows, discussing anything from music to basketball.
Photo via NewsOn6.com
