John McEnroe accepted spiritual guidance from Jimmy Buffett.
The former tennis star appeared at “Keep The Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett,” an event commemorating the life of the late great singer at the Hollywood Bowl on Thursday night, and spoke about how their friendship helped him learn how to chill out.
“He’d say, ‘Relax, man! You’re too f–king wound up!’ ” McEnroe told the audience at the tribute event, as covered by PEOPLE. “And of course he was right. So about the last 15, 20 years since I’ve been around Jimmy, I’ve tried to live by his credo.”
McEnroe, who won seven Grand Slams, was infamously prone to temper tantrums on the tennis court, including when he cursed out the official at the 1987 U.S. Open and received a two-month suspension and $17,500 fine (about $50,000 in today’s money).
Buffett, on the other hand, was known for his relaxing tunes such as “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
“I think Jimmy probably had more friends and more fans than anyone I know, and I’m proud to say I was a friend of his,” McEnroe continued at the tribute event.
“The guy always had a twinkle in his eye,” he continued. “He always had a smile on his face. He always seemed to be having such a damn f–king good time.”
He said later, “I mean, one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met is Jimmy Buffett, and I’m glad that I’m here tonight.”
Buffett died of skin cancer at his home in Sag Harbor in September.
He was 76 years old.
McEnroe, 65, is a tennis analyst for ESPN’s tennis major coverage.