Persistence, self-belief and hard work are what have helped musician, actor, former professional tennis player, current Serra Mesa resident and the creator of the new San Diego Gulls anthem, Eric Sage, succeed in life.
He grew up playing tennis and became a world-ranked player, but at age 23, he was in a car accident that ended his professional tennis career abruptly.
“That was obviously devastating, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve literally put my entire life into tennis,” Sage said, who attended San Diego State University on a scholarship.
Sage said he had done some acting as a child, so he hired an agent and started getting some work to make ends meet. One of the roles he said he earned was the store clerk enforcing the “No Stairway to Heaven” rule in the movie “Wayne’s World,” which was released in 1992. He said he also taught tennis to various people in Los Angeles, including George Clooney and Alec Baldwin, to earn extra money.
Sage later realized he didn’t want to teach tennis for the rest of his life, because even though “it was nice to help,” people, he really wanted to follow his love for music. His father was a singer in a band, so music was always around him as he grew, he said.
“I also just loved how music can provide energy, like the way rock music did for me before tennis matches,” Sage said.
He took music lessons to learn to sing and play instruments such as the piano in his mid-20s because he wanted to become a professional musician, but was met with negative feedback. He said he was taking music and singing classes at night and teaching tennis in the day for about 10 years, adding that he knew he was “climbing this crazy mountain” to get to the level he needed to get to become a professional musician.
Fast forward to today, and Sage is an accomplished international touring country rock artist and songwriter who has made music and performed with members of Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe and The Beach Boys. His most recent success story is curating the new anthem for the San Diego Gulls, “Rise Up San Diego.”
The collaboration came to be after Sage and his band played at a few Gulls games last season. He said Dave DesRochers, game operations senior manager for the Gulls, loved his original song “American Way” and asked if he could create an original song with a similar stadium rock anthem vibe for the team’s 10th anniversary as an American Hockey League franchise.
“It was a full circle moment for me,” Sage said. “I also grew up playing hockey until I was about 12 years old. I got into a bench-clearing brawl, and at the end of the game, my dad took me aside and he said, ‘You know, you’re doing some acting, and you’re a nice-looking kid. We want you to have your teeth when you’re older, so we’re gonna have you playing tennis only.’”
Sage said the song “Rise Up San Diego” was completed in a few short weeks, is now playing at Gulls’ home games, and he will be performing the song live at the Dec. 13 game.
“This song is special because it combines the spirit of classic stadium rock with a message rooted in city pride and team energy,” Sage said, adding the song was recorded at The Music Company, a local non-profit in San Diego, and he was able to get a record deal with Pacific Records because of the song, thanks to its founder Brian Witkin, and the affiliation with the Gulls.
Sage speaks and sings highly of San Diego because he has lived in Serra Mesa for over 20 years with his wife and has started a family here.
“We live in this community that’s kind of tucked away,” Sage said. “It’s got lovely houses, a couple of pools, tennis courts where I was able to teach my daughter the game and canyons with hiking trails. It’s a beautiful little neighborhood that’s really nicely kept. I also love to golf and there is Stadium Golf Center, near where we live.”
Here are a few more places Sage recommends visiting while in and around Serra Mesa.
Eric Sage is an internationally touring country-rock singer, Pacific Records recording artist and former world-ranked tennis professional. (Dena Meeder)
Q: Where is your favorite dining option?
A: For a nice dinner, I like the Butcher Shop. The food is great, and it has a nice romantic atmosphere. Everyone there is very nice, and it has a good vibe. The prime rib is kind of what they’re known for. It’s really good. That’s pretty much what I go for. For a more casual meal, Obi’s Sushi and Casa Machada are great. At Obi’s Sushi, I recommend the samurai plate. It’s nice because it has different stuff like nigiri, a hand roll, four California rolls and four spicy tuna rolls.
Q: What is your favorite small retail business or pop-up vendor to support?
A: Anna Tailor Cleaners. May is the owner of Anna Tailor in the Serra Mesa area and she is wonderful. She alters and tailors my stage clothes and does a great job. She is always very kind and friendly.
A hiker walks on Fortuna Saddle Trail on the west side of Mission Trails Regional Park on Nov. 30, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
People walk at the West Fortuna Staging Area at Mission Trails Regional Park on Nov. 30, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
People ride bikes in Mission Trails Regional Park at the Clairemont Mesa Trailhead on Nov. 30, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
People walk in Mission Trails Regional Park at the Clairemont Mesa Trailhead on Nov. 30, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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A hiker walks on Fortuna Saddle Trail on the west side of Mission Trails Regional Park on Nov. 30, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Q: Where is your favorite open space?
A: Mission Trails Regional Park. Mission Trails is a great place to go for a nice little hike or a beautiful little walk. I’ll go with my wife, and we’ll take our dogs sometimes. It’s always a relaxing time, and you get to see lots of the San Diego community on the trails
Q: Where is the best piece of artwork?
A: That’s another thing I love about San Diego, all of the amazing artwork like the one, “Greetings From Serra Mesa.” And there is the St. Columba School mural in Serra Mesa. It’s a collaborative project involving over 120 students from kindergarten to eighth grade. I love it when kids get involved in art. It’s a wonderful way to get their creative minds working together. … I like that when people come to visit our town, they see how unique and beautiful it is.