Super Agent Leigh Steinberg

Renowned agent visits Marin

ryanmatha — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:54:21 -0700

Sports superstars’ agent speaks

By Christopher Laddish, Marinscope contributor via Twin Cities Times

Published: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:33 AM PDT

In the 1996 film “Jerry Maguire,” a slick, smooth-talking sports agent played by Tom Cruise flails his briefcase wildly after being terminated by his agency. While the movie and its memorable “flip-out” scene are fictional, the main character was inspired by real-life sports agent Leigh Steinberg.

Known as the original super-agent, Steinberg has represented more than 150 professional athletes, including sports greats such as former 49ers quarterback Steve Young, former major-league baseball player and current manager Dusty Baker and heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis.

The Southern California sports agent and attorney spoke before a general meeting of the Marin County Bar Association May 23. A crowd of more than 70 was in attendance for the engagement at the Embassy Suites in San Rafael.

Steinberg attended Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1973. Working as a graduate counselor, Steinberg met freshman football quarterback Steve Bartkowski. Steinberg was later chosen to represent Bartkowski, who in 1975 became the first pick in the first round of the National Football League draft.

“There I was, brimming with experience, having never practiced law before,” Steinberg said wryly. “But we had leverage. We ended up with the largest rookie contact in the history of the NFL.”

“I should have quit then,” Steinberg joked.

Steinberg reminisced about landing in Atlanta in 1975 with Bartkowski and being surprised by the throngs of fans and the contingent of news reporters that had gathered for their arrival. “I saw then the tremendous idol worship and the veneration athletes are held in across the country,” he said.

A strong community advocate and philanthropist, Steinberg said he always upheld the core values his father taught him, which included valuing human relationships and making positive changes in the community. The agent passed on that set of values to his clients. “I saw that practice as a way to persuade athletes to serve as role models,” Steinberg said.

Steinberg has always encouraged athletes to give back to the schools, churches and communities that helped shaped them. “I asked athletes to retrace their roots,” he said. At the collegiate level, football players Steve Young and Troy Aikman both started scholarship funds at their universities.

Cruise’s title role in “Jerry Maguire” is loosely based on Steinberg. Film director Cameron Crowe approached Steinberg in 1993. “He wanted to be a fly on the wall,” Steinberg said. Crowe spent weeks in Steinberg’s office and accompanied him to press conferences, the NFL draft in 1993 and the Super Bowl.

Steinberg also worked with directors on other sports films, including Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday” and the 1999 film “For Love of the Game,” directed by Sam Raimi.

“For me, you have to be a steward of the sport,” Steinberg said.

A longtime advocate for athletes’ safety, Steinberg said the most distressing part of his career was witnessing injuries.

“Playing football is an act of courage,” he said. “The level of contact in these sports is like getting in a car accident every time they get hit.”

Steinberg spoke candidly about his struggles with alcohol, which stemmed from the death of his father, personal financial problems and a divorce. “I turned to alcohol at those times to check out and block it all out,” he said.

In March 2010, in the midst of financial ruin, Steinberg “crashed” and enrolled himself in a treatment program for homeless addicts. “I had sold my business for $120 million, and there I was in indigent rehab. I felt I had hit rock bottom,” he said.

“Today, I’ve been sober for 795 days,” Steinberg said, drawing applause from the crowd.

Steinberg said he is coming out of bankruptcy and plans to start a new agency based on the same core values he has always held dear. “I want to stimulate the best in athletes, prepare them for a second career and try to make a meaningful change in this country.”

Contact Christopher Laddish at scope@marinscope.com.

Steinberg: It's Pilot Cup time

ryanmatha — Mon, 28 May 2012 16:49:33 -0700

May 26, 2012|By Leigh Steinberg via The Daily Pilot

Last year I had the pleasure of speaking on the field at the awards presentation for the Daily Pilot Cup. It was heartwarming to experience our community coming together to support third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders as they competed.

Daily Pilot Editor John Canalis, Sports Editor Steve Virgen and all of the giving volunteers are to be complimented for the way in which they have created this bonding event. And, major kudos to Kirk McIntosh, who takes time away from his busy law practice to serve as tournament director.

This year’s 13th annual tournament will start Tuesday and concludes June 3. The games are played in Costa Mesa on the fields at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex, Costa Mesa High and Davis Elementary School.

My children Jon, Matt and Katie spent a collective 22 years playing soccer in Newport Beach AYSO. That meant that I had years of Saturday mornings on the sidelines.

Soccer is the first organized sport that most children ever play. It is the first time they have a chance to be measured against their peers. It can be a time of extraordinary empowerment or a traumatizing crushing of their self esteem.

Coaching plays a major factor in creating the perceptual prism that kids view the experience with, and so does parenting.

Because I am concerned that how to parent children in youth sports is a rarely discussed or taught skill I co-wrote a book with Dave Smith on the subject that will be published later this year. No one instructs parents as to whether they should encourage their kids to be young Vince Lombardis and win at all costs, or if enjoying the experience is the key.

There is no “parenting license” that is required. If your son or daughter is not getting major play time, the team is losing, they are playing an undesirable position, or the coach is not nurturing – should you counsel your kids to assert themselves with the coach to improve their situation? Or, should they accept the situation and build character?

Parents can confuse their own desires to have their children be a star with the child’s actual needs.

Type A parents may try to live through their kids and be unduly prideful with success and embarrassed with anything less.

I wrote earlier this year about a time when my daughter Katie was crying on the field after her team lost in the playoffs. I ran out on the field to console her. She looked at me and said, “I’m not crying because we lost Dad, I’m crying because this means I won’t get to see all my friends on the team as much.”

We need to be careful as parents to allow our kids to chart their own paths and not impose our own reactions on theirs. Time spent watching games on the sidelines is important to our children, but not as important as one-on-one time spent with them.

Children tend to be more focused on how their parents act than on what their parents say. Kids are easily embarrassed by over-the-top parental behavior. Even worse is the parents who berate the referees or coaches. The people who coach and officiate are also busy parents who care enough to volunteer their unpaid time and energy to providing a productive learning environment for the young players. It’s about the kids, not the parents.

Some of the sideline behavior has been so distracting and negative that the Pilot Cup has actually enforced a new rule which allows the referee to penalize a team for their fans’ behavior.

Soccer can teach invaluable life skills to young participants. They can learn self-discipline, teamwork, performance under pressure, resilience and never quitting. It shouldn’t be about the winning at that young age.

Please come out and support the community spirit, good parenting and youthful exuberance that the Pilot Cup experience offers.

LEIGH STEINBERG is a renowned sports agent, author, advocate, speaker and humanitarian. His column appears weekly. Follow Leigh on Twitter @steinbergsports or blog.steinbergsports.com.

They're Baack! (Angels)

leighsteinberg — Sun, 27 May 2012 11:33:05 -0700

#Angels After a horrific team start, especially Pujols, the Angels are making a run. Pujols is pounding the ball and they are only two games below .500 and it’s only May. Texas is great again, but watch out for the Angels!

Murphy correction

leighsteinberg — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:46:02 -0700

#Tebow Murphy trashed Tim Tebow on behalf of client Mark Sanchez.

Slimey Murphy

leighsteinberg — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:44:44 -0700

#Tebow Brian Murphy,who trashed Tim Tebow on behalf of client Tim Tebow,spent his youth pulling wings off flies. Ct docs from his computer showed he “came to Steinberg’s sports firm to destroy it,steal clients.”He bragged “I will destroy LS,break up firm,destroy his marriage,ruin his reputation”&he succeeded.

"Dictator" Hilarious

leighsteinberg — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:39:45 -0700

Continuing Memorial Day movie binge, “The Dictator” was sporadically hilarious. You have to like the raunchy irreverance of Sasha Baron Cohen to appreciate it. “Borat” was one of my favorite films.

Perspective on Movie Grosses

leighsteinberg — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:37:17 -0700

The hyper-inflated movie grosses, with each one topping all time record need perspective. I paid $19.00 to see “MIB”, paid $1.50 when I was kid. “Gone With the Wind” tix were probably 35 cents. Older grosses represent many more filmgoers.

"Men in Black" Back

leighsteinberg — Sun, 27 May 2012 10:34:15 -0700

I loved the wierdness of “MIB”. 3 returns to the plotting and visual hilarity of 1.Saw it in I-MAX-3D and it felt like I was in the screen with the aliens. Different experience than 2-D normal screen.

Agreed to Autobio Deal

leighsteinberg — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:57:26 -0700

My autobiography will be published by NY publisher, co-written by Michael Arkush,now we just have to write the doggone thing. Details to follow.

Sanford's Latest "Prey" Delivers

leighsteinberg — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:48:50 -0700

Just finished the latest John Sanford procedural featuring the recurring character Minnesota State Police exec Lucas Davenport-“Stolen Prey”. Usual great characterization and taut writing.

Speaking to Marin Bar Assn. Wednesday

leighsteinberg — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:17:54 -0700

Flying to my second home, the Bay Area, to speak at the Marin County Bar Association on Wednesday at noon. Can’t wait to get back.

Speaking at UC Irvine tonight

leighsteinberg — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:16:03 -0700

Speaking tonight to the UC Irvine Finance Association in the Emerald Bay room at the Student Center from 7-8PM tonight.

Berry's "Columbus Affair" Riveting

leighsteinberg — Mon, 21 May 2012 15:05:44 -0700

Steve Berry has written a compelling new novel “The Columbus Affair” which speculates that Christopher Columbus was Jewish and forced to convert. His second in command was also a converted Jew who spoke Hebrew.

Steinberg: NBA title dreams might not be reality

ryanmatha — Sun, 20 May 2012 20:07:12 -0700

By Leigh Steinberg via The Daily Pilot

May 19, 2012 | 10:54 p.m.

It’s an exciting time for Southern California sports. Staples Center just hosted four playoff games in three days, and has two more in store Sunday. The Kings are serious contenders to win the Stanley Cup. The Lakers and Clippers, though, have a much tougher challenge ahead of them.

Having grown up in sunny Southern California, what I knew about hockey could fill about half of a thimble. But I have rooted for the Lakers since the days of Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlin and Elgin Baylor, and I have always empathized with the traditionally inept Clippers. Both teams performed better than expected in the regular season, but the playoff outlook is not bright.

The Lakers have been a premier franchise since they arrived in Southern California. They came from Minnesota, which is why perpetually drought-stricken Southern California has a team nickname connoting a life on inland water. They have won multiple NBA championships thanks to great players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. On paper, this year’s Lakers still look like they should dominate, but the series with Oklahoma City has exposed their weakness.

Center Andrew Bynum played in the All-Star game this year and forward Pau Gasol has in the past. They are tall, strong and athletic, but not consistent. Bynum takes games and plays off. He should be unstoppable offensively and defensively, but his attitude is not conducive to team play. He draws multiple technical fouls and is difficult to coach. When he decides to play well, the Lakers are successful, but he can simply disappear in games. That’s a difficult thing to do at his height.

Gasol has a better attitude but is equally streaky. He is getting older and it shows. Both players are perfect examples to younger athletes of why talent can be outplayed by desire and heart.

The Lakers, who trail the Thunder, 3-1, following Saturday night’s 103-100 collapse, have not been able to find a point guard to run the offense since the heyday of Derek Fisher. Point guards can completely alter a team, as Derrick Rose does in Chicago and Chris Paul has done for the Clippers. Ramon Sessions simply can’t keep up with the younger OKC players.

And then there’s Kobe.

He has had one of the greatest careers in the history of the NBA. His shooting has won countless games in the clutch. In this series, he has not been able to score at dramatic junctures as he has in the past.. He is still brilliant, but is also aging. Oklahoma City, with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, has been fast and accurate. It is sad to watch the Lakers struggle with a younger, more athletic team, but OKC could well win the championship.

This has been the most exciting season for the Clippers since they arrived in Southern California. The trade for Paul brought a spectacular floor leader at point guard, who has a remarkable soft shooting touch and a hyper competitive mentality. Blake Griffinmakes crowd-pleasing dunks from every angle. But Griffin is nursing a sprained knee and has not been as effective, and Paul has not been his consistent brilliant self against a seasoned San Antonio Spursteam that has won multiple championships.

The Spurs, who hold a 3-0 edge against a Clippers going into Sunday’s elimination game, may be the best coached team in the playoffs. Tim Duncan has been rejuvenated and the Clippers need DeAndre Jordan to neutralize him. The Clippers lost veteran Chauncey Billups early in the season, who would have been critical to their success in this series. The playoff inexperience of this team is no match for the well-oiled Spur machine.

It looks like our hoop dreams for the two local NBA franchises are turning into hoop nightmares. Maybe next year.

LEIGH STEINBERG is a renowned sports agent, author, advocate, speaker and humanitarian. His column appears weekly. Follow Leigh on Twitter @steinbergsports or blog.steinbergsports.com.

Black's "Bernie" Hilarious

leighsteinberg — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:07:07 -0700

Just saw new film “Bernie” with Jack Black,Shirley MacLaine,Matthew Connaghey w my son Matt and it is hilarious! Black is perfect in tale of mortician in rural Texas.

Black's "Bernie" Hilarious

leighsteinberg — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:04:53 -0700

Interview on Drew Brees' contract situation

leighsteinberg — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:25:03 -0700

Interview on Drew Brees' contract situation

Staples Craziness

leighsteinberg — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:48:11 -0700

Between the Kings,Clippers,Lakers all in playoffs Staples will host six games in four days. Great for downtown LA economy.

Caro's Latest LBJ Book Riveting

leighsteinberg — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:46:28 -0700

If you like history,politics or incisive character studies Robert Caro’s newest on LBJ “Passages” is a fascinating “can’t put down” book.It details LBJ’s 1960 Presidential run,3 frustrating VP yrs+his amazing performance in wake of JFK asassination.

Urinal Naming Rights

leighsteinberg — Sat, 12 May 2012 14:45:00 -0700

#USC Film School In the bathroom at SC Film School each of the urinals had a plaque on wall in front indicating which alum writer/director/actor donated money. What a concept in a moment that has full concentration.