Super Agent Leigh Steinberg

That same voice has symbolized continuity, history and hope since 1950. As long as Vinny is broadcasting, there is some familiar normalcy to the world. And the same holds true for the return of baseball this spring.

Radio broadcasts accompany many of us on our hours of frustration in Southland traffic and the games are sources of familiarity for family and tradition. Those who critique the more leisurely pace of baseball and the elongated season and bemoan the lack of the nonstop action that other sports provide, ignore the way in which we view baseball through the prism of past and present.

I remember my Dad taking me to Dodger and Angel games, I took my sons, they will take their kids. And it beckons back to a less frenetic time in our culture, celebrating statistics, keeping score, and treasuring memories.

Arte Moreno demonstrated once again why he is the most passionate and determined owner in Southern California sports this off-season. The Angels have not returned to their World Series level of play in the past few years. Instead of sitting on his hands and reaping windfall profits from an inferior product as other owners do, he took action.

Moreno went out in free agency and signed arguably the best player in all of baseball — Albert Pujols — to a 10-year, $240-million contract. He is taking the risk in guaranteeing a player in his early 30’s 10 years of premium pay. Who can argue that a 40-year-old player will be as productive as a 30-year-old? Time and injuries will take their toll. But for now the Angels have the most dazzling power hitter in baseball to energize their offense.

Arte wasn’t done. He added the top free agent pitcher, local product CJ Wilson, by signing him to a huge contract. CJ has the stuff to be a 20-game winner and add quality depth to a quality group of pitchers. With Cy Young contender Jered Weaver, star Dan Haren, and streaky Erwin Santana, the Angels will have a chance to win any game.

The Angels also upgraded their bullpen, which had been another weak spot. They developed a player that should have won Rookie of the Year honors in Mark Trumbo, who will now have to change positions to third base to accommodate Pujols. They have players who can get on base steadily in Peter Bourjus (a thrilling defensive center-fielder), Erik Aybar, and Howie Kendricks. And in addition to Trumbo and Pujols, they have Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter to drive runs in.

They have finally upgraded the weakest hitting catching duo in all of baseball. If Kendry Morales, who was on his way to competing for American League MVP honors when he suffered an injury that kept him sidelined for two years, should be successful in his comeback, watch for the Angels to make a run at the World Series.

As for the Dodgers, they used the off-season to do … virtually nothing. Players like Dee Gordon, an exciting shortstop rookie last year, should improve by seasoning. Andre Ethier figures to have a better year. Clayton Kershaw won the Cy Young and Matt Kemp should have won National League MVP. They are two of the best young players in all of baseball.

James Loney may return at first base to previous form. But the Dodgers did nothing to enhance their roster through free agency and have holes at many other positions, including pitching. This is Emperor Frank McCourt continuing to fiddle while a beloved franchise burns. Baseball continues to allow this travesty to continue.

So Major League baseball is back and (outside the economy), all’s right with the world.

I would like to include more local stories and issues in these columns. If you have a suggestion or idea please email me at leigh@steinbergsports.com. Thanks.

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.

The specter of athletic concussion dominates the news this week.

There are multiple lawsuits by retired NFL players moving through the courts alleging the NFL failed in its duty to warn and protect players of the short- and long-term damages that concussion posed to player health.

The league is contemplating disciplining the Cleveland Browns for leaving quarterback Colt McCoy in a game last season after they knew he had suffered a concussion.

San Diego Charger offensive lineman Chris Diehl just announced his retirement after being left in a game with damage last season.

I reached the point in the early 90’s that I could not continue to stack dollars in the bankbooks of NFL players without becoming an activist on this issue. I felt like an “enabler”, facilitating the participation of clients in an activity that carried such dire risks of long-term damage. What separates this injury from any other is the fact that it impacts memory, personality, and what it means to be a sentient human being. It is one thing to realize that collision sports risk breaking down the joints of the body in a way that will make it difficult for a father to lean over at age 40 to lift his child — it is quite another not to be able to recognize that child.

Remember always that competitive athletes are in a state of denial concerning their long-term health. They are taught from Pop Warner and Little League to ignore pain and injury. They fear losing their starting position or separation from their peers.

The concept of long-term health is an abstraction and remote concern to athletes in their teens or 20s and they blot out the risk. This is why it is incumbent on parents and family to be proactive in concussion prevention and treatment. What is significant about these lawsuits is that it is the first time that retired athletes have been open in admitting to the world some of the realities of their condition.

I was desperate with multiple concussion sufferers like Troy Aikman and Steve Young in the 90’s to find out the answers to “how many hits should be the trigger to retire” and “what the long-term impact of multiple head injuries?”

So I convened three “player safety” seminars in Newport Beach, with clients listening to neurologists as to the state of the art in knowledge. The brain is the last frontier of medical research and there were no firm answers. Six years ago I co-hosted a series of seminars with the Concussion Institute in Los Angeles and we had national press cover the latest neurological studies.

It was reported that after three concussions the risk of dementia, premature senility, Parkinson’s and depression rises exponentially. The risk of an athlete suffering a concussion in a game playing again too quickly is that “second concussion syndrome” is at risk — slowed reflexes leading to the propensity for a much reduced blow to occasion a “perfect neurological storm.”

Two in close temporal proximity multiply the impact — one plus one adds up to much more than twice the damage.

To his credit, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell convened a physicians conference and issued a “whistle blower edict” to encourage athletes to report their teammates that seemed impaired. The Berlin Wall of concussion denial fell. But with bigger, stronger, faster athletes colliding the physics of a hit changes, with more force causing worse consequences. Baseline testing, developed by Dr. Mark Lovell, which is now mandated by the NFL was a breakthrough.

Giving a cognitive test prior to an athlete going on the field of play and then being tested again after suffering a blow to the head provided the first objective way to gauge the effect of impairment. Trainers and physicians were better able to make sure that an athlete was asymptomatic at rest, on an exercise bike, and at practice before allowing them to return to play. Although the NFL receives the majority of coverage on this issue, millions of concussions occur in all collision sports at the pro, collegiate and high school level. And, that creates an especial danger for teen athletes. Their brain is still forming and the consequences of a concussion can lead to more severe consequences than to an older athlete. These teens take much longer to recover, and they are students.

There are promising supplements which have been developed, helmets are improving, and forbidding blocking and tackling with the head and neck are helpful, but nothing prevents a concussion.

It is critical that parents demand baseline testing for their teen athletes. I once proposed to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell and the CIF Medical Committee that I would be willing to fund this testing for school districts that cannot afford it. There should be a major corporation looking to safeguard our youth that can help.

Please be vigilant in protecting your children — they will not protect themselves!

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.

Consider the curious case of Ryan Braun, 2011 National League Most Valuable Player.

He was found to have violated Major League Baseball’s drug policy by testing positive for high levels of testosterone last year. The league disciplined him by suspending him for the first 50 games of this season.

An arbitrator ruled that he was not guilty because the testing company did not follow protocol when Braun’s test results weren’t sent on the same day the test took place. But MLB still believes he is guilty and plans an appeal.

Now what does he do to clear his reputation?

When the tape of the LAPD beating of Rodney King was shown endlessly, a viewer who had seen it 50 times might believe that as opposed to one unfortunate and criminal incident, the LAPD beats blacks 24/7.

When Ryan Leaf was filmed yelling at a reporter in a locker room (which happens commonly and generally leads to a quiet apology) it was shown ad nauseam. Football fans who had viewed that incident multiple times were left with the point of view that Leaf did not simply have a bad moment — he is abusive and out of control every day.

When Howard Dean raised his voice during a concession speech in Iowa in 2004, the film clip went viral — after repeat viewings voters did not feel he had an elevated moment — they felt he was intemperate and un-presidential permanently.

Braun was on top of the baseball world after a sterling season and playoffs resulting in the league’s highest honor. He is handsome and articulate and plays with reckless abandon. He gave a passionate defense in his press conference when he pointed out that his strength and speed had not improved since the alleged substance abuse and that he had tested negative multiple times. But talk radio and other media are still debating his guilt or innocence since he released his statement. He continues to have a crisis of credibility and reputation. Every time his name and performance enhancing substances are mentioned together it reinforces the linkage with his name and image.

I have helped athletes through crisis for the last 40 years and have recently been dealing with one of my own. The key to crisis management designed to minimize continuing and permanent damage is to follow a plan. When a celebrity is involved or accused of involvement in wrongdoing they should follow these steps:

*Comprehensively gather all of the facts surrounding the incident so as to be able to stay consistent and not ignore damaging facts.

*Move with speed to issue a statement — or the repetitive news cycle will compound the impact and more scrutiny.

*State the standard of proper behavior and how the individual has fallen short, “getting behind the wheel with any alcohol in my system was wrong.”

*Take responsibility and accountability for the action without blaming others.

*Apologize to those relevant constituencies who may have been especially harmed. “I apologize to the owner, coaches, players and fans.”

*State an understanding that part of the price of celebrity is being held to a high standard of behavior because of the role modeling impact.

*State the steps being undertaken to prevent a recurrence.

*Keep a lower profile for the time being.

*Perform your craft or talent at the highest level possible. Then it is possible to move on.

The American people seem to savor the fall of the high and mighty, but they also love a good comeback story.

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.

Just as we start to get despondent about a sports page that reads like the business section or even worse, the crime beat, along comes a new refreshing young star to give us excitement and hope.

Jeremy Lin is the hottest sensation in the NBA this year and his story is compelling. He grew up in Palo Alto and starred as a point guard for his high school team. His team actually beat Mater Dei High in a dramatic matchup.

The Asian-American value system and priorities are very similar to Jewish families. Family is the highest priority. Education is stressed.

Self discipline and a sterling work ethic are drilled into these kids. I grew up in a family like that and God forbid I ever brought home a grade lower than an A.

These families don’t tend to produce NBA stars.

Jeremy didn’t receive scholarship offers to play college basketball. He applied to and was accepted to Harvard University as a regular student.

He walked on the basketball team and ended up setting virtually every record in the history of Harvard basketball. In his junior year he was the only Division 1 men’s player to be ranked in the top 10 of his conference in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, field-goal percentage, free-throw percentage and three-point shot percentage.

A Harvard degree offers access to the highest level of business and political success. He had a 3.1 grade-point average in economics even with the distraction of practice and games. But Jeremy loved basketball. However, the NBA didn’t return that love and he went undrafted in the NBA Draft.

But he was determined and played in the NBA Developmental League. Only about 20% of these players ever receive an invitation to join an NBA team. The crowds are minuscule, the living conditions are hard, the average salary ranges from $12,000 to $15,000. But Jeremy had a dream.

He was finally invited to the Golden State Warriors camp. Because of the attenuated lockout and labor negotiations training camps did not allow as many chances for aspiring players to work their way on to teams.

Jeremy was cut adrift by the Golden State Warriors on the first day of training camp which made his chances of being picked up by another team very problematic. But Jeremy had a dream: to become the first Chinese-American athlete to play in the NBA. Then in December he was claimed off waivers by theHouston Rockets and lasted 12 days before being waived. He then was signed by the New York Knicksand assigned to their D League team. A couple weeks ago he was brought up by the Knicks because of an injury.

He hit the court running. He compiled the highest scoring first five games in the history of the NBA., replacing Shaquille O’Neal.

He scored 38 points against the vaunted Lakers and made their East Coast visit frustrating. It’s almost as if no one has found a way to stop him.

He has become a major media phenomenon. President Obama has called his story “one that transcends the sport itself.”

He has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The sales and traffic for the Knicks’ online store have risen more than 3,000% since his debut.

There is a Twitter page which is solely dedicated to Lin puns. He has electrified the Asian-American community. And if he continues to be this successful he will be a major Madison Avenue draw for endorsements.

Expect to see him on every national talk show.

So for any kid discouraged with lack of success and frustration in any endeavor, hang in there. Follow your dreams like Jeremy.

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.

The nasty little secret behind a portion of the popularity of the NFL is the passion for betting which generates billions of dollars every week.

When you are at a game and hear cheering after scores that seems disconnected with the action on the field — it is occasioned by the point spread. Now many of you may not know that a point spread is not an indication of what oddsmakers think in respect to the outcome on the field. It is set at the midpoint which will motivate equal numbers of bettors to back each team.

There are dozens of novelty bets on the Super Bowl game which start with which team will win the coin flip and continue on each second — how far will opening kickoff go? Who will be first player to touch the ball? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

The one action that can destroy professional sports is a connection between players, executives, agents and gamblers. The presumption is that games are played on a level playing field. If fans ever suspected that player performance and effort had anything to do with gambling, it would reduce the sport to professional wrestling status.

I have spent 40 years staying away from gamblers and betting. When I would visit a player hotel prior to the game and discover that my quarterback client had a bad thumb that was unreported but would prevent him from gripping the ball properly — that would be invaluable information to bettors. So for your entertainment only, here’s how I analyze Sunday’s Super Bowl matchup.

The New England Patriots are the most superbly run franchise in professional sports. They have a brilliant and decisive owner, outstanding player evaluation and the best coach in the NFL in Bill Belichick. He has outcoached other teams on a regular basis by designing game plans that accentuate strengths and finesse weaknesses.

Tom Brady is the Joe Montana of contemporary football, with three Super Bowl rings. He is able to elevate his play in critical situations to a transcendent level. He has multiple receiving weapons — two incredible tight ends and the best possession receiver, Wes Welker, in the game.

If Brady is given enough time he will move the team and score. The New York Giants defensive line puts a ferocious rush on the quarterback. They have the ability to put the most intense pressure on Brady that he has seen all year. He has a very quick release, but finding time to throw may be a major problem.

The New York Giants are also well-coached. Their quarterback, Eli Manning, has blossomed this year into a franchise quarterback and he already has a Super Bowl victory through clutch passing on his resume. They have a bruising rushing game. Manning has multiple targets. Wide receiver Victor Cruzhas emerged as a star.

The Patriots defense is ranked at the bottom of the NFL. If they cannot put pressure on Eli, slow down the running game and cover the fleet-footed receivers well, the Giants could score at will.

The Giants were 7-7 with two games remaining in the regular season and looked like they would not make the playoffs. But they regained momentum and have come together to play at the highest level.

The Patriots were 13-3. Arguably the Giants’ schedule was tougher and more physical.

Weather will not be a factor because the game is played in a dome. Bob Kraft has been a great friend and a creative leader among owners. He came to Newport Beach with his wife to my 50th birthday party bringing a jersey with my name on the back. He lost his beloved wife in the off-season and is a sentimental favorite. But unless they can slow down the Giants and protect Brady it may be a long day.

The other heavily contested competition is the battle of the superstar commercials on the broadcast. It costs up to $3.5 million for a 30-second spot during the Super Bowl broadcast (up from $3 million last year). Advertisers save their best and most creative concepts for this broadcast and the right ad can dynamically alter a company’s status.

This will be the first time since 1976 your correspondent has not encamped in the Super Bowl city. And the first time in 25 years not hosting the biggest day-time party of the week.

There’s always 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.

Warren Moon, the late coach Bill Walsh, Ken Dorsey and I testified before the California Senate and Assembly several years back supporting a bill by State Senator Jackie Speier to ban steroids and dangerous supplements from high school students and provide education on the subject.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the ban, but vetoed the educational component. Since the Governor profited from his ownership of magazines which advertised such substances, we were not surprised. The danger that these compounds pose requires constant vigilance.

Two groups of high school are at special risk: 1. Athletes are often told by coaches that they need to be bigger, stronger and faster without specifying the way to achieve these goals. Athletes are hyper-competitive and may seek an edge by whatever means necessary. 2. Body Builders. There is a group of young males who work to achieve a muscular and chiseled look. They compete with each other to see who can develop the most dramatic upper body musculature. They may be sublimating the stresses that adolescent hormones create.

Remember back to the dispiriting offseason of locked out players and no transactions in the NFL.

Relive the anxiety and angst surrounding whether there would be a season at all (although I wrote repeatedly it would all work out).

Recall the two incredible weeks in which every single draft pick and free agent had to be signed.

Think of the truncated training camp schedule and the number of new coaches and new systems that needed implementing. This seemed an unlikely prescription for the unprecedented success and domination that the NFL produced.

The NFL achieved a saturation which was unique — not just on Sunday, but Monday nights. The week of Sept. 6-12 the top three Nielsen rated shows were NFL games or pregame, and five of the top 10 shows overall. Half of the top 10 was the NFL prime time. And this trend continued throughout the season with NFL prime time comprising three of the top 10 shows.

Direct TV continued to expand the viewing alternatives with more innovative ways to enjoy the Sunday afternoon schedule. The NFL Network continued to build with a more limited schedule.

In the midst of the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, stadiums were filled. Sports bars were crowded. Memorabilia sales continued to soar. And fantasy football leagues grew. Millions of fans had their own teams and camaraderie with friends as they competed for bragging rights.

$3.5 million for a 30-second Super Bowl commercial is a new high. Polls indicated that the NFL was by two to one the most popular team sport.

I had thought that the advantage this season would be with established franchises with incumbent coaches, systems, and key players. Green Bay, New Orleans, New England, Baltimore, Atlanta, New York and Pittsburgh all benefited from stability. These are “gateway” teams with huge national following. But San Francisco, and colorful coach Jim Harbaugh defied all odds to provide a reinvigorated franchise and division championship in the coach’s first year. Detroit returned to national prominence. Houston took a great leap forward.

The most identifiable position on the football field by many multiples is the starting quarterback. These are the poster boys that the NFL promotes.

In an NFL that was Peyton Manning and Tom Brady dominated, bright new stars emerged. Rookie Andy Dalton resurrected the Cincinnati Bengals and led them to their first playoff in years. Rookie Cam Newton provided thrills for Carolina. Drew Brees and Aaron Rogers emerged as the new guard of quarterback excellence. Brees broke multiple passing records. Playoff teams are quarterbacked by emerging stars Matthew Stafford and Matt Ryan. Alex Smith emerged from his exile. Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning continued their steady play.

Tim Tebow became a national phenomenon, with his unbelievable fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories. Even though he returned to Earth in later games his warmth, values and tenacity made him the most talked about player of the season. And his remarkable transformations at the end of many games made “Tebow Time” must viewing. His performance in the Steeler game during wild card weekend was a revelation.

These playoffs offer exciting matchups and are attracting record viewing.

Southern California finally made real progress toward a state of the art stadium and the ability to attract a NFL franchise. The NFL continued to lift the veil of denial and confront the long term dangers of head injuries. Much work remains to be done, but the issue is front and center.

The security afforded by a 10-year collective bargaining agreement makes the future even brighter. Compensation was redirected from unproven rookie contracts to proven veteran contracts. Fans know the games will be played and all of the energy off the field of the owners and players will be focused on even more creative ways to enhance the brand. New and even more innovative revenue streams will be found.

So from an offseason mired in labor strife and doubt emerged one of the most productive and exciting NFL seasons in years.

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.

Happy New Year! Kosher Claus has returned to his secret lair until next Christmas/Chanukah season, the decorations are coming down, but there are plenty of inspirational memories from the year of sports in 2011.

The New Year affords the opportunity to review our mistakes and triumphs and resolve to be better people in the days to come. Sports has always had the power to trigger positive imitative values and model outstanding behavioral qualities — and this year had its shining examples. It provided reasons for optimism and hope.

Matt Barkley, quarterback of the USC Trojans, made a traditional values decision to return to play his senior season. He confounded cynics by putting his team, university and legacy above the lure of instantaneous financial security. He made a powerful statement displaying his character and understanding of the uniqueness of another year on campus. I believe he will be the first pick in the 2013 draft.

Tim Tebow, quarterback of the Denver Broncos, provided inspirational thrills with his capacity to elevate his play against all odds at the end of NFL games. Even if he has returned to Earth recently he was a profound inspiration to all of us who are underestimated against challenges. His faith and hope lit the darkness.

The Corona del Mar High football team won its division in fine style. The Sea Kings demonstrated how a school of diminutive enrollment could beat the odds by great coaching and teamwork.

Alex Morgan and Hope Solo led the U.S. women’s soccer team to the World Cup finals and almost beat the world at its favorite sport. It was a boost to our national pride. It is wonderful to see female athletes succeed and inspire young girls to play more sports.

Newport Harbor High pioneered progressive techniques in concussion awareness. Community support and administrative commitment decided to mandate baseline testing for all football players. The specter of concussion is a special risk for adolescents which has been covered by a blanket of denial for too long. The NFL continued to try and foster awareness and prevention among its players.

The Ocean View Little League team from Huntington Beach won the Little League World Series. The pure joy on their faces reminded us all of why we love sports.

Arte Moreno, owner of the Angels acted decisively to enhance his roster. He facilitated the return of pitcher C.J. Wilson to Orange County, as he was born in Newport Beach and played baseball at Fountain Valley and Santa Ana College. Wilson will greatly enhance the Angel pitching rotation. The signing by the Angels of arguably the best single player in baseball, first baseman Albert Pujols, shows why Moreno is an owner who cares about providing his fans with excellence on the field

The Los Angeles Dodgers did little to upgrade their team, but they did sign MVP candidate, outfielder Matt Kemp to a long-term contract. And, pitcher Clayton Kershaw won the Cy Young Award as the National League’s best. And miracle of miracles, owner Frank McCourt finally faced reality and made a decision to sell the franchise. With new ownership, the long nightmare for Dodger fans may draw to a close.

The return of the NFL to Southern California appears more likely as the AEG plan moves forward. The willingness of Farmers to pay a fortune for naming rights to Farmer’s Field in downtown Los Angeles helps make the deal a reality. I still appreciate the effort of the Roski group. We may get two new franchises.

After years as the Bermuda Triangle of the NBA — the place great players go to disappear — the Los Angeles Clippers amazed the league and their fans by completing a successful trade for the best point guard in basketball, Chris Paul. Their roster includes young superstar forward Blake Griffin, veteran star guard Chauncey Billups and an exciting young center DeAndre Jordan. Dare I write that the Clippers have an excellent chance to make the playoffs? They do.

Sports institutions finally were forced to confront the fact that they should not be safe havens for predators.

And, your correspondent learned a lesson in being a better financial steward and not to trust the advice of counsel when it comes to attending hearings.

Looking forward to another year of stimulating discussions on issues from the world of sports.

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.

Kosher Claus wants to wish all of his readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah.

My father wanted us to feel comfortable in a primarily Christian country and we were the luckiest kids in the neighborhood. We received presents for eight nights of Chanukah and then found stockings and more gifts on Christmas morning. I figured out later that my Dad really liked dressing up as Santa Claus and loved to give gifts.

Remember the spirit of the holidays — love, family, faith as well as food and presents.

One Christmas gift that came early to Southern California sports fans — except for Bruins — was the announcement that Newport Beach resident Matt Barkley had made the decision to return for his final year of college football at USC.

It is a testimony to the quality of his character and love for his school that he returned. This should be heartwarming news. But already the media is filled with critical commentary, questioning the judgment of a young man passing up untold certain riches as he embarks on a final year filled with risk.

With the advent of modern pass-oriented NFL offenses, the position of quarterback has become the most critical role in all team sports. History has shown that Super Bowl-bound teams with few exceptions, are successful with “franchise” quarterbacks at the helm.

A franchise quarterback is a player a team wins “because of,” rather than “with.” He is someone who a team can build around for 10 to 15 years. Think John Elway, Brett Favre, Troy Aikman, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. They made multiple Super Bowl appearances.

It is the hardest position in football to fill. It requires astute talent assessment and luck in the draft to secure. The developmental process in the first few years is crucial.

In 1999, Tim Couch was the first pick in the first round, Donovan McNabb was second, Akili Smith third, Dante Culpepper and Cade McNown were picked soon after — those players should be playing at a high level right now. None of them are on an NFL roster.

There is pressure to start a highly drafted quarterback in the rookie year because of salary cap limitations among other reasons. It takes time to develop field command and read defenses.

If a young quarterback doesn’t have a good running game and defense and is forced to handle a complex offense he can commit multiple mistakes and have his confidence ruined. The media takes all of a month to judge a rookie a bust when it takes a number of years to develop.

For all of these reasons Matt Barkley would be taken near the top of the 2012 NFL Draft by a team that needs a franchise quarterback.

Barkley would excel in the postseason scouting process. He would light up an All-Star game, dominate the scouting combine, and teams would fall in love with him at Pro Scouting Day. He has outstanding arm strength, pinpoint accuracy, great field command, good mobility and all of the requisite leadership qualities.

The Oregon game film alone would have scouts drooling.

Barkley has impeccable character, strong speaking skills, and great leadership qualities. He improves every year. So when an NFL team is projecting the next 10 to 15 years of Barkley as its quarterback, it will do it with excitement and confidence.

He would have received a large signing bonus and given Andrew Luck a run for the money as a possible first pick in the draft.

Barkley knows all that, and he decided to return to USC.

That he would be criticized for a risky decision shows just how distorted values have become around sports.

Pundits are pointing out that he could be injured next year and never make it to the pros. Or he could have a mediocre year and end up lower in the draft like Matt Leinart.

Barkley knows all that and has made a heartwarming, inspirational decision based on his own value system. He clearly values education, the college experience, staying with his teammates and helping his university achieve more success above short-term dollars. He comes from a strong and grounded family and had the freedom to make a decision based on his own internal compass rather than a vote of football experts

This is the kind of young man that made us all sports fans in the first place. Fans have been dispirited by the perception that all athletes care about is money and fame.

Barkley is a shining beacon of good values and priorities. He is choosing to fulfill his scholarship promises and having the full measure of the college experience.

I have seen the influence that athletes can have as role models. I have helped them set up high school and collegiate scholarships and foundations that tackle causes they care about.

Barkley is making a powerful statement in a money-mad society about the ability to choose his own path.

Southern California sports fans have much to be happy about this holiday season — Chris Paul making Clippers relevant, Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson making the Angels a contender — but the most inspirational event of them all is Barkley’s wonderful decision to return to USC for his senior season.

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.

There is a theory that God created the concept of time so everything wouldn’t happen at once, but the dizzying pace of announcements regarding the Southern California sports scene last week defied that principle.

A series of events altered the landscape dramatically and should provide enhanced thrills for local sports fans.

Arte Moreno, owner of the Angels, has demonstrated his passion for winning and concern for the fans throughout his tenure. The two-year absence of MVP candidate first baseman Kendry Morales contributed to a power drain this past season that enabled the Rangers to take their second straight title. There was one franchise altering free agent available this year — Albert Pujols, who appears on his way to the Hall of Fame. His ability to dominate a game with powerful hitting is unequaled.

Moreno stepped to the plate, and $254 million later the Angels pulled off the deal of the year in baseball by signing Pujols to a long-term deal.

Mark Trumbo, incumbent first baseman, came close to Rookie of the Year honors, having the two sluggers at the same position is what is called a quality problem.

But wait (as they say on late-night infomercials), there’s more. The Angels then signed C.J. Wilson, arguably the best free agent pitcher available. That gives them a rotation of Jered Weaver, Dan Haren, Wilson and Erwin Santana.

I’ve been a fan of the Angels since 1961 when they had Little Albie Pearson, “Daddy Wags,” Bo Belinsky and Eli Grba (the only player to have a last name starting with three consonants). My father was a die-hard Angel fan and I wish he would was alive to see this season.

The Dodgers, the most beloved franchise in the history of this area, did nothing to enhance their team at the league meetings. That cracking sound you hear is the shifting of SoCal baseball primacy in the direction of Anaheim.

Jerry Buss of the Lakers has rebuilt a team that shifted from the dominance of West/Baylor/Chamberlain to Kareem/Magic/Worthy to Shaq/Kobe to Kobe/Gasol/Bynum, with aggressive moves over and over. The Lakers made a trade to bring Chris Paul, the most talented young point guard in the NBA, into a pairing with Kobe Bryant that would give them the most devastating backcourt in basketball. In steps commissioner David Stern, whose intransigence delayed and complicated the CBA negotiations, to veto the trade.

This was a move pressured by so-called small market teams to prevent the continuance of super franchises like the Lakers and the Heat. Dan Gilbert owner of the Cavs, and Mark Cuban, owner of the Mavericks (since when did NBA champ Dallas become a small market) led the revolt.

Ironically, there are NBA observers who argue the trade favored New Orleans, a rebuilding team which would have gotten four starters for their franchise. Some argued that the Lakers would be giving away their rebounding and defensive power in the middle by trading Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, and that Andrew Bynum is not dependable.

The Lakers ended their pursuit of Paul. They are trying for Orlando Magic superstar forward Dwight Howard. However this plays out, the Lakers figure to be more exciting this year.

UCLA football has been in the doldrums for some years now. This is the program that produced multiple high round draft picks and Rose Bowl wins in the 80’s and 90’s. Troy Aikman, Freeman McNeill, Kenny Easley, Gaston Green, Mike Sherrard, Eric Turner were players very competitive with USC. Why Rick Neuheisel didn’t succeed was a great puzzlement. This was same Neuheisel who coached Aikman to greatness, made Kordell Stewart a star at Colorado, was a noted offensive genius with great recruiting skills. But he could not get a Luck, Barkley type of quarterback to come to the program, and even though football is a team game, a productive quarterback is a must. Rick had the background, skill set, passion to lead a dynasty, and his behavior post-firing showed real character, but something didn’t work.

My parents hauled me to Bruin games in the 50s in the Coliseum, where Red Sanders coached the single wing. Please don’t revoke my citizenship status in this area, known as “SC heaven” because my parents had five UCLA degrees between them. UCLA has been competitive with USC in the past. But the 50-0 shellacking in the USC game was the last straw for alumni and the athletic department.

Many have criticized the UCLA athletic department for lacking the commitment and resources to build a plan for football success. UCLA seems to have been turned down by major coaches like Chris Peterson of Boise State and Al Golden of University of Miami. They have selected Jim Mora Jr., former NFL coach of the Falcons and the Seahawks, as their new coach.

This selection will not evoke great excitement among UCLA fans. But these hirings are difficult to predict. When Pete Carroll was hired by USC, the anger of fans was displayed for some time. He was excoriated in the local papers, talk radio, letters sections as a “out-of-work retread” who was not up to SC standards.

Three years later he could have run for mayor of Los Angeles. The NCAA violations are a separate and troubling issue, but when it came to on-the-field excellence, he was a perfect choice. It wouldn’t be hard to get his early critics to admit it now.

And that was the week that was — changing the face of our sporting scene.

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.