Leigh Steinberg
| Leigh Steinberg | |
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| Born | Leigh William Steinberg March 27, 1949 Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. |
| Occupation | Sports Agent, Lawyer |
| Years active | 1974-present |
Leigh William Steinberg (b. March 27, 1949 in Los Angeles, California) is an American sports agent and sports lawyer. His client list has included Steve Bartkowski, Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Kordell Stewart, Jeff George, Ben Roethlisberger, Myron Rolle, Matt Leinart, Mark Brunell, Ricky Williams, Howie Long, Eric Karros, Dusty Baker, Lennox Lewis, Oscar de la Hoya and John Starks.
Steinberg is often credited as the real life inspiration of the sports agent from the film Jerry Maguire.[1]
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[edit] Background
Steinberg was born and raised in Los Angeles by his parents, a teacher and a librarian, who pushed public service along with ambition.[2] He attended Hamilton High School, and was elected student body president and voted most likely to succeed.[3] He attended the University of California, Los Angeles for one year before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley. Upon his arrival at Berkeley, Steinberg became a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.[4] Steinberg eventually formed his own student government political party, called Unity. His moderate politics at the protest-prone Berkeley at the height of the Vietnam War drew such a following that after he was elected President of the Associated Students of the University of California, the university's student government, there were rumors that he would run for City Council.[citation needed] He earned a B.A. in Political Science from UC Berkeley in 1970.
He subsequently attended Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law where he was intending to become a public defender when he met his first client, Cal quarterback Steve Bartkowski while working as a dorm adviser, and subsequently was asked to represent the future number one pick. Steinberg was admitted to the California State Bar in 1974 after earning his J.D. from Boalt in 1973.
[edit] Business
For many years Steinberg and Jeff Moorad had a sports agency partnership (Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn or "SMD"). They sold that firm in October 1999 to Assante Sports Management Group, a Canadian financial-management firm, for a reported $120 million.[5] Assante acquired several other sports agencies. In February 2002, David Dunn left SMD to open Athletes First, taking about 50 N.F.L. players with him and opening offices about a mile from Steinberg's in Newport Beach, Calif. Extensive litigation ensued involving Dunn and Assante.[6] Steinberg later reacquired some pieces of the agency he had sold to Assante. Steinberg’s firm, Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, maintains offices in Newport Beach, California.
Steinberg is also a board member for DeskSite[7].
[edit] Representation
Steinberg made an appearance in the film Jerry Maguire[8], and is often credited as the real life inspiration of the sports agents from that film.
[edit] Media appearances and book writing
He has been featured on national television programs such as “60 Minutes,” “Larry King Live,” “The Today Show” and in magazines such as Business Week, Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, People, Success, Forbes, Playboy and GQ.
Steinberg wrote a best-selling[9] book with Michael D'Orso, "Winning with Integrity: Getting What You Want Without Selling Your Soul", published by Three Rivers Press in October 1999[10].
[edit] Philanthrophy
Steinberg has traveled the world addressing topics he is passionate about ranging from sports and entertainment, concussion prevention, the environment [11] to political [12][13] and economic issues.
In January 2012, Steinberg wrote of the commitment that he and his clients have had to charitable causes: "I've helped form high school and college scholarship funds and foundations to tackle basic issues. Our athletes have raised more than $660 million for charity. I created a national training program for volunteers fighting racism and hate, along with funding numerous other programs for good."[14]
[edit] Personal life
He lives in Southern California and has three children.
[edit] Bankruptcy
Steinberg describes his financial problems as having mounted since 2003, when he became involved with extensive litigation with Dunn and Assante[15] (see above), escalating with his 2008 divorce settlement,[16] and also exacerbated by problems with alcoholism.[15][17] Steinberg has been arrested for DUI in 1997[18] and 2007,[19] and for public intoxication in 2008,[20] all in Newport Beach, California. In December 2011, it was reported that a bench warrant had been issued against Steinberg after he failed to appear at a scheduled hearing, concerning an unpaid judgement of $1.4 million, by far the largest of several debts he owes;[16] however, in fact the bench warrant was authorized by a judge but never issued.[15][17] On January 11, 2012 Steinberg filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.[15][17]
[edit] References
- ^ [1],
- ^ [2]
- ^ Hamilton High Year Book[3]
- ^ Membership Directory, 2010, Pi Lambda Phi Inc.
- ^ ESPN The Magazine: "Crash Landing"
- ^ New York Times: April 28, 2003 "These Drafts Come and Go, and So Do Agents' Fortunes"
- ^ Desksite.com Corporate Site
- ^ IMDB - Leigh Steinberg"
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]
- ^ Fairfield Patch: February 21, 2011 "A Fairfield Co.'s Science Behind Cleaning Air"
- ^ USA Today: January 10, 2011 "Rep. Giffords boosted troops' morale with sports connection"
- ^ ESPN OTL: September 4, 2008 "Sports figures not inclined to talk about their politics"
- ^ [6]
- ^ a b c d http://newportbeach.patch.com/articles/jerry-maguire-sports-agent-leigh-steinberg-files-for-bankruptcy
- ^ a b Bench warrant issued for Leigh Steinberg, LA Times, 26 Dec 2011
- ^ a b c Sports agent Leigh Steinberg admits alcoholism led to bankruptcy, Chicago Sun-times
- ^ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_93d2d7c0-1144-5894-879f-85b18165401c.html
- ^ [7]
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=3675503
[edit] External links
- Leigh Steinberg Sports & Entertainment Website
- Interview with Leigh Steinberg - NFL.com - February 12, 2011
- Interview with Leigh Steinberg - NFL Draft Bible - September 01, 2009
- Interview with Leigh Steinberg - Sports Agent Blog - April 2008
- Sports Illustrated: February 14, 2011 "What Was He Thinking?"
