Alcoholism, bankruptcy and the unhappy story of Leigh Steinberg, former NFL agent

[Playoffs]

Alcoholism, bankruptcy and the unhappy story of Leigh Steinberg, the NFL agent who inspired movie Jerry Maguire

IRVINE, CALIF.—In the movie Jerry Maguire, there is a scene in which the title character, played by Tom Cruise and modelled after real-life super-agent Leigh Steinberg, gets drunk in response to losing his job, his big clients and his gorgeous girlfriend.

Of course, in a Hollywood movie, the agent sobers up the next day, gets back to work and eventually finds true meaning in life — along with getting another gorgeous girlfriend and a big contract for his last loyal NFL client.

This differs from the real life of Steinberg in two crucial ways: Steinberg usually didn’t stop after just one night of drinking and he eventually had zero NFL clients.

Steinberg, who once represented half the starting quarterbacks in the NFL — and during one stretch represented the first pick in the NFL draft in six out of seven years — has not represented an NFL player since 2007. Nor does he work in lavish Newport Beach offices with the view of the Pacific Ocean or live in dream houses along the Orange County coast.

These days, he leases a townhouse and works in a drab, one-story building in an industrial park area of Irvine, Calif., trying to figure out a new life for himself, hoping to work through his recently declared bankruptcy toward the goal of once again representing athletes.

The real-life Jerry Maguire, after a series of business setbacks, bad luck, alcohol-related arrests and a divorce, ended up broke and drunk.

Steinberg, 62, says he drank to escape his problems. But, like most alcoholics, he found that drinking just made his problems worse...

read more: http://www.thestar.com/sports/artic...l-agent-who-inspired-movie-jerry-maguire?bn=1

 

[Double Barrel]

wow...how the mighty fall.

 

[GP]

Why do people find such great amusement and even glory in things like what Charlie Sheen does (reckless, senseless partying...as a daily lifestyle)?

Why do guys like him get a pass? Air time on TV shows?

Here a guy like Steinberg has tried that route and apparently it's not all it's cracked up to be. A lot of this is our culture. We're being told that fame breeds success and you can skip all the steps that hardworking "schmucks" have to go through to earn success.

Reminds me of the scene in Goodfellas when Ray Liotta's character, Henry, says (narrates) "We loved the life of being a wise guy. We were called wise guys because it was the life, and nobody wanted to be some schmuck working a regular job..." I'm paraphrasing, but you remember the speech I'm talking about.

We have people whose unemployment has expired and so they're filing for disability. Where does this level of "I give up, it's no use" come from? IMO, it comes from rhetoric that says America is evil and it's systems are evil, and you have NO CHANCE to succeed here. Meanwhile, immigrants come to this country--escaping TRUE evil found in their original homeland--and they have hardly any money in their pockets when they get here...and they end up paying the bills, sending their kid to college, and they live the American life just fine.

Sorry to be ranting, but the state of America apparently sucks ONLY IF you are born here and are charged with the responsibility and "challenge" of making your own success here. In this case, you have NO chance to succeed, the system is against you, and so your best bet is to make a YouTube video or participate in Occupy rallies.

Others who immigrate here are finding ways to work their way up the ladder and establish their own success here.

People like Steinberg quietly squander their talents and forget the keys to their success, but guys like Charile Sheen are OVERTLY flaunting their failures and in a lot of circles it's held up as a virtue or some sort of awesome expression. But in both cases, it's indicative (IMO) of a culture that says things should be handed to us...and when the going gets rough, just say "Eff it" and soak in your own misery. Sometimes, when I get on this train of thought, it makes me understand (not "excuse," but merely "understand") why some 3rd World countries have people who despise our country and what it is...we're the wealthiest nation, as a whole, and we're like petulant babies who **** themselves from birth to age 90 without ever learning how to go to the potty or get our own food. That's going to tend to wear some people out over time.

 

[cuppacoffee]

Why do people find such great amusement and even glory in things like what Charlie Sheen does (reckless, senseless partying...as a daily lifestyle)?

Why do guys like him get a pass? Air time on TV shows?

Here a guy like Steinberg has tried that route and apparently it's not all it's cracked up to be. A lot of this is our culture. We're being told that fame breeds success and you can skip all the steps that hardworking "schmucks" have to go through to earn success.

Reminds me of the scene in Goodfellas when Ray Liotta's character, Henry, says (narrates) "We loved the life of being a wise guy. We were called wise guys because it was the life, and nobody wanted to be some schmuck working a regular job..." I'm paraphrasing, but you remember the speech I'm talking about.

We have people whose unemployment has expired and so they're filing for disability. Where does this level of "I give up, it's no use" come from? IMO, it comes from rhetoric that says America is evil and it's systems are evil, and you have NO CHANCE to succeed here. Meanwhile, immigrants come to this country--escaping TRUE evil found in their original homeland--and they have hardly any money in their pockets when they get here...and they end up paying the bills, sending their kid to college, and they live the American life just fine.

Sorry to be ranting, but the state of America apparently sucks ONLY IF you are born here and are charged with the responsibility and "challenge" of making your own success here. In this case, you have NO chance to succeed, the system is against you, and so your best bet is to make a YouTube video or participate in Occupy rallies.

Others who immigrate here are finding ways to work their way up the ladder and establish their own success here.

People like Steinberg quietly squander their talents and forget the keys to their success, but guys like Charile Sheen are OVERTLY flaunting their failures and in a lot of circles it's held up as a virtue or some sort of awesome expression. But in both cases, it's indicative (IMO) of a culture that says things should be handed to us...and when the going gets rough, just say "Eff it" and soak in your own misery. Sometimes, when I get on this train of thought, it makes me understand (not "excuse," but merely "understand") why some 3rd World countries have people who despise our country and what it is...we're the wealthiest nation, as a whole, and we're like petulant babies who **** themselves from birth to age 90 without ever learning how to go to the potty or get our own food. That's going to tend to wear some people out over time.

Maybe this will help explain the bolded.
http://www.ehow.com/list_7454512_business-grants-immigrants.html


As for the rest: Americans seem to be fascinated with tabloid gossip. Lots of small minds out there. Hell, they elected prezbo didn't they. ( just had to throw that in there ) Check your local newsstand or the check out counter at wallyworld.

 

[GP]

Maybe this will help explain the bolded.
http://www.ehow.com/list_7454512_business-grants-immigrants.html


As for the rest: Americans seem to be fascinated with tabloid gossip. Lots of small minds out there. Hell, they elected prezbo didn't they. ( just had to throw that in there ) Check your local newsstand or the check out counter at wallyworld.

Edit. I had a long rant here (not against you, btw). But it's just not worth it.

 

[Double Barrel]

Maybe this will help explain the bolded.
http://www.ehow.com/list_7454512_business-grants-immigrants.html


As for the rest: Americans seem to be fascinated with tabloid gossip. Lots of small minds out there. Hell, they elected prezbo didn't they. ( just had to throw that in there ) Check your local newsstand or the check out counter at wallyworld.

While I agree with you in general, I would expand it to say that HUMANS seem to be fascinated with tabloid gossip.

I think there is a direct correlation between the rise of extra non-productive "free time" and frivolous endeavors, and it is a trend not exclusive to Americans in history.

 

[GP]

While I agree with you in general, I would expand it to say that HUMANS seem to be fascinated with tabloid gossip.

I think there is a direct correlation between the rise of extra non-productive "free time" and frivolous endeavors, and it is a trend not exclusive to Americans in history.

I think our interest in trivial, gossip-type stuff is because we want so desperately to see someone who has it worse than we do.

Which brings me back to this level of dissatisfaction that we invent for ourselves, to tell ourselves that what we have SUCKS and hopefully we don't suck as bad as others OR we can get better stuff and not suck as badly as we think we do.

This condition is more than just a human one, it's Americanism all the way. Other people in the world are just trying to not get raped/burned/imprisoned/starved/etc. while we are pissed off that a YouTube video is taking so long to buffer.

My rant was about how liberalism is the root source for Americans' dissatisfaction. According to liberalism, humans are the problem--We eat red meat, which contributes to cows' methane gas destroying the ozone, we are war mongering, wasteful of resources, unable to see that religion is bad for humanity, and the list of crimes against humanity goes on forever. Where you find someone crying about how unfair life is, and how IF we just had x or y or z then the world would be at peace, you will find someone who has listened to the whispers of liberalism...the idea that a constant state of self-loathing and dissatisfaction with the status quo is what makes us better people somehow. But I didn't want to state that in my previous post because I knew people would burn me at the message board stake for daring to allege such a thing. Instead, I will say that those pesky Tea Partiers is what's wrong with America. THEY are the radicals who are agitating people to unrest. LOL.

 

[Playoffs]

Wow.

Well, Sheen is part of the Hollywood star worship culture. Any news is good news, just keep my name in the news -- the reality television "star's" creed. He's a train wreck people like watching.

Steinberg created a whole new type of super agent. He required every client to give a big chunk of their contract to charity or he would not represent you. While his clients got paid, he didn't destroy franchises. And he had a hand in creating a lot of entertainment content and converging sports & the entertainment industry.

But his addiction was with him the whole him, step for step. And it took him and his amazing success all the way down to bankrupt nothingness. Now he's trying again, trying to get back on his feet without the booze.

I find his story compelling because it mirrors what most every man will endure in his lifetime. None of us get out of this deal unharmed, un-diseased, un-fallen, untouched by tragedy. Life trips up everyone at some point. And the true measure of a man is not how he handled the successes, but much more how he handled failure and hardship. I wish Steinberg well in his new life.

Sheen is just a voluntary fool -- a monkey dancing to the hurdy-gurdy for coins. I do think he's mentally ill. But he has shown no interest in addressing his problems, only furthering his clowning career. I have zero interest in that.

 

[GP]

Wow.

Well, Sheen is part of the Hollywood star worship culture. Any news is good news, just keep my name in the news -- the reality television "star's" creed. He's a train wreck people like watching.

Steinberg created a whole new type of super agent. He required every client to give a big chunk of their contract to charity or he would not represent you. While his clients got paid, he didn't destroy franchises. And he had a hand in creating a lot of entertainment content and converging sports & the entertainment industry.

But his addiction was with him the whole him, step for step. And it took him and his amazing success all the way down to bankrupt nothingness. Now he's trying again, trying to get back on his feet without the booze.

I find his story compelling because it mirrors what most every man will endure in his lifetime. None of us get out of this deal unharmed, un-diseased, un-fallen, untouched by tragedy. Life trips up everyone at some point. And the true measure of a man is not how he handled the successes, but much more how he handled failure and hardship. I wish Steinberg well in his new life.

Sheen is just a voluntary fool -- a monkey dancing to the hurdy-gurdy for coins. I do think he's mentally ill. But he has shown no interest in addressing his problems, only furthering his clowning career. I have zero interest in that.

I'm saying that people slip into Steinberg's condition, potentially, because it's viewed as sort of an "understandable" way to deal with personal tragedy or challenges in life.

Movies glorify it, the entertainment magazines glorify it, comedy shows glorify it (Ron White is an excellent example). Have a problem? Go hit the bottle and drown your sorrows. It's been prevalent in all societies, especially in Anglo-Saxon society, but never sensationalized and openly celebrated as we see it in American culture.

Charlie Sheen might be the first person to embrace it so openly and so proudly, and he's got a lot of people that think he's cool.

At least Steinberg is attempting to rebuild his life, though.

 

[IDEXAN]

Steinberg continues to tell his story publicly tonight in an episode of HBO’s Real Sports.
************
Worth checking out. And I wonder if Cruise comes back for an encore performance to play this segment of Steinberg's life ?

 

[Playoffs]

This is so Jerry Maguire all over again...

For better or worse, SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert is now attached at the hip to former NFL “superagent” Leigh Steinberg as both try to complete comebacks.

Steinberg, who is credited as the real-life inspiration for the sports agent from the movie Jerry Maguire, was in Dallas on Friday to watch Gilbert throw in front of NFL scouts during SMU’s pro day.

Gilbert transferred to SMU from Texas, and over the last year and a half has excelled with the Mustangs. But he wasn’t invited to the NFL combine in February and, before Friday, was thought to be a player who would go undrafted in May. He’s the only player represented by Steinberg.

Steinberg, who turned 65 on Thursday, has had a fall from grace since he represented some of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, including Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Steve Young.

Just last week, Steinberg celebrated four years of sobriety. The recovering alcoholic filed for bankruptcy in 2012 as he watched his empire crumble before recertifying as an NFL agent last October.

Steinberg, who has represented the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft a record eight times, is trying to restart his career after what he called a “three-year downward spiral” with alcohol.

“When I crashed with alcohol, I put everything else aside,” Steinberg said. “The world never went away from me. I went away from the world.”

Gilbert helped put himself and Steinberg back into the spotlight Friday with a stellar performance in front of scouts from 25 NFL teams, including quarterbacks coaches from the Cowboys, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
...
For Steinberg, he’s now come full circle in his 40-year career. A California quarterback named Steve Bartkowski launched his career as the No. 1 pick in the 1975 NFL draft. Almost four decades later, Gilbert, the son of a California quarterback (Gale Gilbert), hired him as his agent. Gale played eight seasons in the NFL and was also represented by Steinberg.
...
“It feels like coming home,” Steinberg said. “This is how I started, a big, blue-eyed blond quarterback from Cal, which a team can build around, and this is Garrett’s chance.
...
Gilbert said from his first meeting with Steinberg that he always felt like the agent believed in him.

“We’re sort of in this partnership. He’s in a bit of a comeback, too, right now,” Gilbert said, “and we’re depending on each other in terms of both of our careers.”

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/co...-gilbert-blows-away-scouts-on-smu-pro-day.ece

 

[houstonspartan]

Why do people find such great amusement and even glory in things like what Charlie Sheen does (reckless, senseless partying...as a daily lifestyle)?



Why do guys like him get a pass? Air time on TV shows?



Here a guy like Steinberg has tried that route and apparently it's not all it's cracked up to be. A lot of this is our culture. We're being told that fame breeds success and you can skip all the steps that hardworking "schmucks" have to go through to earn success.



Reminds me of the scene in Goodfellas when Ray Liotta's character, Henry, says (narrates) "We loved the life of being a wise guy. We were called wise guys because it was the life, and nobody wanted to be some schmuck working a regular job..." I'm paraphrasing, but you remember the speech I'm talking about.



We have people whose unemployment has expired and so they're filing for disability. Where does this level of "I give up, it's no use" come from? IMO, it comes from rhetoric that says America is evil and it's systems are evil, and you have NO CHANCE to succeed here. Meanwhile, immigrants come to this country--escaping TRUE evil found in their original homeland--and they have hardly any money in their pockets when they get here...and they end up paying the bills, sending their kid to college, and they live the American life just fine.



Sorry to be ranting, but the state of America apparently sucks ONLY IF you are born here and are charged with the responsibility and "challenge" of making your own success here. In this case, you have NO chance to succeed, the system is against you, and so your best bet is to make a YouTube video or participate in Occupy rallies.



Others who immigrate here are finding ways to work their way up the ladder and establish their own success here.



People like Steinberg quietly squander their talents and forget the keys to their success, but guys like Charile Sheen are OVERTLY flaunting their failures and in a lot of circles it's held up as a virtue or some sort of awesome expression. But in both cases, it's indicative (IMO) of a culture that says things should be handed to us...and when the going gets rough, just say "Eff it" and soak in your own misery. Sometimes, when I get on this train of thought, it makes me understand (not "excuse," but merely "understand") why some 3rd World countries have people who despise our country and what it is...we're the wealthiest nation, as a whole, and we're like petulant babies who **** themselves from birth to age 90 without ever learning how to go to the potty or get our own food. That's going to tend to wear some people out over time.

Interesting thread.

I think it's a matter of "fight or flight."

Every human being has a fight or flight response to things.

A good buddy of mine was in the same industry as me. Talented guy, as I am. Things got rough for both of us at one point, and we were both laid off.

That was several years ago. He has never recovered. It's stunning. I've bounced back after some turbulence, but, eventually found my path. It's amazing to me how he's still struggling with something that happened 8 years ago. I have tried to help him, but he doesn't seem interested. I think his confidence is shot.

I do not say that to judge him. Even he admitted that he flees when things get rough.

My point is, when things go bad, either people bounce back and try and recover, or they stay down and get mired in depression. Not sure what the answer is.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hervoyel]

Well, the question I have after reading the link Playoffs posted is "What's up with Garrett Gilbert?" Worth a look?

I mean, in this year of QB's nobody can really seem to get excited about I ask you "Why not Garrett Gilbert?"

 

[Mr teX]

Why do people find such great amusement and even glory in things like what Charlie Sheen does (reckless, senseless partying...as a daily lifestyle)?

Why do guys like him get a pass? Air time on TV shows?

Here a guy like Steinberg has tried that route and apparently it's not all it's cracked up to be. A lot of this is our culture. We're being told that fame breeds success and you can skip all the steps that hardworking "schmucks" have to go through to earn success.

Reminds me of the scene in Goodfellas when Ray Liotta's character, Henry, says (narrates) "We loved the life of being a wise guy. We were called wise guys because it was the life, and nobody wanted to be some schmuck working a regular job..." I'm paraphrasing, but you remember the speech I'm talking about.

We have people whose unemployment has expired and so they're filing for disability. Where does this level of "I give up, it's no use" come from? IMO, it comes from rhetoric that says America is evil and it's systems are evil, and you have NO CHANCE to succeed here. Meanwhile, immigrants come to this country--escaping TRUE evil found in their original homeland--and they have hardly any money in their pockets when they get here...and they end up paying the bills, sending their kid to college, and they live the American life just fine.

Sorry to be ranting, but the state of America apparently sucks ONLY IF you are born here and are charged with the responsibility and "challenge" of making your own success here. In this case, you have NO chance to succeed, the system is against you, and so your best bet is to make a YouTube video or participate in Occupy rallies.

Others who immigrate here are finding ways to work their way up the ladder and establish their own success here.

People like Steinberg quietly squander their talents and forget the keys to their success, but guys like Charile Sheen are OVERTLY flaunting their failures and in a lot of circles it's held up as a virtue or some sort of awesome expression. But in both cases, it's indicative (IMO) of a culture that says things should be handed to us...and when the going gets rough, just say "Eff it" and soak in your own misery. Sometimes, when I get on this train of thought, it makes me understand (not "excuse," but merely "understand") why some 3rd World countries have people who despise our country and what it is...we're the wealthiest nation, as a whole, and we're like petulant babies who **** themselves from birth to age 90 without ever learning how to go to the potty or get our own food. That's going to tend to wear some people out over time.

People love to watch trainwrecks...while you cringe & watch someone destroy themselves, you can't turn away either..especially if it's on a national stage & that person's had it all at 1 point. Apart from that, you feel less apathy for folks with tons of money in the bank than you would for someone who never had anything doing the same things.

 

[Kaiser Toro]

Well, the question I have after reading the link Playoffs posted is "What's up with Garrett Gilbert?" Worth a look?

I mean, in this year of QB's nobody can really seem to get excited about I ask you "Why not Garrett Gilbert?"

I would not be surprised if we took him in the 4th. Gilbert feels like an O'Brien style QB, whose best days are ahead of him.

 

[silvrhand]

Agree 1000%

People aren't all created equally and some people just don't have the will/strength to overcome things. They turn to alcohol/drugs/whatever to escape the pressure.

It's not up to us to judge them it's not our lives, let them be and deal with their life as it is, sometimes no matter what you do you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink.

We all have our inner demons, who's better at controlling them is another story completely.

Interesting thread.

I think it's a matter of "fight or flight."

Every human being has a fight or flight response to things.

A good buddy of mine was in the same industry as me. Talented guy, as I am. Things got rough for both of us at one point, and we were both laid off.

That was several years ago. He has never recovered. It's stunning. I've bounced back after some turbulence, but, eventually found my path. It's amazing to me how he's still struggling with something that happened 8 years ago. I have tried to help him, but he doesn't seem interested. I think his confidence is shot.

I do not say that to judge him. Even he admitted that he flees when things get rough.

My point is, when things go bad, either people bounce back and try and recover, or they stay down and get mired in depression. Not sure what the answer is.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk