Show me the money!

April 14, 2014

Filed under: Speakers — carlosgieseken @ 3:32 am

On Monday, March 31, I sat in the Kayser Auditorium of the business school to listen to super agent Leigh Steinberg speak about his 30-year career. Cameron Crowe’s inspiration for Jerry McGuire, Steinberg has represented 150 professional athletes, including eight who were chosen as the first overall pick in the NFL draft.

What surprised me most to learn was Steinberg’s insistence that all his clients give back to their communities by being involved in their high schools and colleges in some way. Many of his clients, like Warren Moon, have started foundations for specific causes they care about.

“I saw athletes could be role models and trigger imitative behavior,” Steinberg said. “I believe in the power of role modeling.”

Moon started the Crescent Moon foundation, which raises money for college academic scholarships. Derrick Thomas started the “Third and Long” program, which targets childhood reading programs.

moon_hallfame

Steinberg said that as a sports agent, a huge concern of his was sports injuries sustained by his clients. He had a Physician’s Desk Reference within arm’s length at all times. He eventually began to lead efforts to increase awareness of the effects of concussions on NFL players.

“I had a crisis of conscience,” he told the students in the audience, “like some of you will have.” Steinberg described the series of conferences he organized that focused on the problem.

He advised any future sports agents to stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs at agencies and when wooing prospective clients. “This is something for the most creative people, with the greatest attention to detail,” he said “People will outwork you all day long.”