Seems to me Leigh, still seeks the soap box for,approval and be noticed. Not a bad thing, but with the field more crowded with Leigh Steinberg Jrs., i wont be surprised reading another article down the road. With the same story, and lofty aspirations, not fulfilled.
I wish him luck, great story and a man whose life is still ahead of him. Recovery golfers see the entire course.
Mr. Vlahos and Readers: It is somewhat ironic that Mr. Steinberg "organized panels of neurologists to discuss football's concussion risk back in the mid-1990's long before the issue was a mainstream concern." Neuroscience may yet provide the death knell for organized football. Consider: last Sunday's (01/11/2015) article in the NY Times Magazine discussing Dr. Sebastian Seung's attempts to map the human brain. This article states that there are "100 trillion connections between the neurons of the human brain," and Dr. Seung terms this "vast and complex network" the connectome. Dr. Seung has undertaken the quest of mapping an individual's connectome in order to "capture a person's very essence: every memory, every skill, every passion." To think that the forceful inelastic collisions encouraged in football would not jolt and damage this neural network is facetious. Or, that a simple solution will be found by Mr. Steinberg's, and many others, help in work in "developing a drug to treat concussions and talking with a helmet maker hoping to prevent them," is much too Pollyannaish. Other studies, such as one discussed in the digital Times of 05/21/2014, entitled; "Brain Changes in College Football Players Raise New Concerns," evidences, via a shrunken hippocampus, how even a history of playing with no concussions can shrink it by as much as 16 percent. Although a very small study, future studies will build upon it. [{JJL}; 01/17/2015, Sat., 2:24 p.m.; Greenville NC]
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I had the pleasure of listening to Leigh tell his story to a small group of friends at a function that raised money for a local charity. He impressed me as a brilliant guy who was years ahead of the curve in his approach to sports agenting in his early career and one of the few who urged his clients to give something back to their communities and fans. His current campaign to better understand and find ways to prevent concussions in athletes of all kinds is admirable. The fact that he had personal problems seems irrelevant to me when considering the legitimate good that the guy has done. I say good job and good luck in his comeback!
To all the naysayers - this is his comeback not yours. Do yours the way you want to - it takes tremendous courage to try again and again.
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The agent who Leigh talked to on the phone is the son of one of the classy people that I have ever known, Ted Marchibroda. Ted was the number 5 choice in the 1953 NFL draft and a pro quarterback for 4 years. He then went on to become both an assistant and head coach in the NFL. It was interesting to read that Leigh and Ted Jr. are associating. Who you know is sometimes more important than what you know.
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This is a very well written article. You have to respect and admire Steinberg for what he has tried to accomplish so late in life. Good luck to him.
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Leigh Steinberg's story of perseverance is something that should be admired. However, I do believe that tangible things in life such as monetary success do not contribute to long-term happiness and I hope that, at the core, Leigh's resurgence isn't fueled by a need for fame or fortune, but of something more spiritual such as being a respectable member of his society and the satisfaction of simply being a good person and asset to his clients.
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Steinberg is an inspiration to many Koreans. He is a man of true grit and determination. He teaches mankind to believe in themselves.
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"He teaches mankind to believe in themselves."
How about teaching humankind?
How about teaching humankind?
He's lucky, he has a way back to society, and being able to being productive at this 6-figure or 7-figure magnitude. Society doesn't view his Alcohol problems as game-over. He given an opportunity to fight out of it; and work to redeem his career, and legacy. Whereas, the other mental illness's like bipolar disorder; once you hit rock-bottom, and people learn about it, your career is over; there is no way back, not even to a minimum wage job.
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@Craig
This seems a little too declarative to be believable. I think that people work with others on whom they can rely to be there to do their part of a job. A recovering alcoholic does not advertise his past struggles nor would someone with bi-polar disorder. The fact that Leigh Steinberg is engineering an attempt at a comeback has more to do with the fact that he is self-employed, not the nature of his condition.
Are you suggesting that we should put all individuals with bi-polar disorder on some type of government pension? If so, at what level, 50 or 80% of their most recent salary?
This seems a little too declarative to be believable. I think that people work with others on whom they can rely to be there to do their part of a job. A recovering alcoholic does not advertise his past struggles nor would someone with bi-polar disorder. The fact that Leigh Steinberg is engineering an attempt at a comeback has more to do with the fact that he is self-employed, not the nature of his condition.
Are you suggesting that we should put all individuals with bi-polar disorder on some type of government pension? If so, at what level, 50 or 80% of their most recent salary?
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Everyone loves a good comeback story. Though not into sports at all I enjoyed hearing about this man's journey. I hope he made amends to the women he abused and his ex-wife. He has lots of potential though and has clearly done a lot of good!
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The NYT talks constantly about "social justice," then writes a story celebrating someone like this. Why+
The worst thing he ever did was drink too much and not give clients his full and undivided attention. Who cares?
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there was the face licking situation and harassment of women but he should be applauded for facing his demons and overcoming them...
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@Michael Livingston
I think we know how you feel about class envy and retribution.
I am sure there are some people whom you believe should be forgiven and some who should not be.
I think we know how you feel about class envy and retribution.
I am sure there are some people whom you believe should be forgiven and some who should not be.
One warning sign that I saw in the article is that he's blaming others for his downfall. His partners left because they did not want to be with Steinberg. His wife left because she did not want to be with him either. The article did not explain how/why he ended up in bankruptcy.
Another commenter wrote about that he could do a show about "How I Got Over Myself." Unfortunately, he does not seem to be at that point. It seems he wants to be the high-flying big guy in the room again rather than reinventing himself as a person others will look up to but not because he's rich or famous. Good luck as at the core he seems to be a good guy that became addicted to fame.
Another commenter wrote about that he could do a show about "How I Got Over Myself." Unfortunately, he does not seem to be at that point. It seems he wants to be the high-flying big guy in the room again rather than reinventing himself as a person others will look up to but not because he's rich or famous. Good luck as at the core he seems to be a good guy that became addicted to fame.
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I wish Lee the best of luck in his recovery. To decrease chances of a relapse, blaming others cannot be a part of the recovery process. Is it possible that the author, who seems quite skeptical of Lee's comeback, may be incorrectly characterizing Lee's "blaming" of others for his previous troubles? Just wondering.
This story reminds me of my father, who was a boxer in Chicago (but not as famous as the other "Great Shires".. My dad always said that anyone can get into a ring, throw a lucky punch and get a knock down. But a real champion is one who gets knocked down and gets back up again. He called it "rolling with the punches." My money (or what is left) is on Steinberg.
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Your dad didn't invent the term "rolling with the punches."
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your dad didn't, either. I guess when quoting something one's father said, we should give direct credit to the original source.
My father loved to quote this laugher by Aristophanes, or was it Swift? . . .
you must be a delight at a cocktail party, correcting people when they say "my mom used to say," or "my grandpa used to say." I bet you've got an app that tells the original author of every aphorism.
My father loved to quote this laugher by Aristophanes, or was it Swift? . . .
you must be a delight at a cocktail party, correcting people when they say "my mom used to say," or "my grandpa used to say." I bet you've got an app that tells the original author of every aphorism.
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How do you know?
If Leigh is as alarmed about CTE as he contends, why is he still focused on football?
Because his goal is to diminish or eliminate CTE from football. Football can evolve to a sport where players are less susceptible at developing the condition and most of those working towards that goal suggest teaching players to hit correctly and developing safer equipment. I think NASCAR is a great example of sport who has taken action to "safen" itself. NASCAR has placed more formal rules concerning drivers who wreck and the appropriate time for them to exit their car, especially in tense, heated situations, as well has invested (and continues to invest) in research and development to create safer cars and equipment that reduce the potential for serious injury or death in the result a crash. Obviously, NASCAR isn't perfect and there's always room to improve safety measures, but I don't think the fact that since there is a risk that something bad could happen should prove that the sport shouldn't exist in the first place. I think the same argument can be made about Leigh being "focused" on both fooball and CTE.
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Why does anyone care about the life and times of a sports agent? Color me confused.
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You read the article. Question answered.
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...says the guy who resigned from public office after having an affair, then ran off his big mouth to Aaron Burr, who challenged him to a duel, which Hamilton lost.
Seriously Hamilton, why don't you tell us all what we should care about? The Article of Confederation? The Jay Treaty?
Time to move on.
Seriously Hamilton, why don't you tell us all what we should care about? The Article of Confederation? The Jay Treaty?
Time to move on.
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I enjoyed the article. I had read a profile piece about him in the early 1980's. Always interesting to hear how these guys turn out.
I think Garrett Gilbert has the potential to have a good NFL career. Hope it works out for him and for Leigh. There is something to be said for passing through a crisis and seeing life anew from the other side. I hope Steinberg is doing this not to get back to where he once was, to get to a new and better place.
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I am guessing Leigh Steinberg probably found out who his real friends were when he was down and out.
That will probably serve him well him in the future.
That will probably serve him well him in the future.
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This is a very sad story. Perhaps his next autobiography or the reality show will be entitled "How I Got Over Myself." Or about what happens when we don't.
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This is a very fun read. Great writing. Steinberg is an interesting fellow. I love the quote "The world didn't go away from me, I went away from the world." Looking forward to the show.
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Great piece. Well done.
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What a sad sack. Talk about someone who seems impervious to his own flaws and lack of focus.
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As one who knows Leigh personally, some of these negative comments are unfounded. He works tirelessly to help others and in so doing is trying to revitalize his career. What is so wrong about that?
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