Leigh Steinberg: The Real Jerry Maguire

Not long ago, sports agents worked behind the scenes to promote their clients and get them the most lucrative deal. But with the success of the movie, "Jerry Maguire" and HBO's hit television show, "Arli$$", sports agents have become celebrities in their own right. None are more famous than Leigh Steinberg.

The main character Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, was actually based on Steinberg's life. Cameron Crowe, the writer and director of"Jerry Maguire", employed Leigh Steinberg as a technical consultant. It was his job to provide the expertise of his professional sports background and make sure every scene in the film was credible.

"I felt the film humanized sports agents. It showed the true caring that can exist in relationships between agents and their clients."

The film's most famous line, "Show me the money", is based on a real life conversation Crowe had with one of Steinberg's clients, San Francisco 49ers' strong safety Tim McDonald.

In 1993, Crowe attended the NFL meetings in Palm Springs, California to get ideas for the film. At the time, McDonald was a free agent and exploring his options with different teams. Crowe visited McDonald’s hotel room for an interview, during which McDonald was watching the television game show "The Money Line".

Crowe asked McDonald, "What do you want from this free agency experience?" McDonald look at the television show and replied "Show me the money." The rest is history.

What does Steinberg say to clients who say "Show me the money"? "I laugh when a player says it to me. Now, I find it's hard to walk through an airport and not hear it from a fan."

Over the last twenty-four years, Steinberg has negotiated over $2 billion in contract deals and has shown many athletes the money. His law firm, Steinberg & Moorad, represents over one hundred athletes including Troy Aikman (QB, Dallas Cowboys), Keri Strug (Olympic Gold Medalist), John Starks (New York Knicks) and Sugar Ray Leonard (former boxing champion).

Steinberg is known for his magic in making deals and alliances with the right people. But Steinberg takes interest in more than dollar signs. Unlike many other agents, he only accepts clients who share his values, and he insists that a portion of every contract is given back to their hometown, school, or favorite charity.

In his new book, "Winning with Integrity-Getting What You're Worth Without Selling Your Soul", Steinberg discusses how athletes must hold on to their principles as they climb the ladder of success.

Once he saw the success of "Jerry Maguire", Steinberg added an entertainment consulting division to his agency. It was created to help maintain realism in sports related projects for the film and television community. Steinberg believes strongly in accurately portraying athletes and the professional sports world in the media.

One of his first consulting clients was HBO's "Arli$$", a program about a sports agent. Steinberg assumes the role of making the show authentic. Steinberg assures the show's authenticity by providing guidance and making sure that the conversations and interactions between the agent and the athlete are realistic.

Another Steinberg client is movie director, Oliver Stone. Stone has called on Steinberg to provide consultation during the pre-production of his upcoming film about professional football.

In addition to consulting, Steinberg and his agency plan on creating programming for various outlets. "We believe there is a market in television, the internet, and on the radio for sports theme programming other than the games itself. On the drawing boards, we have some animated and live action shows which will use athletes away from the playing fields." he explained.

As proven by the success of "Jerry Maguire", the life of Steinberg has a real audience. Being an agent, I have find something I can do the rest of my life and speak out on issues and have an impact on young people's lives."

Whether it is sports or entertainment, one thing is very clear: everything Steinberg touches turns to gold.