• 19
  • January
    2012

Many people in Omaha probably liked the Cameron Crowe movie "Jerry Maguire." This 1996 drama, which starred Tom Cruise as a money-obsessed sports agent who realizes he needs other priorities in life, gave rise to Renee Zellweger's famous line "You had me at hello" and went on to earn more than $150 million at the box office.

It may be of interest, then, to note that the real-life sports agent who inspired the tale recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. He has said he owes more than $1.4 million and has no assets other than some stock.

Leigh Steinberg, who has represented famous athletes like Troy Aikman and Ben Roethlisberger, filed for bankruptcy protection on Jan. 11. He said his finances got away from him because he was struggling with a dependence on alcohol. (He has since entered a rehabilitation program and now says he has been sober since 2010.)

In a surprisingly eloquent statement, Steinberg said he believed he had a "legal and moral" obligation to repay those who loaned him money "in good faith," but feels that he is being hounded by collection efforts from those lenders to the point where he cannot gain the constructive employment he needs to actually pay them back.

Of course, most Omaha residents do not have anywhere near $1.4 million in debt, but they can probably relate to what Steinberg has said about the aggressive attempts by creditors to get their money. If you have gotten into a situation where your finances are no longer under control, you might want to have a talk with a bankruptcy attorney. Even if you never end up using what you learn, it is better to be informed of all your options.

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Sports agent Leigh Steinberg files for bankruptcy," Bernie Wilson, Jan. 12, 2012