The Agent: My 40-Year Career Making Deals and Changing the Game

In the preface, sports agent Steinberg watches two of his clients, Warren Moon and Troy Aikman, get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Taking a long view, Steinberg’s career is entertaining. Barely out of U.C.L.A. law school, he agreed to represent standout quarterback Steve Bartkowski, who was his former classmate, and scored the rookie a massive contract. Taking a people-first approach—he wanted clients who embraced being role models—Steinberg went from taking calls in his parents’ house to being one of sports’ power brokers, before bad business decisions and alcoholism led to his fall. Sadly, Steinberg is so enamored with his life story that he over-indulges in unbelievable boasts, colorless life-at-the-top anecdotes, and shameless name-dropping (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Morrison, Ronald Reagan—and that’s just college). Eight-page black and white photo insert. (Jan.)