Sports agent arrested in DUI crash

Newport Beach sports agent Leigh Steinberg was arrested on suspicion of DUI early Friday after he crashed his car into three parked cars near the Balboa Bay Club, authorities said.

At about 1 a.m. Friday, Steinberg reportedly veered his Mercedes ML 500 into the cars in the 1000 block of West Coast Highway before the Mercedes came to a stop on top of a fire hydrant, Sgt. Evan Sailor said. The damage to the sideswiped cars was “moderate,” Sailor said.

When officers arrived, Steinberg was reportedly still in the driver’s seat. Officers smelled alcohol when they neared the car. He was arrested after failing a field sobriety test, Sailor said.

Once at Newport Beach Jail, Steinberg requested a blood-alcohol test. Sailor said the results of the test should be back in a few weeks.

“As I have tried to demonstrate through the years, I have always believed in role-modeling and community responsibility. But last night, I made a serious error in judgment, and I am very sorry for my actions” Steinberg wrote in a statement Friday afternoon. “I am most aware of the potential for harm that my behavior might have caused, and again, I am truly remorseful. I know that it is not acceptable to get behind the wheel after having consumed any amount of alcohol. I take full responsibility for my behavior, and I will take appropriate action to prevent any remotely similar behavior in the future.”

In 1996, Steinberg was reportedly sentenced to community service and probation for a misdemeanor drunk driving conviction.

Over his career, sports attorney Steinberg has represented major stars including Troy Aikman, Steve Young and Warren Moon, who according to an Associated Press report was arrested last week on suspicion of drunk driving in Washington state.

It has often been noted that Steinberg was the inspiration for the popular 1996 film “Jerry Maguire.”

These days Steinberg is trying to segue out of representing athletes and is doing more work marketing sports content for film, TV and other media, spokesman Chip Namias said Friday.

Steinberg has been lauded as a humanitarian, having started the Leadership Institute for Teens at Soca University and being honored by philanthropic groups for his contributions.