Super-agent Leigh Steinberg explains where Kyrie Irving went wrong

Kyrie Irving finally apologized for sharing a film with antisemetic messaging after the Nets suspended him. According to super-agent Leigh Steinberg, he was far too late.

Yardbarker spoke to Steinberg, who outlined the steps an agent must take to do damage control for a client. First, he said you must "wrap your arms around all the facts, so that whatever you're about to say is not later contradicted by some fact." 

Then the agent must figure what the client's culpability and liability are for whatever happened. Third is the step that Irving mishandled most, per Steinberg.

"What you'd like to do is, very quickly, come out with an apology that recognizes whatever the responsibility is." he said. "And it's an apology to the organization, the other players, the fans, and it states the proper standard of behavior."

The standard of behavior is important, according to Steinberg, because at its core, sports is an entertainment business, and fans have other options for their time. 

"It's a profession that relies on public approval," Steinberg said. "This is not butter on the table or a car to go to work. This is a discretionary entertainment expenditure. You're dependent on the goodwill of fans to watch on television, go to games, buy memorabilia, join fantasy leagues, do all these things. And you're held to a standard.

"So if you don't want to graciously sign autographs, and give interviews, and conduct yourself at a higher standard of behavior off the court or off the field? Fine. Go play on a sandlot. No one will have any expectations. You also won't get paid."

Without a prompt apology, the story lingers, Steinberg explained. Because of the news cycle and its repetitive nature, people end up hearing about Irving's misbehavior repeatedly. Eventually it's not a single thing he did; it's perceived as part of his character.

The mea culpa also must be sincere. Steinberg said the worst he ever saw was the response to Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal.

"At one point, a person came out representing him and said, 'This is Michael Vick's statement,'" Steinberg recounted. "He said, 'My client is so unhappy that he won't be able to attend spring training.' Well there's no football player on the face of the Earth who ever called training camp 'spring training.' You know he didn't write that statement!"

Most of all, Steinberg said, there must be steps taken so the fans, the team and public get reassurances that it's not going to happen again.

"Someone's arrested for drunk driving, it's an acknowledgment you shouldn't get behind the wheel with any amount of alcohol," Steinberg said. "And importantly, an offer to do something that shows there won't be a recurrence. If it's drunk driving, it's, I'm going to AA. If it's violence of some sort, it's I'm going to anger management. If it's domestic violence, I'm going to sensitivity training. It's something to show it's not just a hollow apology and you're actually taking action."

What would Steinberg do if Irving were his client?

"What you have to do at that point is send the person to some kind of sensitivity training where he understands the consequence of that. It's only been 75 years since 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. It happens to be a big issue," Steinberg explained.

The saddest thing is that Irving's social media and public platform could have been a positive force. 

"The irony is, athletes can be such powerful role models for anti-racism, for good, for standing up and being role models for tolerance.," Steinberg said. "Here you've got someone doing it — it wouldn't matter, but he's doing it in a city that has the largest Jewish population in the world."

He concluded, "He's just not getting it. So he's got to go somewhere. Take him to a Holocaust museum. Take him somewhere where he finally gets the issues."

Until Irving does get it, he's not likely to be playing anywhere.