Taking a refreshing approach to an old story, this romantic comedy is one of those rare Hollywood features that contains a little something for almost everyone: sports, romance, humor, satire, a touch of pathos, insight and even some subtle drama. At the onset, Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a busy and highly successful manager of 72 noted sports personalities. Like most of Sports Management International's top employees, he is ruthlessly ambitious and greedy. He spends most of his time zooming across the country trying to figure out ways to promote his clients--not to help them, but to make money for his employer. But late one night in yet another faceless hotel, something inside Jerry snaps. Hastily, he pens a fiery letter titled "The Things We Think and Do Not Say: The Future of Our Business," a passionate call to start caring more for the clients than the revenue they generate. The memo nets Jerry a standing ovation from his peers, but his bosses are not impressed and soon afterward, Jerry gets canned. As he walks out, he asks others to join him, but only one lowly accountant, Dorothy(Renee Zellweger), dares show solidarity. For her, a widow with a small son, it is a strong sign of her quiet devotion to his cause. All of his clients but Rod Tidwell, the wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals desert him. So does his equally ruthless fiance Avery Bishop. Still, Jerry is determined to reassemble his life and so begins wooing promising college draft pick Frank Cushman, a young quarterback with real star potential. He also begins looking carefully at Dorothy. She and her son live with her caustic older sister Laurel. Despite the obstacles presented by Laurel and her divorced friends, Dorothy and Jerry begin a tentative relationship that goes well until they reach a final obstacle, one that could have lasting consequences for her little boy.