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Influential Figures in Sports

They are a diverse group of television executives, media moguls, 20-something athletes, league commissioners and athletes-turned-owners. But one thing they all have in common is being among the most influential figures in sports today. These individuals have shaped and formed the sporting world and continue to feed America’s insatiable hunger for the college and pro games. What’s most interesting about this group is that many are not household names, yet they are among the most powerful in the world of sports. Some, like George Bodenheimer of ESPN, broker deals between leagues and television networks to determine what American households will watch on a given night and where they will tune in to watch. Others, like LeBron James and Peyton Manning, are the main attractions in the events. High-powered executives like Roger Goodell and David Stern run professional leagues and are charged with enforcing discipline policies and helping to put together television deals. Rupert Murdoch, on the other hand, runs one of the largest media conglomerates in the world. He, like other media czars on the list, controls what we watch and when we will watch it. Regardless of what they do and how they go about it, the following list sheds light on 25 of America’s most influential sports figures, some of which you know well and others you had no idea existed.

George Bodenheimer On November 19, 1998, Bodenheimer was named the fifth president of ESPN. Since that time, he has launched ESPNHD, ESPN2HD, ESPN Plus, ESPN PPV, ESPN360, ESPN Motion, ESPNU and ESPN Deportes. Bodenheimer is currently the longest-tenured top executive at ESPN and he has engineered an unprecedented period of growth for “the Worldwide Leader in Sports.” As head man of ESPN, he oversees more than 50 business entities, including six domestic television networks and 46 international television networks. NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said regarding Bodenheimer: “George remains for the most part behind the scenes and operates the most successful sports organization in the history of the world.” In addition to being appointed president of ABC Sports in 2003, Bodenheimer was also named co-chairman of Disney Media Networks one year later. ABC’s sports programming schedule, now branded “ESPN on ABC,” includes the NBA Finals, the Rose Bowl, the Indy 500 and the World Cup. In controlling ESPN, Bodenheimer may just be the most influential figure in sports.

Roger Goodell As commissioner of the NFL since 2006, Goodell is in control of the most popular professional

sports league in the United States, not to mention the most lucrative. Television rights to the NFL are not only the most expensive of any American sports, but also the most expensive of any American entertainment property. Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts surpassed the “M*A*S*H” finale as the most-watched television program in the history of the United States. In 2007, Goodell announced a new NFL Personal Conduct Policy. Helping to clean up what had been an unfortunate trend of off-field incidents for the league and its members, Goodell—via his personal conduct policy—first suspended Adam “Pacman” Jones and the late Chris Henry before most recently slapping Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with a six-game ban.

Phil Knight The sports world changed forever after the introduction of Nike and co-founder Phil Knight has been at the head of that charge from day one. His company, which began selling shoes out of a Plymouth Valiant at track meets in the Pacific Northwest, has blossomed to heights that have changed the game from a marketing standpoint. Their ad campaigns have become a part of pop culture - “Just Do It” became a household phrase - while their products have become interwoven in the culture of sport. Now the Nike “swoosh” can be found on shoes and clothes in a variety of sports around the world. Meanwhile, the Portland, Ore., native is worth $10.2 billion, which is the 62nd highest individual net worth in the world. Despite resigning as Nike CEO in 2004, Knight has retained his role as Chairman of the Board.

Dick Ebersol Few people have been as influential on the sporting world as NBC Chairman Dick Ebersol. Last year, Ebersol was awarded the Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his long and prestigious career. In Ebersol’s 21 years as NBC Chairman, he’s produced eight of the 10 most-watched television events in U.S. history. Among his other greatest accomplishments are turning NBC into the home of the Olympics and making Sunday Night Football on NBC the premier primetime football game of the week. Ebersol made NBC the first network ever to host the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA Finals and Summer Olympics in the same television season (1995-96). In 1996, The Sporting News named him the most powerful person in sports. Sports television production has been taken to new heights thanks to Dick Ebersol. David Stern The 67-year-old has been the NBA commissioner for 26 years. But his great influence extends even beyond that time, as he worked with the NBA Players Association to come up with two massive decisions during his time as NBA Executive Vice President: the introduction of the salary cap and the comprehensive drug testing system. The NBA has also expanded from 23 to 30 teams during his era, while he has overseen the building of 28 new arenas, played a big part in extending the game’s popularity overseas, and was also the architect of the highly divisive “age limit,” which requires players to be at least one year out of high school before they go pro. Stern’s decisions have been some of the most controversial in the sporting world. However, the profound effect he’s had on the NBA game globally has made the league more popular than ever.

Bud Selig Selig has been the official commissioner of Major League Baseball since 1998. He served as acting commissioner from 1992 to 1998 and was part of the resurgence of baseball after the 1994 players’ strike. Selig has overseen more changes in Major League Baseball than any other commissioner that came before him. Among the major changes are the realignment of divisions, the wild card, World Series home-field advantage to the all-star game winner, interleague play and performance-enhancing drug suspensions. Baseball turned a blind eye to the use of steroids in the late 80’s and 90’s until Selig incorporated a policy in w hich players are suspended for 50 games for the first offense, 100 for the second and banned for the third. Last year, Selig put instant replay into action and that has already influenced a number of games including a key home run in last year’s World Series.

Malcom Glazer For everything the New York Yankees are in this country, Manchester United is that multiplied by 1000 for the rest of the world. Man U is the most famous professional soccer team in the world’s most popular sport. And the man that owns that powerful team is also the owner of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Bucs. Malcolm Glazer bought the Bucs and quickly was able to secure a state-of-the-art stadium, and led the team to a Super Bowl win. After he took over Manchester United in 2005, the 81-year-old may have united all of England against him, as numerous protests to his ownership have been raised. Meanwhile, United thrived with new sponsorships formed with AIG and Nike. The English fans may not like him, but it is hard to argue with the success and profitability of his teams. Glazer is worth a reported $2.2 billion according to Forbes.

Rupert Murdoch Murdoch founded News Corporation in 1979 and has turned it into the second-largest media conglomerate in the world (behind the Walt Disney Company). Under the scope of News Corp., Murdoch launched the Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986. Eight years later, Fox Sports was born when Fox acquired the rights to broadcast NFL games. Fox is the exclusive home of the Daytona 500 and it has been the exclusive broadcaster of the World Series since 2000. The company also held broadcast rights to college football’s Bowl Championship Series from 2007 to 2010. In 1993, Murdoch and News Corp. purchased a majority share of Satellite Television Asia Region (STAR) for more than $500 million. The next year, News Corp. and the Walt Disney Company teamed up to create ESPN Star Sports, which operates 17 ESPN and STAR Sports branded networks throughout Asia and transmits in five different languages. Sean McManus McManus is the President of CBS Sports and CBS News. He was almost bred to do this job, being the son of ABC sports reporter Jim McKay and being closely associated with ABC sports producer Roone Arledge. He successfully acquired the rights to broadcast NFL games on CBS in 1998 which continues today. The Duke University graduate was also part of the team that brought college football and specifically the SEC to CBS in 1996. CBS also has the exclusive coverage of the Masters, the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open tennis tournament, thanks in part to McManus. The NCAA Tournament is the crown jewel in CBS sports and McManus helped extend the contract to broadcast the event until 2014. No other network has been able to match the coverage of major sporting events the way that CBS has.

LeBron James Already a big name after his junior year of high school, James stepped into the national spotlight with ease and has somehow managed to surpass the massive hype bestowed upon him. He’s a scoring, passing, rebounding and defensive machine who also just happens to be 6-foot-8, 250 pounds (although just a glance at No. 23 confirms he weighs far more), and he is changing the game in just his mid-20’s with his fantastic performances on the court and supreme marketability off of it. If anyone is ever going to rival the force and impact that Michael Jordan had on the game, it’s LBJ. James must win multiple titles like MJ did, a feat that has proved elusive for some of the greats in the past. But if he can climb that mountain, he just might be No. 1 on this list one day.

Brian France NASCAR is synonymous with the name France. Bill France founded the sport in 1948. His son, Bill France Jr., took over as the head of NASCAR in 1972, and in 2003, Bill France’s grandson Brian France became the newest CEO and Chairman of NASCAR. France has taken the sport to new levels in his seven years at the position and has changed NASCAR from a southern phenomenon into the second-most viewed sport in the nation, after the NFL. France has made the sport into a multi-billion dollar industry. France’s accomplishments are many, but among his biggest include gaining a $4.5 billion consolidated TV rights package from ESPN, ABC, Fox, FX and TNT. He also gained a $750 million sponsorship from Sprint/Nextel and, in 2004, founded the “Chase for the NEXTEL Cup”, which awards an annual champion of the sport. France is also widely known for being the founder of the Craftsman Truck Series.

Michael Jordan Jordan is not just a man, he is a brand. That’s why Jordan’s influence has extended far beyond his playing days, which defined him as the best player in the history of basketball. Nike created the Air Jordan shoe in 1985 and has produced a new design every year since. For those counting, the Air Jordan XXV was released on February 13, 2010. When demand reached out-of-control levels, Nike spun off the Jordan clothing line into its own division, the “Jordan Brand,” which currently sponsors college programs including North Carolina, Cincinnati, St. John’s and Georgetown. Jordan, who owns six NBA titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards and five NBA MVP awards, is now the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. He is the second African-American majority owner of a major pro sports team (after previous Bobcats owner Bob Johnson), and he is the first ex-player to be a majority owner of an NBA franchise.

Tiger Woods Clearly the best golfer in the world, the Stanford grad has taken a PR hit over the last few months. No one truly makes it through a sex-scandal without losing some credibility, but few have done more for their sport than Tiger Woods has done for golf. Woods has opened up golf to the casual sports fan and has single-handedly carried ratings higher than PGA brass could have ever dreamed. The ratings for this year’s Masters were through the roof and whenever Tiger plays, the ratings crush the events where he does not appear. When Tiger missed time due to injury a few seasons back, golf could do nothing but suffer and beg for his return. When he came back, the 2009 Masters ratings blew away the 2008 PGA Championship and British Open that he missed. And the scary part is, Woods’ influence will rebound as the public always loves a winner. And he will win again.

Phil Anschutz As the co-founder of Major League Soccer and several soccer franchises, Anschutz has been crucial to the growth and development of professional soccer in the United States. The native of Russell, Kan., helped start franchises such as the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars, Chicago Fire, LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo, San Jose Earthquakes, Colorado Rapids and Kansas City Wizards. Anschutz is also part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, and Hammarby IF, a Swedish professional soccer club. The entrepreneur also owns part of the Staples Center in L.A., home of the Lakers, Kings and Clippers, the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and the Kodak Theatre, also in L.A. The 123rd wealthiest person in the world (according to Forbes), Anschutz is worth a reported $6 billion as of March 2010. Anschutz, a University of Kansas graduate, made his fortune when he bought out his father’s oil-drilling business in 1961. Peyton Manning “Cut that meat!” said Peyton Manning during a MasterCard television ad. Manning has become more than just one of the top five quarterbacks of all-time. Manning, with four MVPs on his resume as well as a Super Bowl ring on his finger, may very well be the best QB currently in the game of football. But Manning’s impact on the sports world runs deeper than just his ability as a passer. The native of New Orleans is in several major television marketing campaigns and has made appearances on popular television shows like The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live. The Colts signal-caller has shown that not just baseball and basketball players can be spokesmen for companies. Football players were always the faceless guys under a helmet, but Manning’s ability to laugh at himself has opened the door for other gridiron greats to appear in ads sans uniform. Manning showed that athletes can be funny.

Kobe Bryant When Michael Jordan retired from basketball in 2003, the NBA was left with a gaping hole as the marquee player in the league. No player since has filled that hole as well as Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. Coming to the NBA straight out of high school in 1996, Bryant has since become one of the top superstars in today’s game. Among his accomplishments are four NBA championships, an Olympic gold medal, 12 All-Star games and the second-most points in a single game in NBA history (81), along with many others. Bryant’s was the top selling jersey in the U.S., Europe and China in 2009. He has had endorsement deals with more than a dozen companies and in 2009 earned $45 million that year, making him the second highest-paid athlete in the world behind Tiger Woods. Bryant has also appeared on the cover of seven video games.There are few athletes today with as much international stardom as Bryant, which puts him on our list.

Hal and Hank Steinbrenner Like father, like sons? George Steinbrenner is the notorious owner of the New York Yankees, though recently he turned over most of his control to sons Hank and Hal. The Yankees are the most famous team, regardless of sport, in the U.S., and these two siblings now make all of the decisions. Be it signing free agents or building a new stadium, these two make the call. Hank may be outspoken (like his father) and may rub other owners the wrong way, but the Yankees are always a threat to win in October and always contact each marquee free agent. It is because of the Steinbrenner’s that the Angels, Mets, Phillies and Dodgers are now free-spending organizations. Hank and Hal proved that money still talks in the game of baseball. And these two may not be humbled any time soon, especially if the World Series trophy keeps calling Yankee Stadium home.

David Hill Hill’s arrival as the head of a relatively new and unknown Fox Sports division paid immediate dividends. The network quickly raided NFL coverage from rival CBS by getting the likes of John Madden, Dick Stockton and Pat Summerall. Meanwhile, the network would boom under his direction, making a huge imprint on football. NFL Sundays and FOX Sports are still a match made in heaven and have helped establish the network in the U.S. They would even introduce a soccer channel to the U.S., which has played a large part in the growth of the game nationwide. But Hill’s influence went beyond the company, as he also came up with successful innovations such as the “Fox Box,” which represented the first time where viewers could see the score of the game being watched at all times on TV.

Gary Bettman NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman may not be one of the most popular figures in sports, but he is undoubtedly one of the most influential. During his 17-year tenure as NHL Commissioner, Bettman has accomplished a lot for the league. Revenues for the sport have increased from $400 million in 1993 to $2.2 billion under his watch. The league has added six teams to expand to 30 during Bettman’s tenure. In 1998, Bettman signed a $600 million television deal with ABC and ESPN. While Bettman has done great things for the league, he’s also been the center of much controversy. The league has had two labor stoppages during his career, including one lasting the entire season in 2004-05. Canadians have also heavily criticized Bettman for giving American television stations TV rights to playoff games. Nonetheless, whether you like him or not, most would agree that Gary Bettman is one of the most influential figures in sports today.

Theodore Forstmann Sports management can be spelled with just three letters: IMG. International Management Group has been arguably the biggest sports agency firm for years and, in 2004, Theodore Forstmann took over as CEO and chairman after his company took over IMG. Forstmann has moved on from just the Jerry McGuire field though, entering the sports event production field. Trans World International is IMG’s event vehicle and is the world’s largest producer, packager and distributor of sports programming. IMG also jumped into the college broadcasting game with IMG College, after the company acquired the Collegiate Licensing Company. IMG now holds the licensing rights to over 150 colleges (including Florida, Kentucky, Kansas and Arizona) and seven conferences. Forstmann had the vision not to just settle for promoting sports stars’ talent, but to reach for the talent of entire schools and conferences. He can also boast the acquisition of Dr. Pepper, Topps and 24 Hour Fitness to his portfolio, all sports-related.

Tom Brady Brady has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over the past decade. He was picked in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Since then, he has gone on to win three Super Bowls, an MVP and set the record for most touchdowns thrown in a season with 50 in 2007. Every year during the draft, Brady’s name is brought up because he seemingly came out of nowhere and proved that anyone can make it. He has helped turn New England into the model franchise in the NFL. He holds countless records and has demanded perfection from his teammates, as well as commanding attention from his opponents. The rivalry between Brady and Peyton Manning has been legendary and given football fans thrills for the past 10 years. He also has changed the way the media treats sports stars since he has dated and now married super model Gisele Bundchen.

Peter Ueberroth Ueberroth has done a variety of things during his life, including a stint as MLB Commissioner and a 1980’s business venture heading up Trans International Airlines. But his greatest mark came for the five years that he spent as the chief organizer of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The games were the first to be privately financed and earned a profit of over $200 million, which was used for sporting activities throughout the U.S. after the games. The private funding was such as success that it created a major shift in the funding of the games, helping them to earn profits at a higher level than ever before. He was named Time Magazine’s Man of the Year for 1984 following this great success. Robert Kraft The owner of the New England Patriots is also the Chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in sports and entertainment, paper and packaging, real estate development and a private equity portfolio. The Columbia graduate also owns the New England Revolution Major League Soccer club as well as Gillette Stadium, where both the Patriots and Revolution play. Kraft also is on the Board of Directors at Viacom. Unlike many owners of professional franchises, Kraft was actually a fan and season ticket-holder of the Patriots before purchasing the team in 1994. Kraft also has his hand in many philanthropic ventures, many of which are sports-related. The native of Brookline, Mass., helps support Columbia, Boston College, Tufts University, Brandeis University, the Boys and Girls Club of Boston and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Kraft also founded the Kraft Family Israel Football League and built the Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem.

Jerry Jones The former Arkansas Razorback football player is known as one of the most active owners in professional sports. In 1989, Jones purchased the Dallas Cowboys and has since become the face of the franchise. Jones also serves as the team’s general manager, one of just three owners to hold both titles. The Cowboys won three Super Bowls in a fouryear period from 1992 to 1995 seasons under Jones’ ownership. Since then, however, they have not been back to the big game. In 2004, Jones announced plans to build a new stadium for his team and, by 2009, Cowboys Stadium was finished being built. The total estimated cost was $650 million. In 2010, Forbes named the Dallas Cowboys the second-most valuable sports franchise in the world behind Manchester United. The estimated value of the team is $1.65 billion, much of which can be attributed to Jones’ work. It’s easy to see why few people have more influence in sports than Jerry Jones.

Mark Emmert Emmert emerged from relative obscurity as president of the University of Washington when he was named president of the NCAA on April 27. The 57-year-old is expected to assume those duties on November 1. While being the fifth president of the NCAA is an important task under any circumstances, Emmert is joining the fray at a particularly crucial time. The NCAA is currently dealing with a lawsuit over the use of athletes’ images for commercial products and there have also been calls to modify the academic reforms installed by former president Myles Brand. The NCAA’s marquee event, the Men’s Basketball Tournament, will expand by just three teams to a total of 68 for next season, but you can bet that the expansion debate is just beginning. Emmert, in fact, has already said that he will soon be discussing future changes regarding the NCAA Tournament. Those are just a few of the issues awaiting a man who will soon preside over thousands of schools and more than 400,000 student-athletes.