NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Tops BusinessWeek’s ‘The Power 100’ Ranking of the Most Powerful People in Sports
Story Highlights
NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell, Tiger Woods, and NBA Chairman David Stern top BusinessWeek’s
inaugural “The Power 100” ranking of the 100 most powerful people in
sports. Peyton Manning ranks as the top NFL athlete at No. 13,
U.S.
newcomer David Beckham comes in at No. 17, and Katie Bayne, Senior VP at
Coca-Cola, is the highest-ranked woman on the list at No. 67.
What is
power in sports? In the October 8 issue, BusinessWeek combines its business
insights with the sports knowledge of ESPN The Magazine’s writers and editors
to reveal, for the first time, an in-depth examination of how power manifests
itself in the sports world. Both publications will feature shared content that
analyzes “Power and Sports,” and each will offer articles that are
exclusive to their magazines.
BusinessWeek
exclusively undertook the mammoth and challenging project of producing
“The Power 100,” a ranking of the 100 most powerful people in sports.
(ESPN The Magazine, itself a powerful sports brand, did not participate in or
contribute to the ranking.) The result of these efforts is an insightful roster
of league commissioners, top athletes, media execs, high profile agents, team
owners and leading sports brand CEOs.
To compile
this first-ever list of sports figures, BusinessWeek reached out to 21
distinguished people from the worlds of sports and media. The panelists were
given several criteria to help guide them. Among the criteria: how an
individual rates against his or her peers; how much money he or she controls,
generates, or influences; how long someone has exercised power and the lasting
consequences of that person’s tenure – his or her legacy. For additional help,
BusinessWeek turned to the fans. In the space of four weeks, 160,000 fans
stormed BusinessWeek.com to nominate their favorite powerbrokers.
In
addition to “The Power 100” ranking, BusinessWeek’s October 8 issue features:
Case
studies on trailblazers in the sports industry
Profiles
of select sports figures, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
The shadow
players — relatively unknown, but influential all the same
BusinessWeek’s
October 8 issue, “The Power 100,” will be available on newsstands
Monday, October 1. Expanded content, including infamous moments in sports,
profiles, exclusive videos and slideshows, and the full methodology of the
ranking, will be available online at
http://www.businessweek.com/power100.
BusinessWeek’s
“Power 100”
1
Roger Goodell Commissioner, NFL
2
Tiger Woods Golfer
3
David Stern Commissioner, NBA
4
George Bodenheimer President, ESPN, ABC
Sports; Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks
5
Bud Selig Commissioner, MLB
6
Brian France Chairman and CEO, NASCAR
7
Dick Ebersol Chairman, NBC Universal Sports &
Olympics
8
Phil Knight Chairman, Nike
9
Sean McManus President, CBS News and Sports
10 Rupert
Murdoch Chairman and CEO, News Corp.
11 Michael
Jordan Managing Member of Basketball Operations,
Charlotte Bobcats
12 Scott
Boras President,
Boras
Corp.
13 Peyton
Manning Quarterback,
Indianapolis
Colts
14 David Hill
Chairman and CEO, Fox Sports
15 Donald
Fehr Executive Director, MLBPA
16 Myles Brand
President and CEO, NCAA
17 David
Beckham Soccer Star
18 Jacques
Rogge President, IOC
19 Lebron
James Guard,
Cleveland
Cavaliers
20 Tony
Ponturo VP, Global Media and Sports Marketing, Anheuser-Busch
21 Phil
Anschutz Founder, Anschutz Entertainment Group
22 Herbert
Hainer Chairman and CEO, Adidas
23 Dale
Earnhardt, Jr. NASCAR Driver
24 Brian
Roberts Chairman and CEO, Comcast
25 George
Steinbrenner Principal Owner,
New
York Yankees
26
Theodore Forstmann Chairman and CEO, IMG
27 Gary
Bettman Commissioner, NHL
28 Alex
Rodriguez Third Baseman,
New York
Yankees
29 Joseph
S. Blatter President, FIFA
30 Roger
Federer Tennis Player
31 Jim
Delany Commissioner, Big Ten Conference
32 Dick
Pound Chairman, World Anti-Doping Agency
33 Gene
Upshaw Chairman, NFLPA
34 Tim
Finchem Commissioner, PGA
35 Lance
Armstrong Cyclist
36 John
Skipper EVP, Content, ESPN
37 Mark
Parker CEO and President, Nike
38 David
Levy President, Turner Sports
39 Barry
Bonds Outfielder,
San Francisco
Giants
40 Daniel
Snyder Owner,
Washington
Redskins
41 Derek
Jeter Shortstop,
New York
Yankees
42 Tim
Leiweke President and CEO, AEG
43 Paul
Allen Owner,
Seattle Seahawks and
Portland Trailblazers
44 Robert
DuPuy President and COO, MLB
45
Ladainain Tomlinson Running Back,
San
Diego Chargers
46 Tim
Brosnan EVP for Business, MLB
47 Jerry
Reinsdorf Owner,
Chicago Bulls and
Chicago White Sox
48 Larry
Lucchino President and CEO,
Boston
Red Sox
49 Ed
Goren President, FOX Sports
50 Mark
Cuban Owner,
Dallas
Mavericks
51 Mark
Ford President, Sports Illustrated Group
52 Bob
Bowman President and CEO, MLB Advanced Media
53 Jerry Jones
Owner,
Dallas Cowboys and
Dallas Desperados
54 Roger
Penske Owner, Penske Racing
55 Chase
Carey CEO, President and Director, DirecTV
56 Jeff
Gordon NASCAR Driver
57 Bernie
Ecclestone Head of Formula 1
58 Jeff
Urban SVP, Sports Marketing, Gatorade/PepsiCo
59 George
Pyne President, IMG Sports and Entertainment
60 Omar
Minaya EVP of Baseball Operations and
General
Manager,
New York
Mets
61
Sidney Crosby Center,
Pittsburgh Penguins
62 Jack
Roush Founder and CEO, Roush Fenway Racing
63 Ross
Greenberg CEO, HBO Sports
64 Robert
Kraft Owner, Chairman and CEO,
New England
Patriots
65 John
Henry Principal Owner,
Boston
Red Sox; Co-Owner, Roush Fenway Racing
66 John
Walsh EVP and Executive Editor, ESPN Internet Group
67 Katie
Bayne SVP, Coca-Cola
North America
68 Eric
Grubman Executive Vice President, Finance and Strategic Acquisitions, NFL
69 John
Galloway VP, Sports and Media, PepsiCo North
America
70 Tom
Brady Quarterback,
New England Patriots
71 Tony
Hawk Skateboarding Tycoon
72 Mark
Steinberg SVP and Global Managing Director of Golf, IMG
73 Maria
Sharapova Tennis Player
74 Tony
Stewart NASCAR Driver
75 The
Maloof Family Owners,
Sacramento Kings and
Sacramento Monarchs
76
Arnold Palmer PGA Legend
77 Randy
Levine President,
New York
Yankees
78
Shaquille O’Neal Center,
Miami
Heat
79 Casey
Wasserman Chairman and CEO, Wasserman Media Group
80 James
Dolan Chairman, MSG; President and CEO, Cablevision Systems
81 John
Madden NFL Commentator
82 John
Kosner SVP and General Manager, ESPN New Media
83 Arn
Tellem President, WMG
84 Bruton
Smith Chairman and CEO,
Speedway
Motorsports
85 Adam
Silver Deputy Commissioner and COO, NBA
86 Charlie
Denson President, Nike Brand
87 Tony
Petitti EVP and Executive Producer,CBS Sports
88
Kobe
Bryant
Point Guard,
Los
Angeles Lakers
89
Yao Ming Center,
Houston
Rockets
90 Tom
Condon NFL Agent, CAA
91 Arte
Moreno Owner,
Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim
92 Brian
Cashman General Manager,
New York
Yankees
93 Joe
Gibbs Head Coach,
Washington
Redskins; NASCAR Team Owner
94 Heidi
Ueberroth President, Global Marketing Partnerships and International Business
Operations, NBA
95 Earvin
“Magic” Johnson NBA Legend
96 Billy
Beane Vice-President and General Manager,
Oakland
Athletics
97 Micky
Arison Owner,
Miami
Heat; Chairman of NBA Board of Governors
98 Lesa
France-Kennedy President, International
Speedway
Corp.
99 David
Berson EVP, Program Planning and Development, ESPN
100 Donna
Orender President, WNBA