This list is probably completely biased because ESPN the Magazine helped, but I was still surprised that so many ESPN people that I have met are on this list. If these ESPN the Magazine editors actually voted, then I would expect all these ESPN execs to be on the list, but only the people below actually got to vote.
4. George Bodenheimer President, ESPN, ABC Sports; co-chairman, Disney Media Networks
36. John Skipper EVP, content, ESPN
66. John Walsh SVP, executive editor, ESPN Internet Group
82. John Kosner SVP, General Manager, ESPN New Media
99. David Berson EVP, program planning and strategy, ESPN
View complete top 100
Ranking the 100 most powerful people in sports is a mammoth undertaking. To figure out who should be on the list and at what position, BusinessWeek assembled a panel of 20 experts from sports and media. (ESPN The Magazine, a powerful sports brand in its own right, did not participate in the ranking.) We gave our panelists several criteria to help guide them. Among the measures: how individuals rate vs. their peers; how much money they control, generate, or influence; how long people have exercised power; and their long-term impact on a sport or the larger world of sports. Here are the panelists:
- Shane Battier
- Amanda Beard
- Bill Cowher
- Carl Edwards
- Brad Faxon
- Sal Galatioto
- Marc Ganis
- Martina Hingis
- Rick Horrow
- Mark Kriegel
- Tommy Lasorda
- Lisa Leslie
- David Martin
- Neal Pilson
- Michael Rapkoch
- Scott Rosner
- Mark Spitz
- Glenn Stout
- Pat Summitt
- Paul Swangard