Sports Business Journal recently published their annual “50 Most Influential People In Sports Business” list and many of you had opinions…..both positive and negative. Well, here’s your chance to voice your opinion and enter to win a cool pair of BTB Sport Optic sunglasses just in time for the holidays!
We want to know who you think was missing from the Sports Business Journal list and should be recognized among the “Most Influential People In Sports Business”.
How To Enter The Facebook Contest
To be eligible to win the BTB Sport Optic sunglasses here’s what you need to do:
- Go to http://facebook.com/sportsnetworker
- Leave a comment on one of the Facebook Contest wall posts telling us who you think was missing from the SBJ list and why?
The Facebook Contest closes at midnight on Thursday, December 22, 2011. The winner(s) will be randomly chosen and announced on the Sports Networker Facebook Page on Friday, December 23, 2011
Here is just a sample of some of the comments we have found the last few days on Facebook & Twitter. Let’s spark up the debate……who do you think was missing from the Sports Business Journal list and why?
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The person I always looked up to was Michael Jordan. That is why I always wanted to work in the sports industry.
I honestly have to say Jed York. What he has accomplished with the stadium funding is impressive. The turn around of one of the proudest dynasty’s with Coach Harbaugh and the staff he brought is almost a coup! My two cents. Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Michael Jordan is the most influential people in the sports business considering how he revolutionized the game of basketball during his playing career!
A major miss was Paul Swangard, Managing Director of the Warsaw School of Sports Marketing at the University of Oregon. When a journalist has a question regarding sports marketing, Swangard is usually the most sought after source for comment.
Ryan Lee
Neil Braslow. In all seriousness though, how about Vince McMahon. WWE has been a consistent brand for years and never has a labor dispute to worry about. I found in fascinating that Jane Geddes jumped from the LPGA to the WWE a few months ago. Whatever you want to classify their brand of entertainment as, it was interesting to see WWE hire an executive from a “legitimate” sports organization.
How about Paul DePodesta (moneyball inventor). Your list is US heavy, maybe take some people from across the ocean – Michel Platini (UEFA president), Sepp Blatter (Fifa president), Roman Abramovic (Chelsea owner), Qatar Investment Authority (new PSG owners, and sponsors of Barcelona FC), Evangelos Marinakis (owner of Olympiakos and Super League president). Then moving to Australia – Andrew Demetriou (AFL aussie rules football CEO), Russell Crow (actor and owner of NRL South Sydney Rabbitohs)… And to top it off, don’t forget – Tim Tebow
How could you miss out on Lalit Modi, the master mind behind Indian premier League (IPL). Players make more money then soccer player in just 6 weeks. He bridge the gap with Cricket, Celebrity and Business tycoons..
Billy Beane – How often does Hollywood make a movie about the business side of sports & he had Brad Pitt play him!
David Rone, President of Time Warner Cable Sports. A former agent at Creative Artists and senior executive at Fox Sports and Walt Disney Co, Rone has been instrumental in TWC’s push into the Sports realm. With plans to launch two 24/7 RSN’s, Rone was the primary force behind TWC’s 10 year, $55 million deal with the LA Galaxy, the largest TV rights deal in MLS. Combined with speculation about TWC’s role in upcoming Dodgers negotiations, you can plainly see this man deserves a seat at the big boys’ table.
Sports Memorabilia It’s the team owners. They control the money! Enough said.
Michael Adamson: VP of Sports New Products & Services @ Turner Sports. Mr. Adamson spearheaded the March Madness On-Demand Apps and social media integration into the 2011 NCAA D1 Men’s Basketball tournament. Over the years he has revolutionized fan interaction with various leagues, through NBA League Pass and NASCAR Race Buddy.
The ranking is very US-centric and so ’90s/’00s, despite the fact we enter the new decade. Most of the people listed there aren’t indispensable – it looks more like a ranking of “top roles in the (US) sports industry”, rather than well-known and respected personalities. Power here is associated with money rather than opinion setting. Yet, if we follow that path, given the impact of Arab money on ManCity, Malaga, PSG, Al-Jazeera’s TV rights for football and the 2022 World Cup, I have no idea how no-one from the UAE or Qatar made the list. With football (soccer) becoming the global game, putting it behind “traditional American sports” looks quite out of touch with the reality. And yes, the lockout has proven how influential David Stern is
If we focus in the world, we have to consider Jose Ramon Fernandez. Director of Sports / Anchor in Spanish for ESPN Deportes.
@gregoryruff thanks for spreading info about the contest!
Great insights so far everyone!
I hate to mention his name but I have to go with Scott Boras. Is there any agent most MLB teams hate to deal with more? There is so much disparity in MLB and he is as responsible as anyone. Worst part is the Bud-Meister has let him do it.
No one from Spain or Europe??? Perhaps, Josep Guardiola is a very important people in soccer in Spain, he’s the coach of FC Barcelona TEAM!!!!
Bryan Srabian (Social Media Director at the San Francisco Giants)… Bryan has helped lead tremendous campaigns, innovations, and deals for the Giants ball-club. He not only exhibits his expertise via the Giants, but also online through Twitter (@srabe). He actively shares and engages with rich content on a day by day basis, and because of this his personal network, as well as professional (seen through the SF Giants) has grown substantially since he took the position in the beginning of 2010.
Richard Peddie. What he has accomplished as President and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is second to none in the industry. Adding 2 teams (Raptors + TFC), 3 networks (NBA TV Canada, LeafsTV, GolTV Canada), BMO Field, and Real Sport Bar & Grill – only voted the best sports bar in the world – to build an impressive sports and entertainment empire. If you’re going to have Steinbrenner (MLB), Cuban (NBA), Kraft and Jones (NFL), then you need to have Peddie – who is equally influential in the NHL and the sports industry as these other leaders are to their respective sports. Just my two cents.
Lalit Modi, the brainchild and architect of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Twenty20 cricket, which is a billion dollar industry that has revolutionized the game of cricket for the fans and spectators.
I believe that Theo Epstein should be on this list. He was hired at the age of 28 (becoming the youngest GM in baseball history) to run the Boston Red Sox, one of the most prominent sports franchises in the world. He completely changed that team and put together a roster and coaching staff that ‘Reversed the Curse’, leading them to 2 World Series Championships. He has become the poster child of what a Sports Executive should be and now has been hired by the Chicago Cubs to the tune of $20 Million dollars to help turn them around. He represents the next generation of Sports Business Leaders.
Ben Sutton, President of IMG College. College sports still have extreme potential in terms of growth and value, and IMG College is at the forefront of this movement. They have developed partnerships across the spectrum of college sports that include multimedia and sales. Sutton and IMG college are going to shape the future for college sports.
My name?
Michael Jordan. Not because of what he has accomplished as a basketball player, but because of what he has YET to accomplish as an owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. The man is the most competitive individual the world has ever seen. People may view him as a selfish owner, but he will do whatever it takes to win. It took Jordan 6 years before he finally won his first championship. Once the Bulls found the right pieces in Pippen, Grant, and Paxson, Jordan excelled his game and led the team to multiple championships. I feel as if he’s still in the early stages of basketball ownership. He has much to learn. However, one thing I can almost guarantee is that he will find a way to win. He just needs to find the right pieces for his Bobcats and he’ll shock the world once again.
3 names spring to mind for soccer in not only Europe but the world, Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola who has taken his team to the top but tends to be on the quiet side of networking, Jose Mourinho who has won Champions League titles wherever he has gone but is brash and loud, but for me, the biggest and best known around the world is Manchester United long time boss Sir Alex Ferguson who has quietly and efficiently went about his business. When he speaks, people listen.
Will Ratner is the definition of entrepreneur. In addition to be a restaurateur, advocate, an advisor and an agent, in just two years he has started and fully operates a Sports Management firm that offers marketing, athlete management, financial advisement, social media, and PR. He has fast extended his empire with 2 first round pics this year, Prince Amukamara of the NY Giants and Imam Shumpert of he NY Knicks. He handles over 12 athletes and makes it look easy. He also just founded a charity (athletesthatcare.org) which helps rookies find themselves through philanthropy. He NEEDS to be on this list. He’s the definition of an influential person in this business. William Ratner
Will Ratner is the definition of entrepreneur. In addition to be a restaurateur, advocate, an advisor and an agent, in just two years he has started and fully operates a Sports Management firm, La Sports Management LLC lasportsmanagement.com , that offers marketing, athlete management, financial advisement, social media, and PR. He has fast extended his empire by attaining 2 first round pics this year. He handles over 12 athletes and makes it look easy. He also just founded a charity (athletesthatcare.org) which helps rookies find themselves through philanthropy. He NEEDS to be on this list. He’s the definition of an influential person in this business. William Ratner