NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Tops SBJ's List Of Most Influential People In Sports

NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER tops SportsBusiness Journal's annual "50 Most Influential People In Sports Business" list. Since replacing DAVID STERN on Feb. 1, Silver has had "few missteps -- if any." He "swiftly and decidedly ousted disgraced former Clippers owner DONALD STERLING," while also delivering a "market-adjusting $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles franchise to former Microsoft CEO STEVE BALLMER." Silver also signed off on a "new $24 billion media deal, tripling the value of the current deal" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/8 issue).

MOVERS & SHAKERS: ESPN’s Darren Rovell noted since the rankings first came out in '04, a "lot of the same people are on the list over time, though obviously it’s moved around.” Silver's move to the top of the list is because he has "done so much” since taking over for Stern. NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL listed at No. 5 “kind of stands out.” He was No.2 last year, and that "might not seem like a big fall, but it’s the lowest he’s been since 2006, which was his first year as commissioner." Rovell: "It’s almost not possible to fall lower given the NFL’s place in this country.” The “most interesting thing on this entire list is potentially NCAA President MARK EMMERT” being listed at No. 41, as he was Nos. 33 and 25 the last two years. Emmert’s ranking has fallen because his “relevance clearly is on the decline.” There are few minorities or women on the list, but Rovell said, "That number is going to increase. ... There are going to be more women in top positions in the future” (ESPN.com, 12/8).

ADAM EXCEEDS: CBSSPORTS.com's Matt Moore wrote it has "been quite a honeymoon for Silver, who boosted this perception with how he handled the Sterling debacle, but also with how he managed to present himself from the get-go." Silver "reached out to the players before the Sterling debacle and offered himself as more of a partner than even" Stern did. The question "will be how this persona will hold over time, given the already contentious environment over the potential opt-out from the CBA by both the players and owners in 2017, and whatever controversies the future holds." Moore: "Still, it's a wise choice" (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/8). RANT SPORTS' Dan Schultz wrote Silver's "initiative and forward-thinking mindset are definitely a breath of fresh air" (RANTSPORTS.com, 12/8). Meanwhile, Wizards and Capitals Owner TED LEONSIS wrote on his personal blog he was "extremely honored to be among such prominent figures in sports." He added, "It also is gratifying to see NHL commissioner GARY BETTMAN crack the top 10. He too has overseen a significant new TV deal with Rogers. The NHL has experienced a tremendous amount of growth as a result of Gary’s leadership" (TEDSTAKE.com, 12/9). Elsewhere, NBCSPORTS.com's Tony DiZinno wrote while NASCAR Chair & CEO BRIAN FRANCE "ranks behind the four commissioners of the four major stick-and-ball sports ... it is still a sign of NASCAR’s standing in the general sports world that France remains solidly in with that group" (NBCSPORTS.com, 12/8).

CANDID CAMERAS: The decision to include TMZ's HARVEY LEVIN at No. 50 provoked a number of responses on Twitter. Octagon First Call Managing Dir David Schwab: "Part of making *lists* has to do with publicity value. See @HarveyLevinTMZ @TMZ making SBJ Top 50." Media consultant Ben Grossman: "Very smart by @sbjsbd putting @TMZ chief @HarveyLevinTMZ on its 50 Most Influential People in Sports Business." Forbes' Mark Burns: "Very telling of the year TMZ had in sports: Harvey Levin, Founder of TMZ, named the No. 50 most influential person in #sportsbiz by @SBJSBD."