TIME magazine today released its annual list of the 100 most influential people, and NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER was among a handful of sports figures included. Pro Basketball HOFer KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, who writes the piece on Silver, noting the commish has gone through "interesting times" since beginning in his role on Feb. 1, 2014. His tenure has included a "racist rant" by former Clippers Owner DONALD STERLING and a "mea culpa" by outgoing Hawks Managing Partner BRUCE LEVENSON, in addition to drug-related suspensions of players, salary-cap debates and lockout rumors. But Silver has "handled all these potentially divisive issues with openness, fairness and integrity." Abdul-Jabbar: "While it’s true that Adam has his eyes on the financial prize, it’s even more important that the NBA proves itself worthy of all the money, not just through offering the highest level of athleticism on the court but also by providing the highest level of professionalism off of it" (TIME.com, 4/16).
WORLDWIDE LEADER: News Corp. Chair & CEO RUPERT MURDOCH writes Disney Chair & CEO BOB IGER is a "thoughtful leader and an earnest individual, decent and dignified, farsighted and focused" in an industry "full of what are loosely called 'characters,' a term that is sometimes merely a lousy excuse for bad behavior." The common theme "running throughout the Disney businesses is family," and there is "no doubt ESPN is a juggernaut" (TIME.com, 4/16).
MAKING WAVES: U.S. women's national soccer team F ABBY WAMBACH and pro surfer GABRIEL MEDINA are the only active athletes on the list. National Soccer HOFer MIA HAMM writes Wambach "has developed into a star" and "embraced being a leader." She is a "great role model for young fans and recently led the charge to get FIFA to use grass for this summer’s Women’s World Cup, as it does for men." Though she "lost the battle, the fight sent a powerful message about equality in sports." Meanwhile, Time's Sean Gregory notes Medina last year became the second-youngest champion ever when he "won Brazil's first surfing world title." Now, a nation "used to its soccer players being among the world’s best has a new phenom to cheer." By "shaking up a sport typically dominated by Americans and Australians, Medina has become an icon in Brazil and is inspiring a new generation to make some waves" (TIME.com, 4/16).
