Phil Knight, Gail Miller Named Most Influential In Oregon, Utah

While you might not like Nike Chair PHIL KNIGHT's "politics, or his wrangling, or you might be on the wrong side of his allegiance when it comes to football teams," what you "can't deny is that he's the most influential person in Oregon sports," according to John Canzano of the Portland OREGONIAN. Other people "rise and fall on this list as circumstances dictate," but Knight "has never dropped below No. 2." Unlike some, Knight "doesn't need to be popular to be powerful," as his clout "doesn't depend on the performance of a team." Knight's influence "has never been greater," and he ranks No. 1 on the list "because people listen to him." Also, he "has vision" and he "knows how to use his influence." When Knight speaks, "what he says has impact," and "when he listens, it matters." When he "moves to action, while you might not agree with him, you can't deny he has major influence" (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/2).

UTAHNS: The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE ranked Jazz Owner GAIL MILLER No. 1 on the list of Most Influential Sports Figures in Utah for '09. In Salt Lake City, Lya Wodraska noted Miller "remains out of the limelight, preferring that son [Jazz CEO] GREG ... serve as the family's spokesperson," but Larry H. Miller Group of Companies sources said that Miller "very much asserts herself in the empire which she now owns" following the death of her husband, late Jazz Owner LARRY MILLER. Jazz President RANDY RIGBY: "She is one of the quiet heroes in the organization. She is very strong, with a lot of good instincts and an excellent business mind." Wodraska noted Gail Miller is a "regular presence at meetings and doesn't shy away from making decisions she feels her husband would have wanted" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 8/3).

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