ESPN's BOB LEY hosted "SportsCentury" series listing
the Top 10 most influential people in sports this century.
No. 10) IMG Founder & CEO MARK MCCORMACK. Ley: "McCormack's
success has clearly changed the perception of athletes, by
the fans and the marketplace." No. 9) Former Bears coach
GEORGE HALAS. No. 8) Former Dodgers Owner WALTER O'MALLEY.
Stanford Economics Professor Roger Noll: "The O'Malley
operation ... was the single best managed sports franchise
over the long run of any in the country." No. 7) Former IOC
President AVERY BRUNDAGE: Ley: "For almost half a century,
one man was the global symbol of Olympic idealism and
Olympic controversy." No. 6) NBA Commissioner DAVID STERN.
Ley: "Stern gave us the phrase 'percent of the gross.' He
made his players rich, his owners richer, and fans screaming
for more all over the world." No. 5) Former MLB
Commissioner Judge KENESAW MOUNTAIN LANDIS. Ley: "He ruled,
often imperiously, in the best interests of baseball." No.
4) MLBPA Founder MARVIN MILLER. Ley: "In today's contracts,
we count not just the dollars, but the number digits and we
accept what was once considered revolutionary -- that
athletes have rights and a voice. A voice given to them by
Marvin Miller." No. 3) Former ABC Sports President ROONE
ARLEDGE. Ley: "Roone Arledge invented the modern form of
sports television, venerating, and more importantly,
creating heroes -- giving viewers someone to root for or
against." No. 2) Former NFL Commissioner PETE ROZELLE.
Ley: "Rozelle's vision and leadership were critical elements
... when he crafted the terms of pro football's historic
merger. Four years after the merger, Rozelle looked to
establish the league in virgin territory: primetime
television." No. 1) Former Dodgers President & GM BRANCH
RICKEY. Ley said Rickey's "fingerprints are everywhere in
[MLB]. He created the farm system. He developed the idea
of shared [TV] revenue. He even forced expansion in 1961.
... But his legacy was sealed by the integration of
baseball" ("SportsCentury," ABC, 5/23).
