Open Mic: Commissioners, Agents, CEOs Wield Clout in Sports Industry

•Who are the most powerful individuals in the U.S. sports industry?

I feel that the most powerful people in the sports industry have to include David Stern, Roger Goodell, Tiger Woods, Jerry Jones, and the Steinbrenner family.  

•Which women deserve to place highest on the list?

Candace Parker, Venus/Serena Williams.

•What roles in the industry lend themselves to having the most influence?

Many of the commissioners have a lot of influence since they assist in setting some of the rules and punishments. Look at what Goodell can do to guys like Adam Jones and the way it affects the Titans and a team like the Cowboys in picking him up. 

•How about a commissioner who can impact the rules governing how a sport is played, decide whether or not a player should be suspended for off-field conduct, or personally set the limits of a salary cap?

See above. 

•What about owners who decide to spend more money than others to ensure that a team is competitive?

They kind of set the bar within limits, but some are willing to pay so much more and take a monetary personal hit. In that case it creates separation between large and small markets, and at times does not allow for a lot of competition.

But in the end it all comes down to player performance. You can spend all the money in the world, but if they don't perform it doesn't work.   

•Where do agents fit in?

They are only holding jobs if the market is there. If the teams want to pay, then the agents have jobs.

Therefore agents must follow the trends, which sometimes makes things difficult because if the money is there, the smaller teams will fall victim to the high-priced agents. The agents will go where the money is and many times they will keep their players away from those smaller markets. 

•Are media members (newspaper and magazine columnists, bloggers, broadcast journalists, fan journalists) who have the ability to mold public perception on the topic of sports in the running on your list?

Not at all because all they do is create an atmosphere and I truly think that the owners and players could care less what they have to say.  The only influence is the TV/radio media since there is a lot of money and show involved in that. 

•What about CEOs who run many facets of professional franchises, or those who have become powerful through the sale of athletic equipment?

They give the players a little extra incentive, and will really push for getting their players out in the public eye and viewing.