When I learned that there would be a competition for a spot in Business Week's Power 100, I decided to take a stab. So, when I thought about the most powerful athletes in the industry, the obvious came to mind. The Lebrons, the Tigers, and the Kobes were first. Then I started to think, the top five would probably be too easy. So instead of picking apart the top five or ten, this article will discuss the top 25.
25. Candace Parker, Women's Basketball
The first woman to dunk in a women's college basketball game. She is now assisting her teammate Lisa Leslie in expanding the WNBA. When most people think of women's basketball, Candace is the second name that comes to mind. She could go down as being the best female basketball player to ever suit up. She is the first athlete on this list who is on her way to moving up.
24. Andy Roddick, Tennis
Not what he used to be, but he still deserves to be in here. He has earned a spot as, probably, the most recognizable male United States Tennis player—partly because there are few others who are competitive. James Blake might be better than Roddick, but he needs time and he needs to be able to compete with Federer and Nadal to elevate himself to the next level.
23. Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR
Dale is not the best driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, yet he remains one of the sport's most popular. Being Dale Earnhardt's son probably isn't hurting him. When his father died in 2001, fans were heart broken. People soon began to fall in love with Dale Jr. after his win at Daytona in the first race there after his father's death and the rest is history.
22. Yao Ming, Basketball
Yao is an extremely marketable player, especially to an Asian audience. He is one of the NBA's best centers and everyone knows of him. The word Yao can be recognized by almost every American that has ever watched television.
21. Adrian Peterson, Football
Here is our second up-and-comer. Adrian Peterson will soon be huge. In his first NFL season, he was a pro bowl running back. He broke the NFL's single game rushing record against San Diego and would have led the league in rushing if not for an injury against Green Bay. When he was 100 percent, Peterson dominated the league and should continue to dominate the league. The Minnesota Vikings will look to be competitive for a Superbowl in the coming years, with Adrian being the centerpiece of the offense.
20. Shaquille O'neal, Basketball
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