Bosses Day 2010: The Top Owners In All of Sports

In professional sports, as in any business, success starts at the top. A good owner sets the tone of an organization and that tone has a lot to do with the product on the field.

If you have an owner that displays a balance of class with a will to win, you have the beginnings of the recipe for a great organization. It also takes a savvy business mind with the ability to know how much to push.

Often owners can push too much and cause problem for their teams, but being too hands off can lead to problems as well. These owners have proven over the years that they know the formula for success and they know how to implement it year after year.

5. Mike Ilitch (Detroit Red Wings)

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DETROIT - JUNE 06: Mike Illitch owner of the Detroit Red Wings reacts to fans during a parade to celebrate winning the 2008 Stanley Cup on June 6, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Mike Ilitch bought the Detroit Red Wings in 1982 for a mere eight million dollars. I use the word mere because the franchise is now worth over three hundred million dollars. In that time Ilitch's team has won over a thousand games and four championships.

This turnaround was much needed as the team had experienced nine straight seasons of finishing under .500 before Ilitch's purchase.

Ilitch has turned this team into a world class organization that continues to put fans in the seats even while other NHL teams struggle and white his home city of Detroit goes through its own economic struggles.

4. Peter Holt (San Antonio Spurs)

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PHOENIX - MAY 05: Owner of the San Antonio Spurs Peter Holt attends Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on May 5, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The team is wearing 'Los Suns' je

Peter Holt may be the top owner on this list that you've never heard of. Holt bought the Spurs in 1993 for 75 million dollars and has seen the Spurs make the playoffs in every year except one. Holt just needed one stroke of luck to take his franchise to a championship level when the Spurs won the Tim Duncan lottery.

Since then the Spurs have become one of the classiest and most successful franchises in basketball as they have claimed four championships since drafting Duncan.

Holt has seen the worth of the franchise grow astronomically over the years as they are now worth over 400 million dollars. Most importantly Holt is truly a respected and beloved member in the San Antonio community and that certainly adds to his positive legacy.

3. Jerry Buss (Los Angeles Lakers)

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LAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 12: Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss appears before his team's preseason game against the Sacramento Kings at the Thomas & Mack Center October 12, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that

Jerry Buss purchased the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979 and took an already proud franchise to even higher levels. He has been at the helm for the Magic Johnson-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar era, the Shaq-Kobe era, and the current Black Mamba era (really just another Kobe era).

All in all this has added up to 28 playoff appearances, 14 NBA Finals appearances, and a staggering eight championships. Navigating from dynasty to dynasty may seem easy with the quality of players we are talking about, but to keep a team of this caliber on the court year after year is truly remarkable.

Most importantly the Lakers have created a franchise that is the model of continuity as former players are always part of a family and consistently hired as front office members and coaches. It is easy to say that the Lakers are a model franchise in the NBA.

2. Steinbrenner Family (New York Yankees)

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: The family of late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner poses in front of the newly unveiled monument prior to game against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 20, 2010 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City.

From George and now to his son Hal, the Steinbrenner's have been at the helm of the proudest franchise in sports since 1973. George originally bought the team when they were at the bottom of the standings for 10 million dollars. Over thirty years later the team stands at a net worth of well over a billion dollars.

Although George was twice suspended from baseball and constantly butting heads with his managers and players, the will and desire was always there to win, and that is the one thing that every owner must have.

The results were there and continue to be there into Hal's era. The Steinbrenner's have overseen 18 playoff teams and six championship seasons.

George's finally legacy however will be the new Yankee Stadium that he fought for years to build and now sits beautifully in the Bronx as a constant reminder of the Boss's immense impact.

1. The Rooney Family (Pittsburgh Steelers)

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WASHINGTON - MAY 21: U.S. President Barack Obama (L) poses with Pittsburgh Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney (C) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (R) during a picture with the 2009 NFL Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the East Room of the White House May

Since 1933 the Rooney family has been the model of consistency and excellence in professional sports. For one family to own a franchise for this period of time is truly staggering and speaks volumes about the high character of the Rooney's.

The Rooney's have turned this into a billion dollar franchise that has won six super bowls, the most of any franchise. Consistency has been the key as the Steelers have only had three coaches since 1969 and all of them have at least one championship.

Rooney is a respected member of the NFL community as one of the leagues premier diversity rules is named in his honor. In addition the Steelers franchise has given the Pittsburgh its biggest shot of civic pride and is truly the focal point of the city.