WWE: Vince McMahon vs Roger Goodell, Who's the Better Leader of His Sport?

With both companies recently having their respective drafts, the NFL and WWE are two of the most watched organizations in the country today. Even with the lockout bring a lot of negative press, the NFL is still one of the most watched brands in the world. As for WWE, the brand has still stayed relevant in pop culture, despite not being able to match their peak of popularity of more than a decade ago.

WWE CEO Vince McMahon and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell are two of the more recognizable authority figures today. While both have dealt with many difficult decisions and dealt with some difficult publicity, both stand strong atop their sports. NFL's financial situation is public knowledge at this point with their lockout troubles. WWE has had their troubles too in finances, as seen by their first quarter report today.

So which leader is better: Goodell or McMahon? Let's break it down in five different categories.

Functionality

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GREEN BAY, WI - JUNE 22: Vince McMahon attends a press conference about the WWE at the Austin Straubel International Airport on June 22, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mark A. Wallenfang/Getty Images)

Functionality: the quality of being suited to serve a purpose well.

Both companies function well and server a good purpose to their respective audiences. However, the NFL is unlikely at this point to start their season on time, if at all this year. Meanwhile, WWE never truly has an off-season. Even when things happen that would normally shut down other sports, WWE keeps going with shows almost every single day.

WWE even has had shows annually in England and Canada for many years, territories that have only recently gotten NFL games. The NFL may wish to become global, but kids all over the world know who John Cena is before they know who Peyton Manning is.

Advantage: McMahon

Revenue

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at the podium during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

This isn't really much of a battle. The NFL annually brings in more than $9 billion, while WWE's first quarter reports have shown a loss in revenue almost across the board in comparison to this time last year. There are massive cuts that could be coming any day now as Superstars, Divas and developmental talent could all be sent packing.

The NFL may be arguing over how to split the pot, but that is one massive pot. WWE, on the other hand, isn't going bankrupt any time soon. Even still, WWE is trying to run leaner and maximize profits while limiting expenses. The same could be said for NFL with trying to expand the regular season two more games.

There are also outside profits, which seem to tell the entire story. The NFL owns their own network and has programming rights fought over by many stations. Meanwhile, WWE is yet to get the funding and providers behind their own stations and has had difficulty finding new homes for some of their shows, leading to NXT and Superstars moving from TV to the Internet in the past few months.

Advantage: Goodell

Marketability

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LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 20: WWE Superstar John Cena throws out the first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on August 20, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Of course there are a lot of stars in the NFL that are seen all around pop culture. Reggie Bush dated a Khardashian, Hines Ward is on Dancing With The Stars and Troy Polamalu has his hair insured by Head and Shoulders. However, all of what WWE stands for is marketability. They make movies with their stars, get them onto the Tonight Show and leave you with names that you will remember.

What hurts NFL in this sense is that most of what they market is their name with a player attached, while WWE markets the superstar and throws in the fact that they are a WWE employee. John Cena and The Rock, among others, have become household names very fast. It is hard to do the same with the NFL, especially because they are playing with a helmet covering most of their face. It is the one downside to being an NFL star: nobody could really tell who you are without your jersey.

Advantage: McMahon

Sternness

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 19: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) and NFL owner Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys arrive for court-ordered mediation at the U.S. Courthouse on April 19, 2011 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mediation was ordered after a hearing on

Both men have had to be swift with some actions and make some not-so-popular moves. Goodell has a track record on being quick to pull the trigger with suspensions on certain players. He has also been an advocate with the elimination of concussions from NFL games, threatening to fine and suspend players for vicious hits with the intent of harming someone.

McMahon was the first one to instill policies in regards to concussions. Head shots have been outlawed and even his son-in-law, Triple H, was fined for doing one at WrestleMania. McMahon's company was the first sport to begin a wellness policy, which came about after the deaths of Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, among others. Many performers were suspended in the first round of testing, including top stars like Edge and Jeff Hardy.

However, McMahon has been inconsistent with his punishments. In the end, a lot of McMahon's decisions have been what is good for business, such as not suspending Randy Orton, despite evidence that he had failed the tests. Goodell has always been a commissioner to not be afraid to punish top stars, seen by his ordeal with Michael Vick in the past few seasons.

Advantage: Goodell

Job Security

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GREEN BAY, WI - JUNE 22: Vince McMahon (L) and Donald Trump attend a press conference about the WWE at the Austin Straubel International Airport on June 22, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mark A. Wallenfang/Getty Images)

Roger Goodell has done a great job as a commissioner. Even through all of this lockout nonsense, Goodell has listened to the concerns from all parties: the owners, the players and the fans. Nothing has been resolved just yet, but the blame does not squarely go to Goodell.

As for McMahon, his age is getting up there and his public appearances are not that of what they were in the past. It was a shock to see him this past Monday on RAW, especially when they have blown off his lack of appearance as him "being in a coma". With his son, Shane, leaving the company and his wife, Linda, being concerned with a political career, it has been hard for Vince to keep the ship moving.

In the end, there is one clear factor to be seen: Vince owns the company. He inherited it from his father and made it into a juggernaut. Goodell, on the other hand, was an intern in the 1980s and eventually got in tight with past commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Goodell has come from the ground up in the NFL. While commissioners are not classically fired, stranger things have happened.

Advantage: McMahon

Recap

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18 Feb 2001: A New York Hitmen fan holds a sign thanking Vince McMahon during the Hitmen's game against the Orlando Rage at Giant Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw/ALLSPORT

In the end, McMahon has had more experience and more innovation. While Vince McMahon has failed with some things, including the formation of his own football league, he has always kept persuing. Goodell has not had enough time to make his true legacy out just yet. In the end, despite all of the bridges that he has burned, Vince McMahon is one of the best business minds in all of sports today.