The Power 100

The most influential people in sports, from golf to skateboarding to...

by Brian Burnsed, Geoff Gloeckler, Ronald Grover, Matthew Lawyue, Tom Lowry and David Polek

01 TIGER WOODS Golfer
His absence from the PGA Tour this year has opened the world's eyes to how powerful he really is.

02 ROGER GOODELL Commissioner, NFL
Under his reign, pro football rumbles on as America's most popular, and profitable, sports league.

03 DAVID STERN Commissioner, NBA
In charge 24 years, Stern has expanded the league's reach to Europe and China, but a scandal over referee gambling required some cleanup.

04 GEORGE BODENHEIMER President, ESPN
Looking to strengthen an already mighty brand, Bodenheimer aims to win the rights to the 2014 and 2016 Olympics.

05 DICK EBERSOL Chairman, NBC Sports
Prime-time ratings for the Beijing Olympics trumped those from Athens four years earlier, and fans flocked to NBC's Web site for streaming video.

06 PHIL KNIGHT Chairman, Nike
Co-founder Knight oversees the top athletic shoe and apparel outfit on the planet. Enough said.

07 ALLAN "BUD" SELIG Commissioner, MLB
With baseball finally free of its steroid scandal, Selig's next challenge is testing instant replays on home runs.

08 BRIAN FRANCE Chairman and CEO, Nascar
Even with hiccups over faulty tires and failed inspections, Nascar still boasts the most brand-loyal fans in sports.

09 MICHAEL JORDAN NBA great; minority owner, Charlotte Bobcats
Five years after retiring, MJ retains a star power that extends far beyond hoops.

10 SEAN MCMANUS President, CBS News and Sports
McManus manages a juggernaut of NCAA March Madness, the NFL, the U.S. Open, and lots of golf--while also keeping an eye on CBS News.

11 DAVID HILL Chairman and CEO, Fox Sports
The Godfather of Fox Sports returned full-time last year after juicing up DirecTV's programming.

12 RUPERT MURDOCH Chairman and CEO, News Corp.
He may not understand football, but the media mogul knows that sports sells--whether it's NFL on Fox or cricket in India via his ESPN Star joint venture.

13 MYLES BRAND President, NCAA
Brand has implemented stiff penalties for athletes who don't meet academic standards.

14 TONY PONTURO Vice-President, global media and sports marketing, Anheuser-Busch
All eyes will be on the man who controls the biggest ad budget in sports--to see what the brewer's new owners will spend.

15 LANCE ARMSTRONG Tour de France cyclist
Continuing his anticancer crusade, Armstrong is back on the bike, aiming for his eighth yellow jersey in 2009.

16 THEODORE FORSTMANN Chairman and CEO, IMG
He created a hot, new cricket league in India and signed a 20-year venture with CCTV to develop sports in China.

17 LEBRON JAMES Forward, Cleveland Cavaliers
A big year for King James: the cover of Vogue and an Olympic gold medal. He's still lacks an NBA title, however.

18 DONALD FEHR Executive Director, Major League Baseball Players Assn.
The de facto union boss had a lot on his plate in the past year, including the Mitchell Report on steroid abuse.

19 STEINBRENNER FAMILY Principal owner, New York Yankees
With patriarch George out of the public eye, sons Hank and Hal will usher the Bronx Bombers into the new Yankee Stadium in 2009.

20 JOHN HENRY Owner, Boston Red Sox; co-owner, Roush Fenway Racing
A big part of Boston's sports renaissance, the Red Sox are shooting for their third World Series trophy under Henry's ownership.

21 GARY BETTMAN Commissioner, NHL
With a crop of marketable young players, Bettman has a chance to bring hockey back from the blahs.