racerx Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 2. Brian France (2003: 17), chairman and CEO, NASCAR. Power and stupidity are a frightening combination, and at this time a year ago, it appeared Brian France had summoned a bottomless reservoir of both in green-lighting the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. There could be no doubt France had the power to make the change. NASCAR is family-owned, so other than maybe a difficult time at reunions ("Could you pass the potato salad — and stop destroying our sport, please?"), France didn't face terrible internal pressure to stand pat. But being able to do something — and doing it — are two different things. If taking on the NFL — a major reason for the Chase — seemed to be an outrageous act of hubris, the method France chose seemed to be an outrageous act of dimwittedness. France saw the Chase as a way to inspire an electric points race, to ensure slam-bam racing right to the end of the season. The critics — fans, drivers, owners, crew chiefs, crew members, crew members' families, crew members' friends, friends of crew members' families — saw none of that. Split the season in two? Recast the points? Basically forget about 33 drivers? What a fool! The founder of NASCAR, Bill France, probably wouldn't recognize the sport that his grandson Brian now runs A year later: What a genius! Sixteen months into France's tenure as NASCAR's chairman, the sport barely resembles the one founded by his grandfather in 1947. In addition to shepherding in a new points system and new title sponsor, France lifted a ban on hard liquor sponsors, bought land for a track in New York City and moved the sport into Canada and Mexico. Nextel's title sponsorship was an epic deal, one in which France was heavily involved. The "Winston" in Winston Cup prevented the sport from promoting itself on TV. With that limitation gone — and a more compelling points race in place — NASCAR will enter a new level in the American consciousness. France's innovations have made the sport better. Power and foresight — that's a combination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racerx Posted January 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 The Top 40 Most Powerful People in Sports 1. Paul Tagliabue, commissioner, National Football League 2. Brian France (2003: 17), chairman and CEO, NASCAR. 3. Bud Selig (2003: 4), commissioner, Major League Baseball. 4. David Stern (2003: 6), commissioner, NBA. 5. George Bodenheimer (2003: 1), president, ESPN and ABC Sports; co-chair, Disney Media Networks. 6. Ted Forstmann (NR), chairman, IMG. 7. August Busch IV (2003: 11), president, and Tony Ponturo (2003: 11), V.P. of global media and marketing, Anheuser-Busch, Inc. 8. David Hill (2003: 10), chairman and CEO, FOX Sports Television Group. 9. Dick Ebersol (2003: 24), chairman, NBC Sports. 10. Phil Knight (2003: 3), chairman, Nike. 11. Kobe Bryant (NR), Los Angeles Lakers guard. Got L.A. to the Finals. 12. Roger Goodell (2003: 12), executive V.P. and COO, NFL. 13. Paul Fireman (2003: 14), chairman and CEO, Reebok. 14. Curt Schilling (NR), Boston Red Sox pitcher. 15. George Steinbrenner (2003: 9), owner, New York Yankees. 16. Scott Boras (2003: Agents, 3), agent. 17. Gene Upshaw (2003: Executives, 1), executive director, NFLPA. 18. Mark Shapiro (2003: 15), executive V.P. of programming and production, ESPN. 19. Jacques Rogge (NR), president, International Olympic Committee. 20. Bob Kain (2003: 7), co-CEO, IMG. 21. Bruce McMillan (2003: 20), executive V.P. of worldwide studios, Electronic Arts. 22. Ed Goren (2003: 18), president and executive producer, FOX Sports. 23. Bill France Jr. (2003: 16), vice chairman, NASCAR; chairman, International Speedway Corporation. 24. Yao Ming (2003: 25), Houston Rockets center. 25. Steve Bornstein (2003: Ones to Watch, 3), president and CEO, NFL Network. 26. Mark Schweitzer (2003: 8), senior V.P. of marketing, and Michael Robichaud (2003: 8), senior director of sports and event marketing, Nextel. 27. Robert Kraft (2003: Owners, 4), chairman and owner, New England Patriots. A mover, a shaker and oh, yeah, a Super Bowl winner. 28. William Perez (NR), president and CEO, Nike. 29. Bob DuPuy (2003: 19), president and COO, Major League Baseball. 30. Jerry Jones (NR), owner, president and general manager, Dallas Cowboys. 31. Sean McManus (2003: 37), president, CBS Sports. 32. John Galloway (NR), director of sports marketing, Pepsi-Cola North America, and Tom Fox (NR), senior V.P. of sports marketing, Gatorade. 33. Peter Ueberroth (NR), chairman, USOC. His Olympic track record is unquestioned (proof: a sentence with "Olympic track record" and no mention of steroids). 34. Russ Granik (2003: 31), deputy commissioner, NBA. 35. Tiger Woods (2003: 26), golfer. 36. Jim Delany (2003: 30), commissioner, Big Ten Conference. 37. Tony Hawk (2003: 29), action sports entrepreneur. 38. Janet Jackson's right breast (NR). 39. Bob Goodenow (2003: Executives, 2), executive director, NHLPA. 40. Gary Bettman (2003: 13), commissioner, NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SVCMNGR1 Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Kobe Bryant? Tony Hawke? Janet Jackson? Where is Jr on that list? Surely the NA$CAR Jesus is more powerful than those folks. OOPS I guess not, he couldn't beat out ole Rubberhead for the championship. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racerx Posted January 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 Kobe Bryant? 11. Kobe Bryant (NR), Los Angeles Lakers guard. Got L.A. to the Finals. Got Phil "retired." Got Shaq traded. Got Jerry Buss to pick up part of the tab for his flights to Colorado for court. Got off. Tony Hawke? They don't say anything about him, but from having kids I know he owns the gen y skating/X games market...video games, movies, events...what's funny is he's a big dork that's about 40 years old. (Very Hot Wife though) Janet Jackson? 38. Janet Jackson's right breast (NR). Connect the dots from her "wardrobe malfunction" to ... numero uno on this Power 100 appearing before the FCC to ... potty-mouthed Junior paying a Nextel Cup points penalty to ... Monday Night Football's 5-second delay to ... the NFL and ABC groveling after the T.O.-Nicollette intro to ... NBC turning over to the FCC tapes of Athens' opening ceremonies because of complaints of indecency. Power 100: Nos. 41-100 The best of the rest ... JOCKS 8. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. , Nextel Cup drivers. They're NASCAR's "Mr. Inside" and "Mr. Outside," the former wielding power within racing and, just as important, in its boardrooms, and the latter as the most marketable name and the face of the sport to millions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProTree Posted January 5, 2005 Report Share Posted January 5, 2005 i agree with LL-the dude (Hawk)with the narrow board with 4 wheels has made alot of $$$$ busting his ass and made a lot of doctors richer also putting the kids back together after they try to act like him-lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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