Sharapova and Federer among Business Week’s Power 100
U.S. vs WORLD
BusinessWeek has introduced its Power 100—their ranking of the most influential people in the world of sports. Only two tennis players were able to crack the list—Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova. The 12-time Grand Slam Champion Roger Federer ranks 30th and the Russian tennis star Sharapova is No . 73 A quick glance of the BusinessWeek’s list shows that this is yet another US-centric Most-Something-of-the-World-type list (examples are many: the most beautiful, the most powerful, the most… the best…of the WORLD). Needless to say, that the criticism is pouring in from the sports fans around the world. One of the readers notes:
As usual, we are presented with an American-centric list that in no way reflects the reality of power in the world of sports. Any list of the 100 most powerful figures in sports in which the only soccer representative, Sepp Blatter, is far lower than a whole bunch of chairpersons of sports that are completely irrelevant outside the States, has no value. Ask anyone in the world outside the US who Ronaldinho is and they will tell you. Ask them who Peyton Manning is, and they’ll know too… if they are American expats.”
Why not call it the most powerful figures in US sports and save them the criticism? Why all these type of lists always have to have the word “World” in them?
I don’t know much about other sports but one thing that has continuously amazed me while living in the U.S. is how often the word “WORLD” is misused in professional sports (and in pop culture). Do you see anything wrong with using the term World for the following competitions (just as an example)?:
- The World Series championship in Major League Baseball
- The NCAA baseball College World Series
- The NCAA softball Women’s College World Series
As to NBA Finals, many sport commentators, athletes and fans still continue calling it NBA World Championship Series (though it was renamed in 1986).
I wonder what the
As for tennis, it is truly international sport even though it doesn’t attach the term WORLD to its competitions. Every player on the tour is individually unique and different. And I love it.
The full list and the methodology used by BusinessWeek can be reviewed here.
(Source: BusinessWeek)
Tag: Maria Sharapova
Roger Federer
It is really hard to understand how on this list the 3rd baseman for the Yankees is more powerful than the President of FIFA? Or I guess their surveyed experts have never heard the name Abramovich. This list would have been more accurate if it was named 100 most influential sports figures in the US.
I think Serena and Venus should have been on this list as well. They are one of the few female athletes that have had such a tremendous impact on many young kids. Maybe they are not getting as many endorsements as Maria Sharapova, but still they deserved to be on the list. This list is flawed, anyway.
[…] Roger and Masha get ranked again: BusinessWee releases its Power 100, a list of the most influential people in the world of sports. Of course, Roger and Masha make the list (and are the only two tennis players to do so). (via TennisInfoBlog.com) […]
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