Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409150014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
For its 40th anniversary, the magazine has drawn up a list of the 40 ``most influential'' sports figures of the past four decades, promoting it in this week's issue and on a one-hour network TV special tonight.
The list is certain to spark debate among fans, especially for who's missing: Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Willie Shoemaker, Nike chairman Phil Knight and NBA commissioner David Stern, to name a few.
The producers of the show, ``40 For the Ages: Sports Illustrated's 40th Anniversary Special,'' (WSLS, Channel 10, 10 p.m.) have distanced themselves from the list. Even the host, Bob Costas, disavows it - saying twice during the program that he'd have a different list.
``As it turned out, I had some very strong disagreements with the list,'' Costas said. While some of SI's top 40 were ``inspired choices,'' he said, others both on and off the list ``had me almost screaming in protest.''
Few would disagree with SI's choice of the most influential athlete of the past four decades, Muhammad Ali.
``One athlete has bridged those 40 years with us: Cassius Clay-Muhammad Ali,'' said Mark Mulvoy, Sports Illustrated's managing editor.
No. 2 is another consensus favorite, Michael Jordan.
But it doesn't take long after that for the more controversial figures to creep in. The rest of the top 10 are: ABC-TV sports pioneer Roone Arledge, Jim Brown, Billie Jean King, Pete Rose, Marvin Miller, the twin pairing of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, Arnold Palmer and sports superagent Mark McCormack.
Mulvoy said nine months ago, he told 20 people at SI to give him a list of 15 to 20 names. Out of 300, the list was pared to the top 40.
``We looked for people who not only performed, but also impacted the sport, both on and off the field,'' Mulvoy said.
Some of the more obscure names on the list - even to die-hard sports fans - are Harold Gores, the inventor of AstroTurf; Bill Rasmussen, the founder of ESPN; Gary Davidson, founder of the short-lived World Hockey Association and World Football League and onetime president of the American Basketball Association; and Dr. Robert Jackson, a pioneer in arthroscopic surgery.
``To me, how many athletes' careers would have been extended without Dr. Bob Jackson?'' Mulvoy said.
Costas specifically objected to the absence of Mays, Mantle and Chamberlain.
``I'm 42 years old, and if I was asked to name 10 sports figures and left off Mays, I should be slapped silly,'' he said.
Noting Wayne Gretzky, who redefined hockey, was No.12, Costas said: ``Is not Wayne Gretzky to hockey what Wilt Chamberlain is to basketball?''
Then there's the issue of whether Sports Illustrated is disagreeing with itself.
Ali and Jordan are 1-2 in appearances on the cover of SI over the years, with Ali appearing 33 times and Jordan 30 times. But Abdul-Jabbar - who is third with 27 cover appearances - isn't among the top 40.
In addition, since 1954, the magazine has picked a sportsman or sportswoman of the year - sometimes picking more than one. But 28 - 70 percent of those 40 annual selections - weren't on the ``40 for the Ages'' list.
Mulvoy defended that by saying the top 40 list contained more ``historical perspective'' than the annual sportsman or sportswoman selections.
``Obviously, this list is going to generate a firestorm of controversy,'' he said.
Costas agreed a one-hour special probably was too short to encompass the history of Sports Illustrated, and would have preferred seeing several magazine-type feature stories along with the list - plus perhaps a free-spirited debate on who should be in the top 40.
But he welcomed the disagreements the list might cause.
``That's good,'' Costas said. ``That's what I think sports is about.''
by CNB