THE MAIL
I really enjoyed your Power Issue, but I was shocked to see that Sidney Crosby did not make your top 10 power players ranking. Crosby's influence on the NHL and on the city of Pittsburgh has been enormous. I doubt the Penguins would still be in Pittsburgh without him. They certainly would not have gotten their new arena in 2010 or have more than 250 consecutive sellouts. Even when he missed the majority of 2010--11 and '11--12 with concussion issues, he was still the face of hockey.
Matt Horvatin, Moon Township, Pa.
More Power to Ya
I don't think you should be touting Bud Selig's tough anti-PED policies for MLB or saying that players are lucky to have Donald Fehr as head of their union (The Power 50). The lackadaisical approach to steroids that both men took in the 1990s nearly ruined the sport. I can't help but think that if Roger Goodell had been baseball commissioner then, steroid use would not have run so rampant. I'll take Goodell's hard-line approach over Selig and Fehr's inaction all day long.
Pete Bondesen, Atlanta
I disagree with your ranking of ESPN president John Skipper as the fourth most powerful person in sports, citing that much of his value comes from live sports, the "last DVR-proof broadcasting." Many sports fans enjoy watching live events on their DVR. In addition to having the luxury of skipping commercials and fast-forwarding through wasted game time (player substitutions and timeouts), watching sports on the DVR allows us fans to rewind for our own personal instant replays.
Jim Sankey, Mercer, Pa.
I was surprised that Roger Penske didn't make the cut. In addition to his number 2 car winning NASCAR's Sprint Cup last season with driver Brad Keselowski, Penske Racing has been at the forefront of motorsports across various circuits—NASCAR, IRL and American Le Mans—for more than 40 years.
Olga Houlgate, Carlsbad, Calif.
I can't believe that President Obama is considered a power player in sports simply because he fills out an NCAA bracket and wants a college football playoff. Isn't that considered normal behavior for any sports fan?
Al Colmenero, Plymouth, Minn.
If you want to talk about who yields the most power in sports, you have to include fans in that discussion, who, as a group, control the economics of sports. Fans choose which athletic events they will attend, which merchandise they will buy, and which athletes and teams they will root for. If not for the fans, none of the people on your list would have any power to flex.
Howard Simon, Port Washington, N.Y.
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SOCIAL MEDIA
Which is your NCAA tournament sleeper team?
Jonathan Davis I think Brandon Paul and Illinois will be the team that makes the most noise when no one expects it to. After all, the Illini have wins over both Indiana and Gonzaga this season.
Kris East Oregon. The Ducks are the Pac-12 tournament champions, and they have some quality wins. The fact that they are a No. 12 seed is an abomination.
Ray Lukkarinen Iowa State. A team that shoots a lot of threes is always dangerous.
Jeremy Kovarik I'm not sure if a team can really be a sleeper if too many people take notice of it. In any event, I think Saint Louis has the talent and the intangibles to put together a magical run.
Tyler Ellis I am a huge Illini fan, so it hurts me to say this, but Western Kentucky will win the whole thing.
Norma Kittredge I'm picking Gonzaga to win, but my sleeper is Valparaiso.
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