Who is the Best Sports Exec?

I have a hard time understanding why Ken Holland of the Detroit Red Wings was not included. He is arguably the best GM in the 4 major US sports, and I would have thought a no-brainer for consideration here. He is a proven winner both before and during the NHL's new salary cap structure, has (along with his staff) developed a reputation for draft-day brilliance and almost spooky foresight, and done a great job of getting high-profile free agents to accept less money/years to sign with a Detroit organization that values winning and quality people over drama.

I agree with your sentiment Ben that Ken Holland should have been included in the top 50. However nobody watches the NHL in the United States so I think he is and was overlooked and underrated. The ratings speak for themselves 99 million people watched the superbowl, the NBA Playoffs and the NHL Finals ran at the same time. And to consider the NHL as one of the four major sports in America is kinda ridiculous. For every hockey player in the world there are three football stadiums in America...seriously. Last time I heard the WNBA has higher ratings than the NHL and the WNBA has not been around that long. In fact the NHL ratings are 14th in sports. Last time I read the ratings structure.

Ed Snider
Chairman of both the Philadelphia Flyers and the 76ers since selling the Flyers and the Wachovia Center to Comcast and merging his successful Spectacorps with them to form ComcastSpectacorps. Created one of the most rabid fan bases in the country for any sport in Philadelphia, built his own arena. . .twice. . . and has continually produced successful teams and profits.

Ken Holland, GM of the Red Wings, is hands down the best GM in all of North American professional sports.

How can you miss the best franchise owners in the business Michael and Marian Ilitch who's players are treated like family and give up money to play here instead of any place else. And Ken Holland, probably the best General Manager in all of sports bar none, who continues to build championship teams year in and year out without high draft picks. I can assue you if either of these gentlemen were in your survey, you'd have a new #1 on the board.

No Mike Brown on your list? As a life-long Cincinnati Bengals fan I have read all the criticisms of the Owner/ President/ GM (?) over the years from all who talk and write about sports, and rarely has the praise out-weighed the knocks. From the controversial stadium deal to keep the Bengals in Cincinnati, to his inherent- and apparent- stinginess (frugality?), to the plain fact that my guys in stripes haven't been much better than mediocre for the past 17 seasons, I would have bet Icky Woods' TD dance that the son of the legendary Paul Brown would have been there to rate (note: Paul Brown would have deserved to be on your list, too, were he still living- letting Bill Walsh jump ship to the 49er's still haunts the Jungle with visions of multiple Super Bowl titles that could have been).

Why wasn't that idiot Dan Snyder included in the worse sports exec? As owner of his personal fantasy football team, the Deadskins, he has meddled in the affairs of the team nearly to the point of no return. His latest stunt of hiring the support staff before hiring the head coach was nothing but galling.

First of all.......you have got to be kidding with the basketball guy from Afganistan....what a joke. Plus who cares about all these duded from other countries.....take a look at the giants in college and pro in the U.S. I admit prejudice but for instance DeLoss Dodd, U. of Texas Athletic Director has built a behemoth of an empire in Austin...football, basketball, baseball, swimming, track..shall I go on. And to show I am not totally prejudice....even Oklahoma deserves recognition....how bout (swallow hard) Pete Carroll at USC as much as I hate to admit....also the entire operation of the San Antonio Spurs....are you guys like the western song "Asleep At The Wheel" ?

Where is Kenny Holland (GM for the Detroit Red Wings) Don't forget Mike & Marian Illitch. Kenny is the best GM period.

I want to know how Matt Millen was able to come away with an average of 12? He should have an average of 1. There are no words to describe how stupid he is. Charles Rogers, Mike Williams...need i say more.

Where is Ken Holland on this list? The Detroit Red Wings GM is the best in hockey...maybe all sports. Four cups, 17 years in a row in the playoffs.

If a guy from Colorado (thanks, Ben) thinks so much of Holland, he's got to be good. To those who say no one watches the NHL in the US, um, who watches South African soccer? Anyone? How about Italian football? Any takers? No? Chelsea? Madchester? Where do you see that stuff in the US? Sure, it's one thing to be worldly, you know, racing and the LPGA and all that, but it's telling that Time does not have any hockey, eh? Just more fodder for the ignorant.

How in the world do you leave out Billy Beane? He has to be the number one exec in the United States. The guy is brilliant!

The worst compiled list ever. None of those guys are important.

Where the Hell is Jerry Jones?

Do you realize what he is building right now?

Does Time have an actual reporters left?

Pathetic attempt...

I bet there is wide support for Ken Holland of the Detroit Red Wings as one of the best executives (despite his violent criminal record... he was nearly charged with attempted murder after crushing a players skull during a beer-league game years ago.) Still, he's a great General Manager. However, Dave Dombrowski of the Detroit Tigers should get some votes for worst executive. While he lucked out once with the Florida Marlins, he has done absolutely nothing but spin his wheels in Toronto, and has gutted the vaunted Tigers farm system to acquire lazy crybaby buddies of his to stink up Comerica Park. Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, Edgar Renteria, and the queen-mother of locker room lawyers, Gary Sheffield have absolutely ruined a Tigers team that went to the world Series two years ago, mostly with home-grown talent or players that had already been acquired. One has to believe that the only reason Dombrowski even shows up for work these days (since the budget is maxed, the farm system is dry, and the players the Tigers do have are untradeable) is to check his email for the next job offer. We Tigers fans can only pray that he'll go to the White Sox and ruin them for a decade...

I'll second the motion on Ken Holland.
Gary Bettman is destroying our game.

Dan Rooney. Wins win the old fashioned way, through the draft. Keeps the Steelers a consistent winner without free-for-all free agency spending, but has opened the purse a little for contract extentions for fan favorites like Roethlisberger, Ward, and Polomalu. Keeps the FAns happy that way. But that's just for Pittsburgh. Is the most influential owner among other owners. Instituted the Rooney Rule to give minority coaches better chances at head coaching jobs, was almost single-handedly responsible for getting the owners to sign on the last labor deal thus avoiding a strike. He's great to the game, his city, and his team.

DAN ROONEY

Jerry Buss

You missed Ken Holland with the Detroit Red Wings. They have enjoyed a successful franchise since the late 80's, and even when there was a salery cap instituted they were still able to maintain their high level of excellence by winning the stanley cup this year. Also he and his team is responsible for creating a enviroment that causes top players to want to be a Red Wing.

Thanks

I must say, what about the Rooney's? The Steelers have been a football powerhouse for years and their support comes from the Rooney's. They are the reason Pittsburgh football is both classy and maintains a good record (both on and off the field).

The best is Alex Ferguson and the worst is Ricardo Teixeira.

As said before, the best is Alex Ferguson.

The best is Alex Ferguson and the worst is Ricardo Teixeira.

I do not know who is the best sport executive, but I am sure the worst is Mr. Ricardo Teixeira who is destroying the brazilian football.