Instant Alert: The 50 most influential people in sports in 2016

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   The 50 most influential people in sports in 2016 by Emmett Knowlton on Dec 31, 2016, 2:52 PM Advertisement 2016 was a banner year for sports.  From LeBron James' Game 7 block, to the Cubs' Game 7 victory in the World Series, it is hard to think back on a year in sports that was quite so memorable.  Of course, so much of the way we watch and enjoy sports these days is determined by people who have never participated in a professional athletic event in their lives. That's why we decided to compile a list of the 50 most influential people behind the scenes in sports — the managers, coaches, agents, reporters, and owners who are responsible for what we watch when we watch sports. These are the commentators who break important news, and the agents who help player sign massive deals, and the owners who have the power to build franchises from scratch, or move them from one city to another.  All in all, these are the people who helped shape the year in sports — even if we didn't see them swing a bat or catch a touchdown. This list was compiled by Emmett Knowlton, Cork Gaines, Scott Davis, and Brett LoGuriato. 50. Derek Jeter Job: Founding Publisher, The Player's Tribune After 20 seasons with the New York Yankees, Jeter decided to venture into the world of digital media. In October of 2014, he launched The Players' Tribune, a platform that has been a game-changer in sports media. More and more athletes are going around traditional media outlets and straight to The Players' Tribune to tell their stories with their own bylines. When Kevin Durant announced he was signing with the Warriors, he announced it himself — and temporarily crashed! — The Players' Tribune.  49. Alison Overholt Job: Editor-in-Chief, ESPN The Magazine and espnW Overholt has run the editorial side of espnW since 2014 and, in February 2016, became the first woman in ESPN history to be named Editor-in-Chief of ESPN The Magazine. Under her tenure, the magazine has continued to produce some of the finest longform sports writing and investigative journalism around.  48. Doris Burke Job: ESPN basketball analyst and reporter Doris Burke is one of the original trailblazers for women in sports broadcasting. She was the first woman to do color commentary for men's Big East games and the New York Knicks, and at ESPN she remains one of the most powerful and prominent voices covering the NBA. See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network:    Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011