Each summer I assemble a list of the 25 Most Influential people who make a difference in the local sports scene. Included are team owners, team officials, influential players, executives, coaches, community leaders and boosters. (*Media are not eligible.)
The 2015 list will be revealed this week with No. 1 being unveiled Friday.
The Most Influential People in Oregon Sports: Nos. 16-20Last year's ranking in parentheses
20. Jenna Prandini (Not Ranked in 2014): University of Oregon sprinter won the U.S. Outdoor Track & Field Championship at 200 meters in June giving Prandini immediate clout. She's also the women's NCAA champion at 100 meters. Her influence is just getting started, as she's one of the most gifted and potentially marketable athletes in her sport. Will she be back at Oregon next season?
Prandini might be higher on this list if ... She can get herself on the track in Rio in 2016.
19. Dana Altman (No. 18 in 2014): Ducks basketball coach posted an admirable 26-10 season in 2014-15, keeping him in the Top 20 on this list. He doesn't feel like a forever fit in Eugene, but he's posted 18 consecutive winning seasons of college basketball. Tough to argue with his on-court results. He can flat coach and would be much higher here if his leadership and ethics hadn't come under question in a program meltdown after 2013-14 season that resulted in a female student accusing three of his players of non-consensual sex. The players were never charged. Altman dismissed all three, and questions about what the coach knew about the incident and when he knew it still cloud the program. Attendance has been disappointing at Matthew Knight Arena.
Altman might be higher on this list if ... He sold more tickets.
18. Alex Morgan (No. 23 in 2014): Portland Thorns star forward helped the US win the Women's World Cup. The big debate is why is it that Morgan, who has 2 million Twitter followers, ends up with more influence nationally than she does in this market? If Morgan were interested in cultivating more juice in the PDX market, she could own the city. Morgan has 52 goals for the US National team in 92 appearances. She's currently out 3-4 weeks after having an arthroscopic knee surgery, but her clout isn't sidelined.
Morgan might be higher on this list if ... She wanted to be.
17. Caleb Porter (No. 17 in 2014): Timbers coach isn't well liked by some of his coaching peers because he came through the college ranks. But Soccer City USA hasn't been the kind of place that cared much what others think, has it? Porter is a solid leader, a good tactical coach, and gives the MLS organization its strongest face outside of ownership. He won an NCAA championship at Akron in 2010 and keeps preaching trust of the process. After a slow start this season, he feels poised for a breakthrough and could go much higher on this list should he get one.
Porter might be higher on this list if ... His team hadn't missed the playoffs last season.
16. Wayne Tinkle (No. 22 in 2014): Oregon State men's basketball coach had an impressive first season and has the confidence of boosters in Corvallis. The Beavers went 17-14 last season, starting five walk-ons in the final game of the season. But Tinkle gets real clout and is a Top 20 pick here because OSU boosted average attendance last season by 42.2 percent. OSU also added more than 1,000 new season tickets.
Tinkle might be higher on this list if ... Oregon State finishes in the top half of the Pac-12 next season.
The comparison to last year:
20. Mary Cain19. Pat Casey18. Dana Altman17. Caleb Porter16. Vin Lananna
The scheduleMonday: Nos. 21-25: Scott Rueck makes debutTuesday: Nos. 16-20Wednesday: Nos. 11-15Thursday: Nos. 4-10Friday: Nos. 1-3
The past Canzano lists:
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008The conversation:
Did Canzano get it right? Join the comment thread below to weigh in on the rankings so far.
