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Message: [QUOTE="Lafayette, post: 5326351, member: 14008"] [LIST] [*]Let's be clear that everyone who started watching or playing a sport was influenced to do so and for me it was Bjorn Borg. He is nowhere near the top 20 All-time most influential list. But the catch here is was your person the reason 80% of people did? I think in Golf Tiger hit that for a period of time. Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's record. Cool. A dozen other Yankees than Ruth did not. Though one influenced Marilyn Monroe plenty. I don't think Aaron necessarily qualifies but is probably close. So be a fan of a team or player but have the perspective to know how big their role is across the sport. Influence is not getting more Orioles fans to exist; It is getting more baseball fans to exist. [*]If Chess were a sport, Magnus Carlsen would be in the list as kids are flocking to chess which lay dormant for a time. [*]Jordan vs Tiger is a personal preference - you liked one more or started playing golf or watching NBA. Tiger is still ESPN's homer with any tourney he plays in they care less that he's 48th and plaster him on the front page. Jordan - my kid and his friends are a mix of not even knowing who Jordan is/was to knowing but never have watched yet they think Air Jordans are cool. That's some serious magician level influence! [*]IDK if anyone in tennis other than Serena qualify. Everyone loves their player but you are Alcaraz or Sinner, Agassi or Sampras, Borg or McEnroe. Perhaps Federer grew the sport solely on his own as for a time he was without peer. [*]You could make an argument for Christiano Ronaldo for futbol. But then it's him vs Messi vs Neymar vs Beckham vs on and on again. [*]Caitlin because she captivated people for 2 years in the NCAA and made the WNBA a cooler sport to watch and go to. If you call the WNBA a "niche" sport well that's fine; my wife thinks every other sport than futbol is niche and unwatchable so everyone's opinion is valid. That means ours and others. Read this like Archer would. [*]Taurasi and Bird? Mega, mega successful. To the moon with Diana and Sue. But that is success - not influence. [*]Gretzky, if this were not bounded by 25 years (missed by 1), would be top 10 for sure. He revolutionized hockey, brought more viewership, ownership, and people don't even use his name much and refer to him as "The Great One". [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach