America’s Most Influential Athletes

From the year of the Nascar driver to the year of the quarterback.

Last year three drivers from the Nascar circuit made our list of America’s Most Influential Athletes, led by perennial Sprint Cup Series champ Jimmie Johnson. Nascar hasn’t exactly faded. Johnson, whose talent and guy-next-door demeanor endears him to fans, as well as to marketing chiefs of brands like Chevrolet, Quaker State and Lowe’s, repeats as America’s most influential athlete, based on public opinion polling.  But fellow drivers Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (down from No. 3 to No. 7) and Jeff Gordon (off the list this year) didn’t keep up, making way for newcomers like Jeremy Lin and Manny Pacquiao, and for the rise of several pro quarterbacks.

Read more: forbes.com

Tired of talking about Alabama’s current football scandal?  Then let’s dig back into Auburn’s old football scandal.

An NCAA panel has come up with a new plan to close the Cam Newton loophole that allowed the player to keep playing last year… even though his father had asked Mississippi State boosters for $180,000 in cash.  The idea is to broaden the NCAA’s definition of an agent.

If the proposal is passed, any people who represent or attempt to represent athletes or prospects for financial gain would be considered agents.  Also included?  Anyone who seeks money or other benefits for steering a prospect to a school.

Read more of “NCAA looking to close the Newton Loophole” on MrSEC.com
7.28.11

Television viewership dropped 10 percent for Sprint Cup races last season and took a deeper dip (18.1 percent) during NASCAR’s playoff run — the 10-race Chase For The Sprint Cup championship. Industry estimates indicate NASCAR has lost almost a quarter of its TV audience over the past four years. Attendance is down by about 13 percent over the past two years.

NASCAR isn’t blind to its struggles. As it prepares for the sport’s biggest race of the season on Sunday, Daytona International Speedway has introduced kids’ pricing for every event leading to the Daytona 500. Tickets are half-price for children under 12 prior to the 500. In addition, 20 local hotels agreed to discount hotel rooms to ticket holders if they made reservations in November or December .

Read more of “Dale Earnhardt’s death signaled start of NASCAR’s woes” on OrlandoSentinel.com
2.15.11