Ask anyone to offer a Top Ten of the Most Influential People in Sports History, and the question is bound to generate hours of conversation and controversy.

First of all, let's define influential. For our purposes, we defined influential as the impact someone's legacy has on our history, popular culture and the way sports interacts with our everyday lives.

We set no limits. The list could include athletes, broadcasters, journalists, owners, agents, lawyers, anyone. The list could include Secretariat or Steve Bartman for Cub fans who wish to extend the agony.

Our poll went out to the Senior Staff of HOFMAG.com. Thirteen of the most decorated journalists in the United States participated, including Robert Lipsyte, Lesley Visser, Robert Creamer, Juan Williams, Jim Huber, Larry Felser, Ann Ligouri, Charley Steiner, Joe Mc Donnell and Armen Keteyian.

Each panel member listed a Top Ten Most Influential People in Sports History from 1 – 10. # 1 would be most influential and receive 10 ballot points. # 2 would be second most influential and receive nine ballot points. Points would accrue in descending order with selection # 10 worth one point. The maximum number of points available to any one person would be 130.

The results of the balloting demonstrated the width and depth of influence. Surprisingly, no one person appeared on every ballot, and 52 different men and women received votes. Our panel had some consensus, but only three people were named on at least ten of the 13 ballots. After that it was wild. We saw some regional bias, but that's to be expected as our environment influences us all.

Everyone's list is right. Everyone's list is perfect. That's what makes it great. Make your own list. You'll see what we mean. Ask your best friend to make a list. That list will be different than yours, but it's so personal that it's right too.

So enjoy the following pages. You'll see not only the total results, but also each panel member's individual results with a rationale for each selection. See if you can find who voted for the Fabulous Moolah, who voted for Tony Hawk, and who didn't vote for the #1 person on your list. This is just great fun. Have a ball.

"The most athletically gifted and charismatic basketball player in history, who parlayed those gifts into a brand name and became a one-man international conglomerate." Charley Steiner view his Top 10