Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

If the 100 most influential Americans doesn't include Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, something is wrong.

Sure, LeBron James may influence more sneaker buyers, but so what?

Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

Lebron is the biggest basketball star since MJ, and what he's doing at his age is unreal. People aren't only wearing his NBA jersey, but also his HIGH SCHOOL jersey, which is being sold at many Nike stores. He's label unto himself.

Rush Limbaugh may be popular, but is he all that influential? Is he bringing more people to his mode of thinking?

The great thing about these lists is that there are always going to be disagreements about the contents.

Rush Limbaugh screwed himself over with all that oxycontin stuff...

As for Sean Hannity, i've never even heard of him, lol. I had to google him to get any idea of who he was, so he's obviously not all that influential.

But any list is subjective, there's no objective way of ranking influence. Just like People's 50 most beautiful people ;)

Re: Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

Rush was beyond influential actually in the Republican party. In fact many credit Rush et al. for creating a very strong media army to help conservatives and he was courted very heavily in the 90s because of it. Of course that was the 90s and not now.

Lebron is a basketball star. Big whoop. What is he changing or influencing?

-Rudey

Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

It's not necessarily "political" influence, chief - and even then, Rush is old news. I don't know a single person of political influence who takes his ideas seriously.

Re: Re: Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

I don't disagree that he was extremely influential - as you said though, that was in the 90s, and his influence peaked during the time you're referencing. You're absolutely correct though, he may have been the most influential political figure at that time.

As far as Lebron - I think his influence lies in the fact that he is what's "next." He's succeeding Jordan as the next big sports star, but at the same time he's going beyond what Jordan did at the same age. Besides Tiger, there's not another American athlete that can compete with Lebron's name recognition and marketing influence.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

Lance Armstrong.

-Rudey

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

Can't believe I forgot him...although I'd venture to say Lebron is more marketable because of the sport he plays. There just aren't as many people interested in bicycle sports.

I will say, though, I'd be shocked if Lance wasn't on the list as well.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

But how is he influential? There are a lot of very famous celebrities that are much more well known than he is domestically and internationally so I don't think it's about fame.

-Rudey

Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

I must admit, Rush did influence my thoughts that it might be fun to abuse prescription drugs then claim to be a victim who needs love and rehab while saying others who do so should go to jail.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

This is America, Land of the Obese. Armstrong Lycra/Spandex biker shorts are not in high demand here.
ETA: I'm not sure I would want an artificial testicle called "The Armstrong"

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

With the troubles Kobe Bryant has had, Lebron has become the new face of a league that needed a new superstar to step up to the plate. He's saved the franchise in Cleveland and has renewed the NBA's popularity.

The fact that he's THE face of the sport, and one of the faces of all sports I think merits his inclusion on the list. He's helped influence a perception that the league is alive and well (especially in light of the recent NHL lockout).

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Time's flawed "100 most influential"
 

Personally I think a guy like Yao Ming bringing a couple million Chinese fans over to the NBA is much more influential.

-Rudey

Perhaps the "influential" part is supposed to mean worldwide? I would say worldwide between the two, Lebron James is better known than Lance, at least the areas I've been to.

Regardless, I believe they're both very influential.

If wonder if we might substitute the word(s) "well known" for "influential.

Frankly, I wouldn't rank any "blow hard" media type (and you can take that a deep as you want) or sports icon in the top 100 when you consider the number of political leaders, scientists, doctors etc. who really do influence our daily lives.

Seems a tad superficial to me.