Over 200,000 people voted to establish the men and ranks on this list. That’s pretty impressive. Going through the list I found it interesting not only who and what rank some men were ranked, but also why. This years list includes a bit of a bio and the reasons for the influence of the person. Amazingly, some on the list were ranked for the most inane reasons, in my opinion.
#48 – Lil Wayne. Ranked with an overall score of 73.3 his claim to fame this year was the plethora of songs he has released over his career, and the fact that he was arrested and charged with 4 felonies. Being a rapper there was no surprise in that the charges are related to drugs. So drug addicts (and definitely his drug dealer) are sure to have been impressed that he could get arrested with a massive amount of drugs, remain out of jail, and release an album.
#47 – Criss Angel. Ranked at 73.4. He makes people believe as only Houdinni and David Blaine have. If you don’t see him in Vegas, check out his show on cable television. Amazing.
#46 – Alex Rodriguez. Ranked with a score of 73.9. A real trend setter A-Rod was influential for all the men that want to divorce their wife and hook up with the wife of another guy (who subsequently is also getting a divorce). You might have expected him to have been ranked because of his success as a baseball player, but then again where did the Yankees finish?
#44 – Ryan Seacrest. Ranked in a tie with A-Rod at 73.9, you just have to be impressed that he made the list. The only claim to fame for this guy is American Idol. He must be influential to someone because he is making a career out of the least skill intensive career separate of being a judge on American Idol.
#41 – Lewis Hamilton. Ranked a mere 75.5. The first Black man to break the race barrier in Formula 1 racing, and the best in the world right now (possibly disputable). He has made Formula 1 racing exciting again and is a rage throughout Europe. Considering the reasons some are on this list, how he was not ranked higher escapes me.
#40 – Brett Farve. Ranked 75.9 you just have to love his spirit. He has come back out of retirement and brought life into the Jets game. This has been huge for the fans and changed up all the expectations in the NFL. Perhaps the only people that want this ranked lower are in Green Bay.
#39 – Heath Ledger. Ranked with a solid 77, he’s doing quite well for being dead. His big accomplishments were dying form a drug overdose/mix and his performance as the Joker in the latest Batman movie. Honestly I have never been impressed with his acting, and even less so with his rendition of the Joker. Where was the joke? Maybe that his death catapulted the movie higher than it ever could be if he lived and it was reviewed fairly?
#33 – Brad Pitt. Ranked with a 79.5, and you just have to wonder why. His film Burn After Reading got burned in theaters (he’s done much better). He hasn’t done much else this year except be a dad, which is reason enough to get credit. The big draw for him on the list – his wife Angelina Jolie.
#32 – Harvey Levin. Ranked at 79.5 with Brad Pitt. He is the man responsible for all the news you don’t care to know about Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears. His gossip website, TMZ.com, is the spot for news that used to only be fit for the Globe. Influencing bathroom reading every day.
#28 – Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ranked 80.8 and the Guvernator. He has made almost as much of an impact on politics as he has in his movies. His influence was felt this year as he endorsed Senator McCain for President over Rudy Giuliani. Up to this point he is the only man on the list that is both well-known and actually influential for something.
#26 – Jimmy Kimmel. Ranked 81.4. Hey you just have to cheer for the success of this guy. And he got ranked above the Guvernator! Good for him.
#25 – David Beckham. Ranked 81.8 and the saviour of the L.A. Galaxy. The man is still a great soccer (futbol in the rest of the world) player and definitely the best playing in the U.S. today. His introduction to U.S. soccer has helped to lift the sport and got the Galaxy to finish above .500 which takes doing. Plus a 70 yard goal is damn hard to do.
#22 – George Clooney. Ranked 83 and far above pal Brad Pitt. Like Pitt I like the acting of Clooney. But he is an outspoken advocate of many causes. He was named a Messenger of Peace by the U.N. this year. His work dealing with Darfur (along with Pitt) is only exceeded by Don Cheadle. Too bad he’s not a Republican.
#21 – Usain Bolt. Ranked 83.2 for his performance at the 2008 Olympics. And it was a performance. Perhaps I was the only one a bit off-put by his showboating especially in the 100 meter race. Yes he’s fast, but if he wants to act he should get a different career.
#19 – Ben Bernanke. Ranked 83.5. Generally everyone on this list was ranked for their positive influence. Bernanke is the only person that I would absolutely say influenced the world with his negative actions. He failed in his monetary policy, his late rate cuts and abysmal attention to the span of the mortgage crisis. Influential and nearly deserving of a jail sentence, he makes Paul Volker look like a smart guy.
#17 – Kanye West. Overranked at 84.2 this performer is only overshadowed by his ego. I mean really, above Bernanke, Beckham, Hamilton, Clooney? Why is he even on the list? What did he influence?
#15 – Jon Stewart. Ranked at 85 he is one of the most important faces of politics today. That is both funny and sad because he is a comedian making fun of what is happening. Considering that he is reported to be watch by more aged 30 and under than regular news for the news it’s little surprise that so many are leaning left in this next election. But he’s just so funny.
#10 – Senator John McCain. Ranked 86.2 you would expect that one of the Presidential candidates would be ranked higher. I’m sure it’s a far-left internet plot (sarcasm if you didn’t guess). Still as one of the men that would run the nation, and with the best outlook for America – in my opinion – and an American hero (indisputable) he should be rated higher.
#9 - Cristiano Ronaldo. Ranked 86.2 he is an international futbol superstar. He had a good year with Manchester United, scoring his first hat trick and won the UEFA Champions League. He had 8 goals for Portugal, including one in the quarterfinals, as Portugal qualifies for the next World Cup.
#7 – Christian Bale. Ranked an astounding 89. Are they serious? I like him as Bruce Wayne, and he was one of the few saving graces in The Dark Knight but let’s be serious. More influence than Senator McCain? Bigger than Jon Stewart? Better than Lewis Hamilton? I think not.
#5 – Stephen Colbert. Can you believe that he is only ranked 89.9? I bet he can’t. And his gut will tell him it was a typo and really is 98.8 only behind Senator McCain. He is the best at parsing politics and being ingenuine in the very ingenuine field of politics. You know he is funny when Republicans watch his fake Republican rants and laugh. (and he is a great Phil Ken Sebin – Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law – Ha!ha)
#4 – Robert Downey Jr. Ranked a cool 90.4 he is the king of the hill right now. Iron Man, the upcoming The Soloist with Jamie Foxx. He is an actor that can make movies like Tropic Thunder look good, and can be huge in anything else. He gives hope that even the worst junkie has a touch of grace, and the ability to overcome any downfall.
#1 – Senator Barack Obama. His rank of 93.1 will likely shock some since it’s not 100%. He is the first African American to have a serious shot at being President. He is intelligent, an orator without current par, young (as politics go) and determined. Even if you don’t like his political positions (and I don’t) you have to respect his rise and ability to bring so many from the apathy most Presidential races fall into. Win or lose the election, he is the face of where politics will be going soon (in 4 years I think he can’t help but win the election).
There are others on the list that some might feel are of note. And some might not agree with the reasons, or lack thereof, for the rankings – or my interpretations. But if I had to list the aforementioned the top 5 would have to be:
- Senator Barack Obama
- Senator John McCain
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Stephen Colbert
- Lewis Hamilton
And on the list of infamy and negative influence, which should be a separate list:
Ben Bernanke
Harry Paulson
Barney Frank
Chris Dodd
Harry Reid
Nancy Pelosi
Each and every one of them for allowing the mortgage crisis which has created the credit crunch and damaging America.
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