Sports Illustrated Names Obama One of Most Powerful in Sports President Obama has hit the basketball court with Scottie Pippen, played a round of golf with Tiger Woods, and meticulously filled out March Madness brackets. And now, Sports Illustrated has named him one of the most powerful people in sports. Earlier this week, Sports Illustrated included the basketball loving president in its list of 50 sports power players, ranking him as the 44th most powerful person in sports - higher than Michael Jordan and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. The president has made no secret of his love of sports since taking office, often playing basketball with aides and other government officials and hitting the golf course with politicians like Speaker John Boehner and President Bill Clinton. Obama fills out March Madness brackets for men and women's college basketball and cheers for his hometown professional Chicago teams.