There probably isn’t a person working harder to promote sports in Colorado Springs than Mike Moran, who has been a part of the area’s sports scene since joining the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1978.

For all his work, the current Sports. Corp communications director is No. 15 on The Gazette’s list of the area’s most influential sports figures.

Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore was No. 20, followed by USOC Communications Director Darryl Seibel, Pacific Coast League President Branch B. Rickey III, running legend Matt Carpenter and Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Director Paul Butcher.

Moran has seen it all and done it all for 30 years here as communications director, including working 13 Olympic Games.

“Mike is so well connected internationally and nationally,” Colorado Springs Sports Corp. CEO Tom Osborne said. “He’s a wealth of information. Mike has promoted the Sports Corp. and he has taken the job as seriously as if it was the same job with the United States Olympic Committee. I can’t thank Mike enough for what he’s done for the Sports Corp. and the sports community in Colorado Springs.”

And Moran doesn’t hesitate to voice his loyalty to the Colorado Springs’ sports scene. Moran was asked this question in a June 2006 article in the Colorado Springs Business Journal: “What is the one thing you would change about Colorado Springs?”

His answer: “Have the local news media stop treating Denver sports teams as their lead stories. We have our own identity here, and we are not South Denver. How can the local television stations justify opening their evening news sports segment with tape of the previous evening’s Nuggets or Avalanche game? And, how about a Tiger Monday for CC Hockey, or Sky Sox Friday in The Gazette? This isn’t Kansas.”

The USOC honored Moran with the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Award in 2002. The College Sports Information Directors Association elected him to its Hall of Fame the same year.

“I’ve dealt with Mike for probably 25 years,” El Pomar chief Bill Hybl said. “He’s certainly someone who has an opinion, but he’s also someone who loves this area and has really promoted sport, throughout the United States. There’s not a reporter in this country that works sports full time nationally that doesn’t know and respect Mike Moran.”

About the list

Continuing until Aug. 24, The Gazette will chronicle the 20 Most Influential Sports Figures in the Colorado Springs area.

We compiled a list of local sports power brokers and e-mailed it to numerous movers and shakers of the Colorado Springs sports community. They, and some members of our sports staff, had the not-so-simple task of telling us who would be on their list – in order from No. 1 to No. 20.

We received 37 full lists, partial lists and lists of all the people we should’ve added to the original list.Folks with more than 20 were asked to whittle it down. Folks with fewer than 20 were asked to increase the number.

In the end, we received 22 lists of 20.

Twenty points were awarded to every first-place vote. Second place votes received 19 points, third place 18, fourth place 17 and so on – 440 points were possible.

The person with the most points received the highest rank.On the 24th, when we reveal No. 1, we will also reveal the total number of votes each of the 20 people received. There will be an “others receiving votes category.”

Media members were ineligible to receive votes.Also on the 24th, on gazettedev.gazette.com you will be able to give us your arrangement of the 20 finalists.

Photo by (Christian Murdock, The Gazette)