Craig Thompson used to be the villain. Folks throughout the states that house the Mountain West Conference hated that the conference’s commissioner left an ESPN television deal, but couldn’t seem to swing deals that allowed each home to view its favorite teams.

Times change.

The Web site www.firecraigthompson.com hasn’t had a post on it since November 2007.

And Thompson is No. 8 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, Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation Director Paul Butcher, Sports Corp. Communications Director Mike Moran, Mayor Lionel Rivera, USA Hockey director Dave Ogrean and former USGA president Judy Bell, President and CEO of The Broadmoor Steve Bartolin, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart and Sky Sox president and general manager Tony Ensor.

Last summer The Mtn., the official network of the Mountain West Conference, was essentially in an internal battle. The conference, CSTV and Comcast are co-owners of The Mtn.

Comcast, the main cable provider in Colorado Springs and Denver wouldn’t put The Mtn. on its basic package, and it was unavailable on satellite networks. Back then The Mtn. was available to only 1.2 million homes on 17 providers.

Today The Mtn. is on more cable networks and will be a part of DirectTV’s basic package, meaning that 1.2 million homes just jumped to more than 17 million.

The bad guy before, Thompson is largely seen as a great commissioner now, so great that there are rumors that Thompson’s accomplishments are in the sights of the Pac-10 Conference, who will have an opening after Tom Hansen finishes his 26-year commissionership of that conference.

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.

Bailey’s Brandy L. Erholtz, 30, was the first female to finish the Pikes Peak Ascent on Saturday. Photo by KIRK SPEER, THE GAZETTE