Kingmaker: Paul Tagliabue

Tagliabue has become THE power in the NFL

The chief commissioner
By Matt Majendie BBC Sport Online

The NFL has enjoyed unparalled success both in the United States and globally over the last decade.

And the reason lies simply with Paul Tagliabue, a virtual unknown in Europe, but the man responsible for every piece of American football action across the pond.

Ironically, the NFL commissioner first bounded into the sporting arena in the altogether different world of basketball.

Now in his 14th season at the helm of American football, the 62-year-old made his mark as captain of Georgetown University's basketball side.

The recipient of an athletics scholarship, the-then 21-year-old had been tipped for a future in the game.

Paul Tagliabue factfile

1940: Born in Jersey City

1961-2: Captains Georgetown University basketball team

1969: Represents NFL for first time as counsel

1989: Appointed NFL commissioner

1994: Introduces wage cap

2002: NFL teams up with Barcelona

But his position as a Rhodes Scholar finalist and a Dean's List honour graduate led him to opt for a career in the legal profession instead.

Born on 24 November, 1940, in Jersey City, it was not until 1969 that Tagliabue had his first real taste of the NFL.

It was then that his legal expertise was first employed by predecessor Pete Rozelle in various guises for the game.

And, for 20 years, he represented the NFL as an attorney concerning television, expansion, legislative affairs, franchise moves, labour and anti-trust cases.

As his profile steadily rose within the game, he increasingly became the obvious choice as Rozelle's successor.

In 1989 he was voted in as only the fourth commissioner in the league's history.

And since then he has brought the game kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

Among his gradual overhaul of the game has been the introduction of the wage cap in 1994 and the expansion of the league from 28 to 32 teams.

His popularity may have waned at times due to his almost complete control of the game but, on the whole, he has been seen as good to the sport.

Barcelona are already linked to the NFL

Slowly preened as Rozelle's successor long before he took over, he knew all the tricks of the trade before moving into his new role.

And he has so far not fallen into the same traps as baseball peer Bud Selig, who has failed to make the same changes and keep the same control.

Tagliabue has brought along overall harmony, eradicated the league's glaring stadium problems and is forever intent on expanding its reach, which he has succeeded in doing over the last 14 years.

His reach is even beginning to be felt at the Nou Camp, after Barcelona officials teamed up with the NFL to promote the game in Spain and Europe as a whole 12 months ago.

Each season something he has been brought something new into American football, however minor.

In the last campaign, he opted for prime-time play-off games. This time around he decided on a Thursday night opener.

While not quite everything he has touched has turned to gold, Tagliabue has come close to possessing the Midas touch.