Nick Saban Rules the Sporting Universe

Forbes Magazine lists Nick Saban as the most powerful coach in all of sport, and for once, we're inclined to agree: for total amassed power, it is hard to beat the purview a college coach holds over their program. Draft picks? You get at least 18 a year, and you and you alone pick them. The day-to-day running of the program? All yours. Player gripes? Unlikely, since you control their final market value by giving them playing time and exposure on the national level. Bill Parcells level misery and hatred of every stinking labored breath you have to take on this planet? Negative, for the most part.

Planes? Cars? Oh, there's that, too:

His deal includes, among other perks, 25 hours of private use of a university airplane, two cars and a country club membership, extras that make his annual compensation closer to $5 million a year, estimates Smith College economics professor Andrew Zimbalist.

Oh yeah, Nick Saban? If you write for Sporting News, they send you the mag free. Free, I tell you! Add in the never having to be assaulted by strange drunk women and your job is still ... yes, still way cooler than ours. As you were, Captain Crimson

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.