FAIR GAME:103 ways to make the news

The middle of next month, Oct. 11 to be exact, the Daily Pilot will again publish the Top 103 Most Influential section.

It’s really one of my favorite newspapers of the year.

For those who aren’t familiar with it, this is the one time a year we rank the most influential “people” here in our community.

That’s right, there’s a No. 1, No. 2, all the way up to 103.

Why 103 you ask?

When the section started back in 1994, then-Editor Bill Lobdell and his team put together a list. At completion, there were 103 names.

The rest is history, and it allows the occasional tongue to be put in cheek, without sounding too scientific.

A great example of this was a half a dozen or more years back when the local schools had the police department’s drug sniffing dog touring local campuses and sniffing lockers. You can imagine the uproar this caused from students and parents alike.

That year, the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa police chiefs earned back-to-back ranking numbers, each, as you can probably imagine, right behind the dog. I remember how excited my good friend Dave Snowden was at the time with his “recognition.”

And you may remember the sea lions of a year ago or, of course, Rupert, the recently departed black swan that toured the harbor.

We’ve also had buildings (the Mormon Temple), weather (last year’s heavy rain) and even a cellphone tower.

One time we had an influential who was pulled over for a DUI that became well publicized in our pages. Remove the decimal points and, boom, his number for that year was decided.

Remember, I said “tongue in cheek.”

But mostly the section is about the people and what they do or contribute in the way of influence to our community.

The top spot over the years has gone to the naturals such as Don Bren and Henry Segerstrom, who both, for obvious reasons, deserved it.

Tennis great Lindsay Davenport found the top spot while she was conquering the tennis world and, last year, Sue and Bill Gross were recognized after their tremendous gift to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian.

But influence is not only about money.

You just need to remember one Amanda Arthur. Amanda, you might recall, was one of a carload of local high school students involved in a tragic single-car accident. One person was killed, several injured, including Amanda severely.

Through her battle the community rallied around her. The Righteous Brothers even performed a community concert at Newport Beach Country Club in an attempt to help defray medical costs.

That year Amanda, who was in the hearts of most, was recognized as No. 1.

There has also been a group of people recognized. When Newport Beach City Councilman Dick Nichols stuck his foot in his mouth and complained of the “Mexicans invading the grass at our local shores,” you can imagine the uproar it caused. That year we recognized Mexicans.

But with all that said, here’s where you, our readers, come into play. Each year we struggle to determine the most deserving. At the publication of the section we do a follow-up and ask you how we did? Who did we miss? Who was on it that shouldn’t have been?

This year I thought we’d try something new. I’m asking you for input on this year’s list.

We can certainly figure out the naturals.

What we’re looking for are the not-so-obvious choices.

There are people active in our communities, involved in our schools, people who through their influence are making a difference.

Maybe it’s someone in a church, the political arena, a business person.

If you know someone and believe they are worthy, e-mail me with their name and a line or two of why. Send it to tom.johnson@latimes.com.

And don’t forget to read your Daily Pilot. Maybe this year, you’ll make the list.