CLEVELAND, Ohio – Sports fans are just looking for a little happiness. That’s all. Your team wins, it’s a good day. Your team loses, your whole week might have to be cancelled.

That’s the kind of control sports has over people. And not just teams, but individuals as well.

With that in mind, cleveland.com has decided to take a closer look at those who currently wield the most influence over Cleveland’s sports happiness … or lack thereof.

It’s The 40 Most Influential.

Beginning Monday and continuing over the coming weeks, we’ll count down the athletes, front office personnel, owners, and even those who work on the periphery of sports, to see who does the most to shape the emotional state of Cleveland sports fans. The project will include not only stories on each entry, but also podcasts.

You’ve probably already started to think about the candidates you’d put on such a list. Understand that our list stretches from Cleveland to Columbus, and beyond. Do you need to be currently working or playing in Cleveland (or at Ohio State) to hold influence over the happiness of Cleveland sports fans? Nope.

We know that some will like our list, and some will not. But that’s OK.

If we’re able to somehow impact your happiness, we’ll take that as an honor.