Boss Tim

In fact the commissioner says he has no time line in mind for the end of his tenure and that "it would be a mistake to assume" he will step down in four years when his contract expires. Then again, "there are a lot of things I want to do with my life," he says, "and there's not time for many of them with this job."

It's rare for Finchem to allow for such reflection, but last Wednesday, April 23, presented the perfect opportunity: He had just returned from his long day in Dallas and was whizzing through the darkened streets of Ponte Vedra Beach , on the way home. His family was waiting for him to arrive to share a late dinner.

Asked about the L word—legacy—Finchem said, "I'd like to be thought of as a key player on a team, because that's really what this job is. I would like to be remembered as a guy who got up every day and brought it as hard as he could. I don't need anything beyond that."

Those are modest aspirations coming from a man with so many big ideas. Perhaps Finchem had more to say on the subject, but there wasn't time. He was eager to step into his home, before his dinner got cold.