Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2019 18:01:03 GMT -5
Superstars was an international TV series in the 70s and 80s. It featured top athletes from all sports competing across a series of events to find the ultimate sportsman. It led to much less known sportsmen becoming household names in an era where there was much less media coverage. In the UK Brian Jacks was a judoka who won twice for example and became renowned for his skills in the gym tests. Internationally Bryan Budd, a Canadian soccer player won several titles in stark contrast to the British soccer players who mostly bombed out.
It's noteworthy for a few things 1) Showing how superstardom in sport has changed, these events with huge names at the top of their fields competed in what looked like school sports days. 2) these huge names were able to go and do this. Famously Kevin Keegan got injured performing in Superstars before an international tournament where he'd be representing his country, no sponsorship interference or anything 3) Top athletes actually forfeited their rights to compete in some events in their sport to try and win superstars because it had professional status. It's a fascinating show that could never exist in the same way now.
TL;DR? Superstars featured sportsmen competing in a decathlon like event. Here are the sports...
Competitors participate in a range of different sporting events, including a 100-yard dash/100m sprint, half mile (800 m) run, obstacle course or steeplechase, weightlifting, soccer skills, rowing, tennis, basketball, bicycle racing, shooting and swimming. The sports have varied over time and between the various national and international competitions; in the first competition there was no obstacle course, but table tennis and baseball hitting were included, while the European versions featured a 600m Steeplechase, indoor cycling on a highly banked velodrome, and the infamous 'Gym Tests'.
The gym tests are worth looking up, they were arm dips on horizontal bars, squats and chin ups. What some of these guys could do was insane.
Anyhow, long winded intro done...say Superstars took place on the WWE roster....who wins? Who has the most natural athletic abilities to transfer across such a wide range of sports?
Oh and it's really worth looking up the shows on youtube.
It's noteworthy for a few things 1) Showing how superstardom in sport has changed, these events with huge names at the top of their fields competed in what looked like school sports days. 2) these huge names were able to go and do this. Famously Kevin Keegan got injured performing in Superstars before an international tournament where he'd be representing his country, no sponsorship interference or anything 3) Top athletes actually forfeited their rights to compete in some events in their sport to try and win superstars because it had professional status. It's a fascinating show that could never exist in the same way now.
TL;DR? Superstars featured sportsmen competing in a decathlon like event. Here are the sports...
Competitors participate in a range of different sporting events, including a 100-yard dash/100m sprint, half mile (800 m) run, obstacle course or steeplechase, weightlifting, soccer skills, rowing, tennis, basketball, bicycle racing, shooting and swimming. The sports have varied over time and between the various national and international competitions; in the first competition there was no obstacle course, but table tennis and baseball hitting were included, while the European versions featured a 600m Steeplechase, indoor cycling on a highly banked velodrome, and the infamous 'Gym Tests'.
The gym tests are worth looking up, they were arm dips on horizontal bars, squats and chin ups. What some of these guys could do was insane.
Anyhow, long winded intro done...say Superstars took place on the WWE roster....who wins? Who has the most natural athletic abilities to transfer across such a wide range of sports?
Oh and it's really worth looking up the shows on youtube.