I never understood how top, active sports people were allowed to take part in Superstars.Kalan wrote:Ali, Foreman, Norton, Tyson, Spinks, Terrell and dozens of boxers who fought in the 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's.
I remember talking with Leon Spinks.. He was extremely friendly, but It was tough because the conversation wasn't that intelligible.. Norton told me he'd been asked to appear in the Superstars Competition twice and turned it down.. That was the competition during the 70's that pitted the world's top athletes against each other.. I encouraged Norton to do it saying, "You're a much better athlete than Joe Frazier. Boxers always come in last on Superstars and they embarrass the sport. You should do much better." He said maybe he should try it and it might be fun. Next thing I know, Norton accepted the invitation and he indeed competed in Superstars.
There was a UK version & I remember watching then England & Liverpool footballer & world rated player, Kevin Keegan falling heavily off a road bike during a race.
Imagine the cost to Liverpool FC or the England national team if a star player like that got seriously injured taking part in a gameshow?
I think lessons were learned from that, because Superstars was resurrected in the UK in the early 2000s, but the second time around, the participants were retired sports people who were still physically fit & able to take part.