Sat, Jan 26, 1974
With the success of the 'The Superstars' special in 1973, ABC decided to expand the series for 1974. The field of athletes was increased from 10 to 48 and split into four preliminary groups. The top three finishers in each group advanced to the final. The first two preliminary rounds were scheduled for August 13th and 14th, 1973. The first preliminary round consisted of athletes from track and field, basketball, swimming and motor sports.
Sat, Feb 2, 1974
The second preliminary round was held in conjunction with the first during August, 1973. The two leaders of this preliminary were European Olympians Ard Schenk and Karl Schranz who were successful over a field of winter sportsmen and bowlers. Yvan Cournoyer of the Montreal Canadiens finished third, but was unable to participate in the finals as it fell during the N.H.L. season. Darkness caused the last two events to be postponed to August 15th. Hockey player Stan Mikita was a 5 handicap in golf and as he had competed in amateur tournaments in the Chicago area in the offseason, the U.S.G.A. president informed Mikita that he would lose his amateur standing if he golfed in Superstars.
Sat, Feb 9, 1974
The third preliminary round was dominated by an unknown athlete, soccer player Kyle Rote, Jr. Rote suffered what would be a rare Superstars tennis loss to Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles, but would rebound with wins in bowling and baseball hitting. Rote built a 14 point lead after six events and held on to win by 15 following another victory in the bike race. Reggie Jackson won the weight lifting, 100 yard dash and obstacle course to take second place. The obstacle course final came down between baseball M.V.P.'s Jackson and Pete Rose and ended with Jackson edging Rose as both athletes dove over the finish line. Jackson qualified for the final, but was settling his contract with the Oakland A's and was unavailable. Jackson was replaced by tennis player Stan Smith. Skiier Jean-Claude Killy withdrew after the first day of competition.
Sat, Feb 16, 1974
The final preliminary round would feature football players as well as boxers, auto racers and an Olympic champion decathlete. With three wins and two seconds, O.J. Simpson dominated the event to win by five points over Miami Dolphin safety Dick Anderson. Franco Harris would remain a consistent scorer to finish third.
Sat, Mar 2, 1974
The second Superstars final was won by a complete unknown. Soccer player Kyle Rote, Jr. ran away with the competition from the beginning to capture the first of his three Superstars titles. Finals qualifiers Reggie Jackson and Yvan Cournoyer could not participate in the final. Jackson was involved in salary arbitration with the Oakland Athletics, and Cournoyer was injured in the midst of the N.H.L. season. They were replaced by fourth place finishers Stan Smith and Brian Oldfield. Controversy arose before the event began as Bob Seagren was permitted to enter the 100 yard dash for the first time. Rote, Simpson and Rose each expressed their displeasure with the decision. Oldfield was hampered by a knee injury which took him out of the 100 yard dash. The turning point in the competition came in the first round of the first event, tennis. Rote was drawn against O.J. Simpson as the luck of the draw would have it. Rote and Simpson were probably the two best players in the event and Simpson led 4-2 early. Rote changed his strategy and won the next four games to capture the match, 6-4. Rote would go on to capture the ten points for the event win and Simpson scored no points. Rote took a commanding lead by edging Seagren in the swimming after finishing second in the golf. Rote set a record in bowling and wrapped title up with a second place in the bike race. Seagren faced off against Dick Anderson for second place in the obstacle course final and soundly defeated Anderson. The weather in Florida was notably cold with most of the competitors clothed in sweat suits and jackets throughout. There was a frightening moment in the bike race as Jim McMillian, trailing Dick Anderson, locked wheels with Anderson and tumbled to the track. McMillian was uninjured, but the spokes in Anderson's back wheel were damaged and he had to abandon the race. Franco Harris won the inaugural Simon Sez competition, but received no points.