1979 MEN'S PRELIMINARY 1

The 1979 Superstars season opened with Ben Davidson capturing the veteran's preliminary for the second consecutive year. Davidson prevailed over an experienced field in which each of the top five finishers had previous Superstars experience. The former Raider defensive end won three of the first four events to open an early lead over the field. John Havlicek, who had been in the 1974 and '75 Superstars finals, parlayed three second places and wins in bowling and the half mile to the lead after eight events. Davidson won the bike race and put himself in the running entering the obstacle course along with Havlicek and former Los Angeles Dodger shortstop Maury Wills. Wills failed to qualify for the obstacle course final and finished third overall. In a TV interview by former teammate Don Drysdale, Wills broke down in tears when talking about his inability to win the event and walked away from Drysdale in mid-interview. Meanwhile, Davidson qualified for the obstacle course final and clinched the overall title. Two-time Olympic decathlon champion Bob Mathias also earned a spot in the obstacle course final, despite a knee injury which had been bothering him during the competition. The two men decided to share the obstacle course victory.

Freeport-Lucaya, Bahamas

Competition Dates: December 8-10, 1978.

Air Date: January 14, 1979.

Announcers: Frank Gifford, Bob Uecker & Don Drysdale.

PLC. NAME, SPORT
 TEN SWIM WL ROW GOLF 100 BOWL HALF BIKE OC TOTAL
MONEY
1. Ben Davidson, Football
10
10
10
x
x
10
8 1/2
48 1/2
$14,850
2. John Havlicek, Basketball
7
7
x
0
0
7
10
10
x
x
41
$9,100
3. Maury Wills, Baseball
0
x
x
4
10
10
7
1
x
4
36
$6,100
4. Jim Taylor, Football
10
x
7
2
1
x
1
7
7
x
35
$3,500
5. Rod Gilbert, Ice Hockey
4
0
x
0
7
x
4
2
4
x
21
$2,100
6. Bob Mathias, Decathlon
2
4
2
1
x
x
8 1/2
17 1/2
$1,750
7. Bob Pettit, Basketball
1
2
x
0
2
1
2
x
2
x
10
$1,000
8. Ingemar Johansson, Boxing
x
0
7
x
0
1
8
$1,000
9. Floyd Patterson, Boxing
0
x
0
2
4
0
1
7
$1,000
9. Charley Taylor, Football
1
x
4
x
2
7
$1,000
11. Hank Aaron, Baseball
x
x
4
x
x
4
$1,000
11. John Mackey, Football
x
4
x
x
4
$1,000
13. Curt Flood, Baseball
x
x
0
x
0
$1,000

INDIVIDUAL EVENT RESULTS

SWIMMING - heat 1 (50 Yards)

1. Ben Davidson

31.00
2. Charley Taylor

32.70
3. John Havlicek

34.90
4. Rod Gilbert
35.80

SWIMMING - heat 2 (50 Yards)

1. Bob Mathias

33.05
2. Bob Pettit

34.15
3. Floyd Patterson

1:16.85

TENNIS

1. Jim Taylor

10
2. John Havlicek

7
3. Rod Gilbert

4
4. Bob Mathias

2
5. Bob Pettit

1
Taylor d. Havlicek
6-1

SWIMMING - Final (100 Yards)

1. Ben Davidson

1:16.40
2. John Havlicek

1:17.34
3. Bob Mathias

1:20.30
4. Bob Pettit
1:29.00
5. Charley Taylor
1:59.80

WEIGHT LIFTING

1. Ben Davidson

255
2. Jim Taylor

250
3. John Mackey

210
4. Bob Mathias

200
5. Ingemar Johansson

nm

ROWING

1. Ben Davidson

41.48

41.60
2. Ingeamr Johansson

43.49

44.46
3. Maury Wills

43.56

4. Jim Taylor

43.97

  
5. Bob Mathias
44.30
  
Floyd Patterson
44.47
  

GOLF - closest to the pin

1. Maury Wills

N/A
2. Rod Gilbert

N/A
3. Hank Aaron

N/A
4. Bob Pettit

N/A
5. Jim Taylor

N/A

100 YARD DASH - final

1. Maury Wills

11.34
2. John Havlicek

N/A
3. Charley Taylor

N/A
4. Floyd Patterson

N/A
5. Bob Pettit

N/A
6. Curt Flood
N/A

BOWLING - Two game qualifying, one game final

1. John Havlicek

N/A
N/A
N/A
180
2. Maury Wills

N/A
N/A
N/A
127
3. Rod Gilbert

N/A
N/A
N/A
4. Bob Pettit

N/A
N/A
N/A
5. Jim Taylor

N/A
N/A
N/A

HALF MILE RUN

1. John Havlicek

2:33.47
2. Jim Taylor

N/A
3. Floyd Patterson

N/A
4. Rod Gilbert

N/A
5. Maury Wills

N/A
6. Ingemar Johansson
N/A

BIKE RACE - final (1 Mile)

1. Ben Davidson

N/A
2. Jim Taylor

N/A
3. Rod Gilbert

N/A
4. Bob Pettit

N/A
5. Ingemar Johansson

N/A

OBSTACLE COURSE

1. Ben Davidson

N/A
WH

dns
2. Bob Mathias

29.44

dns
3. Maury Wills

42.40

4. Charley Taylor

N/A

  
5. Floyd Patterson
N/A
  

e = estimated time

r = Superstars record

N/A = result not available

dnf - did not finish

dns - did not start

nm - no mark

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