He Made A Million Dollar Shot And They Didn't Want To Pay Him

Summary

In the 1990s, the NBA held a contest where fans could win a million dollars by making a nearly impossible three-quarter court shot. Don Calhoun, a local Bulls fan, stunned the crowd by sinking the shot during a 1993 Bulls vs. Heat game. However, due to a technicality about his recent involvement in organized basketball, the insurance company initially refused to pay him. Amid public outrage, the Bulls decided to honor the prize, paying Don in installments. Later, Michael Jordan ensured Don received the full amount, even securing an autograph for him, making this extraordinary moment in basketball history a true story of fairness and redemption.

Takeaways

• 😀 Don Calhoun, a Chicago Bulls fan, made an incredible 80-foot shot during a game in 1993, winning a million dollars in a contest.
• 😀 The contest was part of a Bulls promotion where fans had the chance to win a million dollars for making a difficult shot from three-quarters court.
• 😀 Despite hitting the shot, Don was disqualified from receiving his prize due to a technicality: he had played organized basketball within five years of the contest.
• 😀 The insurance company refused to pay Don the million dollars, citing the breach of rules, despite the Bulls organization initially selecting him for the shot.
• 😀 Public outrage over Don’s disqualification led to a change of heart from the Bulls organization, who decided to pay Don the million dollars in 20 annual payments of $50,000.
• 😀 Don had no idea why the Bulls decided to pay him until a year later when Michael Jordan asked him if he had received the money.
• 😀 Michael Jordan and other Bulls players intervened, pressuring team ownership to pay Don the prize money out of their own pockets.
• 😀 The contest’s official rules were strict, and while the players and organization were legally within their rights to deny Don, Jordan felt it was the right thing to do to ensure Don received his winnings.
• 😀 Don’s story became a local legend, symbolizing both an incredible moment in basketball and a battle against unfair rules.
• 😀 Don's experience demonstrates the power of high-profile athletes and public pressure in ensuring fairness and advocating for what's right.

Q & A

What was the 'Million Dollar Shot' contest about?

The 'Million Dollar Shot' contest was a promotion held during NBA All-Star Weekend, where one lucky fan, selected from millions of entries, was given the chance to make a three-pointer for a chance to win one million dollars.

Why was Don Calhoun selected to take the shot during the contest?

Don Calhoun was selected because he was a local fan, and his shoes wouldn't scuff up the floor. Despite understanding the slim odds, he took his shot, which resulted in a miraculous hit.

What happened after Don Calhoun made the shot?

After Don made the 80-foot shot, the crowd erupted, and he was congratulated by players, including Michael Jordan. However, a technicality in the rules disqualified him from receiving the million-dollar prize.

What was the technicality that caused Don Calhoun to be disqualified from the contest?

The contest rules stated that the contestant could not have played organized basketball within five years of the contest. Don had been on the Triton Community basketball team three years prior, which led to his disqualification.

How did the Bulls organization respond to Don Calhoun not receiving his prize?

After public outrage and pressure from fans, the Bulls organization held a press conference and decided to pay Don the million dollars, albeit in 20 installments over 20 years.

What role did Michael Jordan play in ensuring Don received his money?

Michael Jordan, after learning that the insurance company was not planning to pay Don, pushed for the Bulls organization to cover the million-dollar prize out of their own pockets, which they eventually did.

Why was Don Calhoun's win considered so remarkable?

Don's win was extraordinary because hitting an 80-foot shot with a million-dollar prize on the line is incredibly rare, and the odds of success were less than 1%.

What was Don's initial reaction after making the million-dollar shot?

Don was initially thrilled and couldn't believe he had made the shot, holding the game ball in one hand and a million-dollar check in the other, thinking he had won the prize.

How did the 'Million Dollar Shot' contest evolve over the years?

The 'Million Dollar Shot' contest evolved with different contestants attempting the shot every year, but no one ever successfully made the shot except Don Calhoun, making his win stand out as the most memorable.

What happened when Don Calhoun sought an autograph from Michael Jordan?

When Don approached Michael Jordan for an autograph, Jordan instead asked if he had received his million-dollar prize. This led to the revelation that the Bulls organization had stepped in to ensure Don received his money.