In 1993, a 23-year-old man named Don Calhoun was randomly selected from the crowd at a Chicago Bulls game to attempt a shot from 80 feet to win $1 million. Despite the extremely low odds, Don made the shot, and the crowd went wild. However, due to a technicality in the contest rules, the insurance company refused to pay out, citing that Don had played organized basketball within the past five years.
The news sparked outrage among fans, and the Bulls organization was under pressure to pay Don. In a surprising turn of events, the team held a press conference announcing that they would pay Don the $1 million out of their own pockets, split into 20 payments over 20 years.
It was later revealed that Michael Jordan, along with other players, had approached ownership and demanded that they pay Don, feeling that it was the right thing to do. Don eventually received his payments and even got the game ball signed by Jordan.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Don Calhoun was a 23-year-old local who was chosen to take a three-quarters court shot to win one million dollars at a Chicago Bulls game.
2. Calhoun made the 80-foot shot, but the insurance company responsible for paying out the prize money initially refused to pay, citing a technicality in the rules.
3. The rules stated that the contestant could not have played organized basketball within five years of the contest, and Calhoun had played on the Triton Community basketball team three years prior.
4. Despite the initial refusal, the Bulls organization eventually agreed to pay Calhoun the million dollars in 20 installments over 20 years due to fan outrage and pressure.
5. Michael Jordan was instrumental in ensuring that Calhoun received his payment, as he and other Bulls players told ownership that they needed to pay up.
6. The insurance company never intended to pay Calhoun, but the Bulls organization paid him out of their own pockets.
7. Don Calhoun met Michael Jordan a year after his shot and got his game ball signed by him.
8. The NBA hosted a "Million Dollar Shot" contest during All-Star Weekend in the 1990s, where contestants were chosen to take a three-pointer to win one million dollars.
9. Four contestants were selected over the four years that the NBA hosted the contest, but none of them made the shot.
10. In 1996, 17-year-old Demetrius Houston was selected to take the shot, but missed.
11. In 1997, Jim Valente was selected to take the shot, but also missed.
12. In 1998, a contestant named Soul Holkman was selected to take the shot, but missed as well.
13. In 1995, 16-year-old Mike Hoban was selected to take the shot, but missed by two feet.