In an extraordinary turn of events, one man achieved the seemingly unattainable and won $1 million, only for the company involved to refuse to pay up.
On April 14, 1993, Don Calhoun etched his name in NBA history. During a break in the third quarter of a Chicago Bulls-Miami Heat game, Calhoun stepped onto the court to take on a challenge with the basketball hoop, driven by a $1 million offer.
It’s a moment that left everyone astonished:
The promotion promised $1 million to any fan who could sink an 80-foot shot from the free-throw line at the opposite end of the court.
The Chicago Bulls had conducted this promotion 19 times that year, and no one had come close to succeeding.
But when Calhoun took the stage, everything changed.
He made the shot in stunning fashion, immediately leaping in celebration, as anyone would upon believing they’d just won $1 million with such an iconic shot.
The probability of Calhoun making the shot was less than one percent, which is why the entire Chicago Stadium erupted in celebration, including NBA legend Michael Jordan, witnessing a historic moment.
Calhoun’s achievement was splashed across newspapers and broadcasted on TV, turning him into a star. The shot became known as The Calhoun Shot and the Immaculate Connection.
However, the triumph soon revealed its complications.
The argument against him was that Calhoun had played college basketball, supposedly violating the rules.
This was a frustrating example of not reading the fine print, as the rules stipulated that contestants couldn’t have played in an ‘organized’ version of the sport before participating.
According to ABC7 Chicago, it wasn’t uncommon for franchises to take it upon themselves to pay contestants if disputes arose.
Fortunately, that’s what eventually happened for Calhoun.
The event’s sponsors, Coca-Cola, Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, and the Bulls, agreed to fund the prize if the insurance company refused to do so.
As a result, Calhoun received $50,000 annually over 20 years. He continued working as an office supplies salesman and collected $38,000 each year after taxes until 2013.
“In reality, you’re not rich,” he told ABC7 Chicago. “You’re not a millionaire.”
As of 2023, the basketball used to make the legendary shot was in the possession of Calhoun’s son.