Does It Hold Up: The Calhoun Shot?
Promotional Half Court Shots have become Lay Ups, what about the most famous 3/4er?
In my youth we were promised jet packs and flying cars, what we got was Promotion Shot Mastery!
Another day, another 10k for a half court shot!
The half court shot has become a layup. (I credit Curry and Lillard and Clark for making us all think we can do it!) But there’s no explaining why fans are shooting 50-40-90 in promotions these days.
Here’s a 10 and a half minute video of shots on shots on shots but even that doesn’t tip the iceberg.
The best part of this is the varying degrees of prize: you get a car, you get 50k, you get a Chick-Fil-A!
Even the insurance companies know it’s a layup, they’re giving away chicken sandwiches. And people are still thrilled!
The OG, Grandaddy Of Em All is Don Calhoun.
The year is 1993, beanie babies are the bees knee, Jeff Goldblum is reclining seductively in Jurassic Park, and Sportscenter is on repeat in the house of one Anthony Joseph Paul Reali.
And on one April day I saw the highlight of all highlights. Don Calhoun’s 3/4 quarter shot for 1,000,000 dollars!
So today’s question: DOES IT HOLD UP?
The shot: In my memory it was a heave but that is a heave ho!
The reaction: In my memory he got the ultimate - a hug from Michael Jordan - but this is bonkers. This is a team that won back to back championships at the time. THEY ARE CELEBRATING MORE FOR CALHOUN THAN THEY DID WHEN THEY ONE THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Never noticed before - or forgot - referee Steve Javie tried to get in there for some love. Dude just won a mil and is hugging Michael Jordan, hahaha, he don’t need you Stevie!
The best part, as we all know now, is the insurance company rescinding the paycheck because Calhoun played 11 games of small college basketball - and the Bulls coming through with the million after goading from Jordan, Pippen and the players!
Calhoun got 50 thousand a year - 38 after taxes - for 20 years and in this wonderful article from Ryan Hockensmith - it was a bit short of life changing money at the time but did become life changing money as Calhoun credited the shot with the jet fuel to have a son go to college and become a doctor! He played with the Harlem Globetrotters for a spin! And was interview by one Michael Raymond Wilbon!
That’s a bit better than a Chick-Fil-A!
But the indisputable, untouchable case for HOLDS UP!!! made by my friend JA Adande: it made it into the The Fugitive!!!
HOLDS UP!!
As you know want this space to be a place of Things I Love and one thing I love is introducing people to voices I love.
I hope you guys know Jxmy HighRoller. If not, Real Ones: Jxmy! Jxmy: Real Ones! You guys are gonna love eachother! His Youtube videos on all things NBA are a must and if you want more on the history of promotional shots, he’s got it all here!