How to Not Choke on a $1 Million Shot

Opportunities to win $1 million come along more often than you might think - as long as you can keep your cool.

In September Jason Hargett who won a cool million by sinking a hole-in-one at a local charity golf tournament in Utah.

Four years ago, an Army veteran and landscaper threw a 25-yard pass with a football through a target hole, and cashed in for $1 million during halftime of a Florida State vs. Clemson game.

And just a few years before that, 23-year-old Don Calhoun made a three-quarter court shot at halftime of a Chicago Bulls game to win ... you guessed it, $1 million.

Sense a pattern here? Yep, at sporting events all over the country you can win $1 million. Now, certainly this requires a bit of luck, but if you get the opportunity and find yourself in position for the big shot, here's how not to choke.

First Things First: You have to be the person on the field, court or course to make the shot. Sometimes the participants are randomly selected by seat number, other times they earn their shot through process of elimination.

Your best bet is to check the promotion calendar of all your local teams -professional and college - and see how they do it. As for local charity golf tournaments, there are literally thousands every year with hole-in-one contests. Check your local papers and internet sites - there are so many you can probably play in one nearly every week if you want.

Know Your Game: There are two keys to every ball/stick-and-ball sport, and they are: 1. Turn your body away from the target first, then toward the target. This creates power on the throw/shot. 2. Follow through! It's the biggest key to everything, from golf to darts. Keep your arms traveling fully toward the target after you release the ball/hit the shot. If you don't, your ball will lose momentum.

Overshoot: The most common cause of missed shots - not just $1 million shots - is the ball coming up short. So tell yourself you're going to try to throw the ball or hit the shot at least 10 yards farther than you have to in reality. If you're trying to make a hole-in-one, use one more club than you normally would for the distance. So if you normally hit a 7-iron from 150 yards, hit a 6-iron, because in golf, perfect contact is the exception, not the the rule. In basketball, try to hit the backboard, not the front of the rim.

Focus and Take a Deep Breath: To do anything even remotely athletic, you have to be loose. So stretch before your big try, and do three things right before you take your shot: 1. Look around, pick out a few things or people, and see them clearly. Don't let everything blur together. When you're ready, focus like that on your target. 2. Before you pick up your ball or club, wiggle your arms like a swimmer on the starting blocks, while at the same time taking several long, deep breaths. Now you're ready. 3. Win $1 million.

Source: Net