Sunday afternoon, Alex Permann thought he was $50,000 richer after making a half-court shot before the Missouri Valley Conference championship. However the 24-year-old from University of Missouri-St. Louis was sadly mistaken.
Allow me to explain why.
After being selected Sunday, Permann had a tall list of assignments to complete before he would be granted with the cash. In order to walk away with $50,000, which holds as much value as a million dollars to a struggling college student, Permann had to make a layup, free throw, 3-pointer and half-court shot in 24 seconds to win the prize.
Sounds simple right?
Well typically speaking that would be a rhetorical question because that’s anything but easy, even if you’re a professional athlete. However it wasn’t the task itself that caused Permann issues, since he was able to make the layup, hit the free throw and knock down the half-court shot. There was just one small problem.
He didn’t shot the 3-pointer.
“There was a miscommunication and I was given some instructions that didn’t match the instructions the announcer said,” Alex Permann told the Dagger. “I was so excited to be out there that I didn’t pay attention to what he said. I had in my mind what I was going to do before I went out there.”
By the time he remember time was up, and this isn’t the county fair where you still receive a prize even if you lose. So that $50,000 will just roll over for the next victim, if they can remember to shot the 3-pointer.
Don’t let your alligator tears start falling down just yet, MVC officials compromised for the young student.
“I’ve got to tell you, I’m just sick,” MVC associate commissioner Jack Watkins said of Permann losing.
Instead of $50,000 Permann will have to settle for four VIP passes and a three-day hotel stay in St. Louis for next year’s tournament. That isn’t better than the money, but it beats walking away empty handed.
“Either way, it’s been awesome. I just can’t believe I made it,” said Permann, whose main experience with basketball is playing in an intramural league once a week. He’ll have the memory, anyway. Just not $50,000.”