Halfcourt Shots

[MU gimp ONE]

what is going on with the halfcourt shots?  we have one kid couple games ago drain it and the rest have been horrible airballs.  the one today wasn't even close... where do they find these guys? 

I have shot enough half court shots while screwing around at the gym to know i can atleast make it to the basket.  maybe we should doing 3/8 court shots.

[TallTitan34]

No kidding.  How can so many grown men not get it to the hoop? These guys would barely make a three pointer with the distance they are getting. 

I feel like most of my friends and I could get it closer with a 3/4 court shot.

[jficke13]

I say anyone who fails to draw iron or at least hit the glass should be forced to surrender their season tickets as punishment.

[rugbydrummer]

or maybe they can win some iron to work on their upper body strength

seriously if i wanted to watch ppl airball HC shots, then riddle me why they don't just let some ladies try? clearly they can't do much worse than also airballing...

my other thought is now Heiser is being much more selective .... 

[Brewtown Andy]

my other thought is now Heiser is being much more selective .... 

First two games: Both miss short badly.
3rd game: shot goes VERY long.
4th game: guy wins car.
all games since: missing short badly.

I feel comfortable with calling shenanigans.

[Skatastrophy]

I can airball it from the free throw line.

I'm in shape for my age.  I love basketball... but being a hockey player I'm far more used to a very small puck with a very big goal

[MarquetteDano]

I feel comfortable with calling shenanigans.

I am assuming that Heiser or whomever sponsors it simply takes out an insurance policy so there is no additional cost to the sponsor since they already paid the premium of the policy.  I think the policies are usually void of the person shooting played in college or was a pro at some point.

I would be surprised if there was anything untoward going on but I have been surprised before.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I am assuming that Heiser or whomever sponsors it simply takes out an insurance policy so there is no additional cost to the sponsor since they already paid the premium of the policy.  I think the policies are usually void of the person shooting played in college or was a pro at some point.

I would be surprised if there was anything untoward going on but I have been surprised before.

Typically that is the case, but not always.  I remember Goolsbys not taking out the insurance and got burned for it twice in one season when the kid made the shot.

The insurance can be pretty hefty on this stuff and some sponsors are willing to roll the dice.

As for who gets picked, well sometimes it's an enter to win kind of thing and a random drawing is done.  They contact the person, per the terms of the insurance, within a certain timeline.  For example, in some of the insurance policies it says the participant cannot be contacted prior to 24 hours of the shot so that the participant has limited time to practice it.  All sorts of stipulations that typically cover if they played college ball, were a DI athlete of any kind, etc, etc.

For the students shots, usually a MU rep will pick a student at random with the hope the shot is somewhat entertaining (meaning it has a shot to at least get in the area). 

[MookieBlaylock]

All it takes is a tweet @muathletics

Here's a breakdown of the winner this year:

http://www.alwaysrightinc.blogspot.com/

[drewm88]

No kidding.  How can so many grown men not get it to the hoop? These guys would barely make a three pointer with the distance they are getting. 

I feel like most of my friends and I could get it closer with a 3/4 court shot.

The distance can be deceptive if you're used to shooting at a hoop with a wall somewhat close behind it, rather than a stadium with thousands of people. Plus factor in weak legs from nerves. That being said, yes there are some awful shots.

[TallTitan34]

When I was there the only stipulation was that you couldn't have played high-school basketball.  The person was generally picked about an hour before the game right as they entered the arena.

They generally picked someone who looked like they could get it close..... but if a grown man can't get it close all bets are off now.

[MerrittsMustache]

The distance can be deceptive if you're used to shooting at a hoop with a wall somewhat close behind it, rather than a stadium with thousands of people. Plus factor in weak legs from nerves. That being said, yes there are some awful shots.

+1

If anyone has ever gone on the floor of the BC and looked at the basket, you'd realize that the shot isn't as easy as at the Rec Center goofing off with your buddies. A grown man should still be able to get the ball moderately close to the rim, but it's a tougher shot than people realize.

[w0bbie]

The distance can be deceptive if you're used to shooting at a hoop with a wall somewhat close behind it, rather than a stadium with thousands of people. Plus factor in weak legs from nerves. That being said, yes there are some awful shots.

I'm sure this is true.  However, I would think some of these guys would also realize this and compensate by putting a little extra oomph into their shot.  It seems like it would be much better to go big and risk throwing it way over than having it drop in the paint.  Just like putting to the pro side of the cup in golf, if you aim long you at least have a chance of it falling in, if you don't put enough on it you have zero chance.  Plus, banging a shot of the shot clock might not win you anything, but at least you look more manly.

[TallTitan34]

Plus, banging a shot of the shot clock might not win you anything, but at least you look more manly.

I did it twice in my time at MU.  First time I nailed the shot clock.  Second time I hit iron.

[APieperFan3]

It was on gomarquette.com for a while too

http://www.gomarquette.com/blog/2010/12/heiser-automotive-contest-already-nets-winner.html

[reinko]

I did it twice in my time at MU.  First time I nailed the shot clock.  Second time I hit iron.

I'm shocked you were picked.

Free pizza's and half court shots...man you live the life. 

Other than that 3 hour commute of course.

[jaybilaswho?]

When I was there the only stipulation was that you couldn't have played high-school basketball.  The person was generally picked about an hour before the game right as they entered the arena.

They generally picked someone who looked like they could get it close..... but if a grown man can't get it close all bets are off now.

I dont know if it was that you couldn't have played in high school. I thought it was worded as they couldnt have played "organized basketball" in the past 3 years or something like that.

[TallTitan34]

I'm shocked you were picked.

Free pizza's and half court shots...man you live the life.  

Other than that 3 hour commute of course.

If you want to get picked go to a non-conference game during Christmas break.  Get there right as the doors open and when you see the guys with headsets looking in the crowd ask them if they need a participant.  

You'll have a good shot at getting picked.

[T-Bone]

How about this from a Villanova game:
http://deadspin.com/5715412/two-fans-hit-half+court-shots-for-money-at-same-game

Pretty cool.  And $1000.

[jaybilaswho?]

How about this from a Villanova game:
http://deadspin.com/5715412/two-fans-hit-half+court-shots-for-money-at-same-game

Pretty cool.  And $1000.

its not cash.

"Yes, money. But not any particularly useful money. The fans each won a $1000 Class EE Bond, meaning they should be able collect in the year 2040."

[The Man in Gold]

How about this from a Villanova game:
http://deadspin.com/5715412/two-fans-hit-half+court-shots-for-money-at-same-game

Pretty cool.  And $1000.

$1000 in government bonds?!?!?!?!  Really Villanova, that's just bad.  Here's hoping that any New World Order holds out long enough for them to be able to redeem those bonds in 20 years.