Pardon the cliché, but sometimes you've got to be lucky to be good.
In the case of Darwin Head, Canada's newest millionaire, he was a bit of both Wednesday.
The lucky son-of-a-gun was just that - extremely lucky - to be picked to shoot for a $1 million prize in a televised shootout contest between the periods of a Canucks - Avalanche tilt in Vancouver. There were over eight million entries to the contest, which was hosted by TSN and sponsored by GM which, oddly enough, happens to own title for Vancouver's NHL digs.
And hey, the guy was pretty good as well. Here's a video teaser, where he fired 15 pucks into a net from the far blueline, and got it done in less than the allotted 25 seconds.
Not that there was a shortage of pressure. General Motors Place was packed with 18,000 fans cheering and hundreds of thousands watching on TSN.
I'd have likely lost my cookies right there at centre ice. I get nervous for my kid's meet the teacher night.
But this guy brought out a pretty large set of onions to answer the bell.
That or he had a horseshoe lodged up his rump.
Whatever the case, the guy now has a little extra cake.
Good on him - he got his 15 minutes of fame and added to his bank account.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. He also won a Chevy Malibu for himself, a few of his buddies and some lucky stiff in the stands. Pfft. As if that matters. You'll see Head's new set of wheels in the classifieds shortly as he steps into something a little more practical. Like a Ferrari.
Back to reality, Head is a sawmill worker in the prairies. Or was. Married with kids. I doubt he's about to give up his day job just yet but that is for another day.
Although if he plans on separating himself from us common folk, there is a certain team in Ottawa that can't seem to find the net these days.
Hmm...