This morning Matt Lauer previewed The “Million Dollar Throw,” which will be coming to Mission Viejo on November 18. The event lets young people identify with a thirteen-year-old character in a new novel, Million-Dollar Throw, when they throw a football through a basketball-size target. The target is a netted hole cut in the front of a giant stand-up cover of the book. The contest will be hosted by its author, Mike Lupica, a best-selling writer on the New York Times reading list, and obviously a great promoter.
Mike Lupica
Lupica was interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Friday’s Today Show during a demonstration of the contest. Two teens were picked from the crowd to throw for a $5,000 gift to charity. Although both missed, the donation was still made on their behalf.
The “Throw” will be conducted for youngsters ages 8-15 in only 6 U.S. cities, from November 9-18. Mission Viejo will be the final contest, to be held at Civic Center on the 18th.
The fictional character can win $1 million by throwing the football through the target, but reality contestants in Mission Viejo will have an opportunity to win less, $1,000. But only 200 MV kids will receive tickets for a chance to enter. The 200 tickets will be distributed on a first-come basis beginning one hour before the event. Lupica will talk about the book in City Hall Chambers at 5 pm and is expected to autograph copies. A brief bio of the author can be viewed here.
This is the sixth book written by Lupica using sports themes to create positive influences for young people. The MV contest will parallel the role of fictional character Nate Brodie in Million-Dollar Throw, as previewed on the author’s website:
Nate Brodie is nicknamed “Brady” not only for his arm, but also because he’s the biggest Tom Brady fan. He’s even saved up to buy an autographed football. And when he does, he wins the chance for something he’s never dreamed of—to throw a pass through a target at a Patriots game for one million dollars.
Nate should be excited. But things have been tough lately. His dad lost his job and his family is losing their home. It’s no secret that a million dollars would go a long way. So all Nate feels is pressure, and just when he needs it most, his golden arm begins to fail him. Even worse, his best friend Abby is going blind, slowly losing her ability to do the one thing she loves most—paint. Yet Abby never complains, and she is Nate’s inspiration. He knows she’ll be there when he makes the throw of a lifetime.
The book went on sale Tuesday.
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This sounds like a great event for the youth in MV. I like the idea that we will have author Mike Lupica at the MV City Hall. We had a marvelous Readers Festival and this is a wonderful idea to have a sports and readers combination. I want to thank the individuals that have put MV on the United States map. Kudos to them. How did this happen? Keep doing what you are doing.