Now Average Fan Can Feel Like a Million

A New York police officer is taking kicking lessons from a New York Jet coach, hoping to win $1 million Sunday at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu.

Michael Volino will get $5,000 even if he misses the 35-yard attempt.

He won the opportunity when his entry on a candy bar wrapper was picked in a drawing of more than 120,000 entrants.

Meanwhile, Demetrius Houston, 17, of Fort Pierce, Fla., won a promotional shoot-off and can make $1 million for sinking a three-point shot Feb. 10 in San Antonio, during NBA All-Star game activities.

If he misses, he’ll pocket $10,000.

Is this a great country or what?

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Trivia time: Who was the first NBA player to score 2,000 points in one season?

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Tiger cash: Golf writer Ron Sirak on Tiger Woods’ endorsement value if the Stanford sophomore left school now and turned pro:

“ ‘The figure I’ve heard is Woods could get an endorsement deal of $32 million to $34 million if he turned pro right now,’ said one golf official, with no ties to an equipment company.

“Considering a loose cannon like John Daly can get $10 million, that’s not unreasonable.”

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Dress code: Ex-UCLA coach John Wooden has again spoken out against the attire favored by today’s basketball players.

“I’ve threatened to Coach [Jim] Harrick, facetiously, that I’m going to start standing outside . . . and ask people not to go in unless they change those shorts.

“They’re bloomers. There’s no progress without change. However, all change isn’t progress.”

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Whew! Canadian Olympic officials breathed a sigh of relief when the Quebec independence measure narrowly lost.

Based on 1994 Winter Olympics results, an independent Quebec would have outperformed Canada. Seven of Canada’s 10 medal winners were Quebecers.

However, only one Quebecer was on Canada’s ice hockey team, which won the silver medal.

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River of suds: The crack research staff at the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles has learned that the 91,363 people at the Nov. 18 UCLA-USC game drank 40,644 cups of beer.

At $4.75 each, it comes to $193,059.

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Trivia answer: George Yardley.

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Quotebook: Sportswriter Bert Randolph Sugar, on rumors Pittsburgh quarterback Neil O’Donnell might be coming to the New York Jets: “O’Donnell couldn’t hit the Monongahela River from the bridge.”