What’s the most angry you’ve ever been at a referee? That probably pales in comparison to Karen Kuldys, who thought she won $1 million, then had it erased by a single penalty flag.
This CFL fan lost out on $1 million because of a single penalty flag
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Kuldys was entered into the running for the prize through a grocery store competition. If two kicks were returned for touchdowns in a single CFL game, she’d earn the big prize. The Toronto Argonauts opened their game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with a return, but Kuldys still didn’t think it was possible — until Martese Jackson ran back a 105-yard return for a TD in the second.
There was just one problem.
CBC spoke with Karen after she learned that she didn’t win the $1 million prize, thanks to the flag on the play.
“My heart just sank and I thought — oh my god how close could I get to one million dollars,” Kuldys said. “You got to be kidding me. My stomach is in knots just thinking about it right now.”
Thankfully Kuldys got something for the game — she won a $25,000 home entertainment system — which is awesome, but a far cry from a cool $1 million.
“I’m kind of stunned,” Karen said. “I didn’t really understand what was happening to begin with. But my husband said if it wasn’t for that penalty, we would have won one million dollars. I couldn’t believe it. One bad call away from one million dollars,” she said.
The roller coaster of thinking you won that much money only to see it taken away is unimaginable. Kuldys is coming to the end of her maternity leave with her 1-year-old baby, and had imagined using the money to stay at home longer. Now that’s gone because of a flag.
Sports are cruel.
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