CFL: Million dollar man living Average Joe life
Life has pretty much returned to normal for the guy who kicked arguably the most famous field goal at the Rogers Centre.
Brian Diesbourg, now 35, still lives and works in Belle River, Ont., near Windsor, 10 years after he nailed a 50-yarder in Wendy’s Kick for a Million halftime promotion.
Diesbourg was the “average Joe” randomly selected from more than 200,000 online entries in the contest.
After he missed three attempts from the 20, 30 and the 40-yard lines for other prizes, it looked very doubtful that Diesbourg would make the 50-yard field goal.
“The place went crazy,” Diesbourg recalls after he nailed it. “It was overwhelming.” The money didn’t come in one chunk. He is paid $25,000 a year for 40 years.
“Life is good,” Diesbourg says by phone. “I’m still working, though, but doesn’t everyone have to? I’m just trying to live a normal life.”
Diesbourg was aware the 10-year anniversary of his kick had come and gone. But he wasn’t aware the Argonauts were playing their last game ever at the dome Friday night. He doesn’t follow them. Close to the Michigan border, he prefers the NFL’s Detroit Lions.
Diesbourg hasn’t even been to Toronto since that night in late October 2005.
He bought a house, went on a cruise and bought a dune buggy and some other “toys.”
Much of his life stayed the same. He is still a mechanical engineeer, but there have been other changes.
He works for another company and he has a new woman in his life too. He and Penny Sauve are expecting twins in February. They have a couple of dogs.
He uses his winnings to pay his mortgage.
Diesbourg owns a ranch-style house, valued at about $400,000, which sits on more than an acre of property with a volleyball court.
The money he earns as a mechanical engineer is the extra cash he plays with.
Diesbourg always felt that if had received the $1 million in one lump sum, the money would have been gone by now.
It means he’s not really kicking back in life.
“It’s a little different than getting the full million,” he says. “I don’t feel like a millionaire.”