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The Daily OrangeBattle | Shoeless Ron: IUPUI coach to go barefoot to raise awareness
By Kevin Ware
Posted: 1/14/08, 10:38 PM EST Section: Sports
"I have been to Lagos, Nigeria," Hunter said. "I have seen kids struggle with this and not have shoes. I have an African young man on my team (freshman Christian Siakam), half his family doesn't have shoes. I just took for granted that everyone in this country had shoes and everyone in the world had shoes, and that's not the case."
The timing of the trip will cut into the crucial July recruiting period for college basketball coaches, but Hunter said he isn't even thinking about that.
"When it's all said and done with, am I going to worry about recruiting in July or am I going to worry about being able to help someone in this world and put shoes on them so that they can have a better life?" Hunter said. "I think that's a lot bigger, a lot more important, than July recruiting for me. How could I live with myself if I'm worried about going to see a kid in Orlando or (Las) Vegas, and there's a kid out there who needs a pair of shoes. I think that's more important for me right now."
The idea for Hunter to coach in his bare feet came about when Ohonme was in New York City with the organization's marketing director, Todd Melloh, at an event for Maya Angelou, the renowned black poet.
After the event, Melloh and Ohonme came up with the idea of a college basketball coach coaching a game in his bare feet and Hunter immediately came to Melloh's mind as Melloh, based in Indianapolis, is friends with Hunter.
Melloh called Hunter on the spot and the coach was committed to the cause from the moment of that first call.
"I thought what a great awareness it'd be to do this - to coach with no shoes on," Hunter said. "It's something that's never been done."
Hunter chose the Jan. 24 date because it is the closest game to Martin Luther King Day, and he is calling for the entire IUPUI student body to come the game without shoes on as well.
Hunter plans on asking Greg Kampe, Oakland's head coach and one of his best friends in the business, to coach barefoot as well.
The timing of the trip will cut into the crucial July recruiting period for college basketball coaches, but Hunter said he isn't even thinking about that.
"When it's all said and done with, am I going to worry about recruiting in July or am I going to worry about being able to help someone in this world and put shoes on them so that they can have a better life?" Hunter said. "I think that's a lot bigger, a lot more important, than July recruiting for me. How could I live with myself if I'm worried about going to see a kid in Orlando or (Las) Vegas, and there's a kid out there who needs a pair of shoes. I think that's more important for me right now."
The idea for Hunter to coach in his bare feet came about when Ohonme was in New York City with the organization's marketing director, Todd Melloh, at an event for Maya Angelou, the renowned black poet.
After the event, Melloh and Ohonme came up with the idea of a college basketball coach coaching a game in his bare feet and Hunter immediately came to Melloh's mind as Melloh, based in Indianapolis, is friends with Hunter.
Melloh called Hunter on the spot and the coach was committed to the cause from the moment of that first call.
"I thought what a great awareness it'd be to do this - to coach with no shoes on," Hunter said. "It's something that's never been done."
Hunter chose the Jan. 24 date because it is the closest game to Martin Luther King Day, and he is calling for the entire IUPUI student body to come the game without shoes on as well.
Hunter plans on asking Greg Kampe, Oakland's head coach and one of his best friends in the business, to coach barefoot as well.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
David
posted 1/15/08 @ 7:44 AM EST
A lot of people go barefooted by choice, and lots of African-Americans have a really, really hard time dealing with it.
I put Coach in that category. (Continued…)
greg
posted 1/15/08 @ 10:03 AM EST
While I admire the intent, there are a few things more pressing than shoes...what about safe drinking water? People have been going without shoes for many years, and can continue without them for many more, but a safe source of drinking water. (Continued…)
Chuck
posted 1/15/08 @ 4:19 PM EST
Everyone who *wants* a pair of shoes should have that option, regardless of how rich or poor they are, but some people *prefer* going barefoot in a lot of situations. (Continued…)
Greg
posted 1/15/08 @ 8:31 PM EST
Ron Hunter has such a noble idea. Think of it - starving people, poisoned by their drinking water, but they'll look good in nice shoes. Hey coach, how about jewelry? There are people walking around all over the world without any jewelry! Just don't send anything anyone needs, like clean water or food. (Continued…)
brian
posted 1/16/08 @ 2:20 PM EST
This guy is a retard!
Karma Slave
posted 1/16/08 @ 3:07 PM EST
To "raise awareness"? What, that the majority of the population don't -use- nor -need- shoes?
The only awareness he'll raise is his own, to his surroundings, the day he decides not to use shoes. (Continued…)
Jaime
posted 1/17/08 @ 9:10 PM EST
You know what? I think it is a great thing that he is doing...i don't know why people are criticizing something good. If anyone has any better ideas, great for them. (Continued…)
David from Ohio
posted 1/21/08 @ 3:42 PM EST
I think we should assume that the coach's heart is, in fact, in the right place, but that he just doesn't understand the health benefits that going barefoot can bring. (Continued…)
michael
posted 1/25/08 @ 2:00 PM EST
I am amazed that so many posters are criticizing the coach for his efforts. If any of you think there is more pressing needs and projects to be done in Africa, I say go do something about it, rather than just saying how misguided Coach Hunter is. (Continued…)
brian
posted 9/25/08 @ 11:03 AM EST
I think his heart is in the right place, even if he is displaying a profound sociological ignorance. If the average pair of shoes costs $30, that comes to 1. (Continued…)
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