Battle | Shoeless Ron: IUPUI coach to go barefoot to raise awareness
By Kevin Ware
Posted: 1/14/08, 10:38 PM EST Section: Sports
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So on Jan. 24 Hunter, head coach at IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis), will coach against Oakland (Mich.) in his bare feet.
No socks, no shoes, just his bare feet.
Hunter wants to collect 40,000 pairs of shoes, the number in honor of the 40th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr., to bring to Africa to give to people who are not fortunate enough to have shoes. And for one game he will coach without shoes on himself.
Working with an organization called Samaritan's Feet, Hunter, who is in his 14th season with the Jaguars, wants to raise awareness of the people around the world without shoes.
"There should be no one in this world walking around barefoot," Hunter said. "I just can't even imagine that. I can't imagine my children doing it."
In essence, the message Hunter is trying to get across by coaching in his bare feet is there are more important things in life than sports.
"It's important, not only for coaches or players," Hunter said, "but I think that you have to give something back. And it's important for me to be able to not only win basketball games, but I coach young men, and I want them to see that there are more important things than money and more important things than winning basketball games."
Samaritan's Feet was founded four years ago by Emmanuel "Manny" Ohonme. Ohonme grew up exceedingly poor in Nigeria and never had a pair of shoes until he was nine years old when a stranger gave him his first pair. That moment in his life, according to him, inspired him to try to make a difference in other people's lives.
"This is awesome (what Hunter is doing)," Ohonme said. "This is an opportunity for people to realize in life that giving back is one of the most powerful things."
Ohonme, who will be walking barefoot from Charlotte to Atlanta in October to continue to raise awareness for the cause, said the best way to get involved and to donate is to go online at www.samaritansfeet.org. For $29.99, you can either get a pair of shoes and donate a pair of shoes or donate two pairs of shoes.
"We want to challenge people to have hope," Ohonme said. "And that's the message that we want to continue to share with people because hope is the one thing that none of us can live without."
Hunter plans on going to Africa in July to be able to distribute the shoes to people who have no choice but to walk on the rough ground of the earth barefoot.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 13
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…)
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