Sports Hero of the Day: Coach Ron Hunter

Ron Hunter is the coach of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). He is also one of the biggest supporters of the Charity organization Samaritan Feet who raise money and donate shoes to people who can't afford them. Last year Ron Hunter got an idea to coach a game barefoot in an attempt to raise 40,000 shoes for the charity. So January 24, 2008 before tipoff against Oakland Ron Hunter had more than achieved his goal. He had raised 110,000 pairs of shoes for the organization. When all was said and done over 200,000 pairs of shoes had been sent for him to donate to people around the world.

The story doesn't end there though. Coach Hunter and his team traveled to Lima, Peru not just to hand out shoes but personally wash feet for the children, fit them for shoes and teach them about basketball.

This year the coach is at it again. He was on Mike and Mike radio ESPN last week in order to bring attention to the organization and raise more shoes. Unknowingly to Hunter the radio hosts brought on a representative from the Croc shoe company who informed the coach that they would be donating 50,000 pairs to him and Samaritan Feet! Unbelievable! Ron Hunter just had another barefooted endeavor on January 17th against Centenary and he reports that 300 coaches across the nation have promised to coach one game this week barefoot in response to his efforts.

Sports Hero of the Day: The UFC

Last night the Spike TV hosted a special UFC "Fight for the Troops" show. It was a free show where the UFC held matches trying to raise money for for Fallen Soldiers. The goal of the show was to raise enough money to be able to build a traumatic brain injury treatment center to care for soldiers returning from combat with traumatic brain injuries and psychological problems.

You just can't say enough about the UFC doing this for the Service Members. You have to thank all of the fighters who gave their time visiting the wounded men and women to boost their morale. You have to thank all of the people who helped make it happen like Dana White, Joe Rogan, Mike Goldberg, Bruce Buffer, the UFC referees and the Spike TV production crews. You have to thank all of the celebrities who spent the time to ask for donations to the fund like Samuel L. Jackson, James Gandolfini, Chris O'Donnel, Craig Ferguson, Robert Patrick, Rob Lowe, Mick Foley, Matt LeBlanc, Ron Livingston, 50 Cent, Laura Prepon, Everlast, Shane Victorino, Jack Black and Charlie Sheen. Forgive me if I missed any of them. A special thanks goes out to everyone who donated to the fund. Being a veteran of Iraq this one hits close to home and means a lot to know that the Men and Women of the Services are loved and remembered.

On to the action! There were many great fights. It seemed like everyone turned it up a notch in front of the soldiers at Fort Bragg. There was zero, absolutely zero, lack of effort from the fighters. It was truly an event and a show. Once again thank you to the fighters! Two of the matches that stuck out the most tonight were the fights Ben Saunders vs. Brandon Wolff and Josh Koscheck vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida which was the main event of the night.

In the Saunders-Wolff match Ben Saunders put on one of the most dominant one-sided fights (over a minute long) that I've ever seen. Saunders got in the Mauy Thai clench early and just threw knees in something that looked like it was out of Street Fighter. Joe Rogan called it the "most devastating use of the muay thai clench we've ever seen." Unbelievably awesome! You have to try and see a replay (it's Spike I'm sure you'll be able to).

When Josh Koscheck squared off with Yoshiyuki Yoshida it was just pure dominance. I swear before every fight I see Koscheck in they announce how much he's improved in his striking. Not being one to disappoint Josh proved them right. Josh gave one of the most incredibly brutal knockouts by a straight right hand ever. Yoshida was out cold while standing straight up and just collapsed. Ugly! This will be on one of those greatest knockout compilations soon for sure.

But the real heroes of the night are the Men and Women who serve in the Armed Forces. They ensure our Human Rights every time they put on the uniform and serve our country. The biggest thanks go out to them. Please log on to http://www.fightforthetroops.com/ and find out how you can donate to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

You can't say it better than UFC's Mike Goldberg as he closed out the program with his final thought, "We have all been reminded tonight that freedom is a privilege."

Thanks again to the UFC and thanks forever to the troops!

Sports Hero of the Day: Tony Romo

Now I love ragging on Tony Romo and the Cowboys as much as the next person but after hearing this story I decided to praise the Dallas QB for something we don't see from athletes as often as we should.



It seems Mr. Romo was out with a friend (no not Jessica Simpson ... the report says a friend not a whore) when he walked up to the ticket counter of a movie theater and saw a homeless guy cashing in his change. Tony decided to treat the man to a movie and offered to buy him a ticket. The man declined at first so that he could pass out fliers on the street for some money. After he realized who had invited him to watch the movie he quickly changed his mind and accepted the ticket. The homeless man ran across the street to tell someone he would not be able to pass out fliers that day and then ran back into theater where Tony waved him over to an empty seat next to him and his friend. The homeless man apologized for not have bathing in a few days but Mr. Romo just laughed it off and said he was around smelly guys in the locker room and not to worry.



It seems that this is not the first time that Tony Romo was a good samaritan either. He apparently stopped and helped a couple change a flat on the eve of the Cowboys opener.



Tony Romo for your random acts of kindness we name you the Sports Hero of the Day. Of course maybe we shouldn't give you too much credit for taking a smelly homeless guy to the movies. I mean the company could have been worse ....