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Basketball shoots awareness around the globe
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Angelina and Noel Andreoni travel
the globe with their Spalding basketball in an effort to unify cultures
and create a sense of global community. Equally dividing their time
between work and the Shoot the Ball project, the couple manage to
solely fund their endeavors. Reminder Publications submitted photo
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By Lori Szepelak
Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD
One Spalding basketball has traveled the globe for more than six years
uniting thousands of people and the project has no distinct end.
Known as Shoot the Ball, Angelina and Noel Andreoni have made it their
mission to unify cultures and create a sense of global community
wherever their travels take them.
"More than just a project for
fans of basketball, it is for anyone who believes in the pursuit of
dreams and passions," said Angelina Andreoni during an interview with
Reminder Publications. "An NBA player, a child on Easter Island, an
adult from Japan or an elephant in Thailand, no one shooter is more
important than anyone else. We are able to cross geographical, cultural
and socio-economic boundaries. Issues like age, race, gender, language
and level of ability are not relevant everyone can shoot The Ball."
When we caught up with the Andreonis during the Thanksgiving week, they were in Canada on a break.
"Our friends would laugh if you asked them where we reside," she added.
"Their response would be 'no fixed address!', however, we do check in
from time to time in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, the Florida Keys, and Las
Vegas, Nev."
The couple, whose employment most recently was in
the Las Vegas hospitality industry, Angelina as a restaurant manager
and Noel as a bell person and valet attendant, note they are "very
fortunate" to have jobs where they can take off for months at a time.
"In the past couple of years we have given up working conventional jobs
and have focused on giving structured presentations to middle-years
school children, focusing on cultural diversity and pursuing dreams and
passions," she said.
The international ambassadors, who have
visited 28 countries and all 50 states with The Ball, created the
project to incorporate their own passions of basketball, photography,
writing, travel and culture. Shoot the Ball started when Noel made the
first shot in Las Vegas on May 25, 2001. Shortly thereafter, Angelina
followed with a shot at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. Since then, The
Ball has been shot by thousands of people and one Asian elephant.
Equally dividing their time between work and the project, the couple
has managed to solely fund Shoot the Ball.
The couple recently visited Spalding's headquarters in Springfield to share their story.
"We approached Spalding via anonymous postcards that read
'shoottheball.net' sent from Cambodia and China in the spring of 2006,"
said Angelina Andreoni. A year and a half later, we were invited to
Spalding for a meeting and they are now the official equipment supplier
of Shoot the Ball and are instrumental in helping us raise awareness
through public relations support and product donations. We are thrilled
to have hooked up with Spalding, a company that is 'true to the game.'
They have heart, integrity and a great sense of adventure."
The
couple was hard pressed to single out their favorite locations to date,
however, Easter Island was one site that stood out from others.
"It was huge getting The Ball shot on Easter Island, the most remote,
populated place on earth," said Angelina Andreoni. "It is one of those
strange and mythical places that everyone wants to visit, but not very
many people do."
Visiting China was also among their more memorable trips.
"In each of the places we had The Ball shot in China, the shooters were
very enthusiastic, open and curious; excited to meet people from the
west and practice their English," she added. "As interesting as the
people, were the places we visited; one day you feel like you've gone
back in time to the 16th century and the next day you are thrust into
the 22nd century. We loved every minute of it."
During the
first week of December, the couple will launch an NBA cities tour with
the goal of getting participation from the NBA teams.
"We have
already had positive feedback from several organizations," said
Angelina Andreoni. "New Orleans will be our midway point on the tour
during All-Star Weekend. Many of the schools that have shot The Ball
will be tracking us around the country."
The tour will also
include a Spalding portable basketball system to U.S. landmarks such as
the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grand Canyon, and the Alamo.
Ultimately, the Andreonis would like to see The Ball retire to the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield as a worldwide
representation of the fans of basketball.
"We have not
officially contacted the Basketball Hall of Fame representatives
regarding this vision, however, we've been in touch with the Hall about
the possibility of working with them in their community relations
program," she said.
The enthusiastic couple hope as they travel pursuing their dreams and passions that they will inspire others to do the same.
"Not to pick up a basketball and a camera and 'run away,' but to follow
their own dreams and passions, no matter how harebrained it might seem
to others," said Angelina Andreoni, noting that as the initiative has
evolved, so have their ideas on how they hope to inspire people
especially children.
"The interest and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and if this cycle continues, so will we," she added.
"More than basketball, this project is a hands-on way to connect people
from around the world," said Noel Andreoni. "We have started to use The
Ball as the focal point of presentations in the classrooms of middle
school students. The focus is on goal setting and reaching your
potential while also incorporating new cultures, history and geography."
Their presentation culminates with the kids joining the project by getting the chance to Shoot the Ball.
For more information on Shoot the Ball, visit www.shoottheball.net.
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> Home > Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Basketball shoots awareness around the globe
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