Young kids are often the most eager people in the world to idolize sports stars. They are the ones who have the time and energy to love everything about a sport, and they consume pretty much everything their heroes say. It’s not just what the stars do on the court that impresses young people though, and it’s also their lifestyles and words they speak of it.
Most stars make a ton of money through their contracts with sports teams, but there’s also money to be made in other ways. If you’re a top-level sports star, then you know you’re going to supplement your lavish lifestyle through multi-million dollar endorsement deals. This young sports fan noticed something unusual about the company their favorite athlete was endorsed by.
Many might have let it slide, but not this kid, and they made sure to let as many people know about it as possible. The young sports fan took what they noticed all the way to the top and made sure their favorite star heard all about it.
Meet Riley Morrison
When she was just nine, Riley Morrison had already discovered her love of sports. The young girl from Napa, California had a big love for one team in particular, and that team had one of the biggest sports stars in the world playing for it.
There was no way Riley was going to be a fan of anyone else when she had the best in the world to look up to, right in her hometown.
Riley’s love of sports
For a nine-year-old, there really were not many sports fans as big as Riley. She absolutely loved basketball and would spend her free time at home shooting hopes in her yard. Riley didn’t just dream of playing basketball though, and she was a part of her school’s team, playing at point guard and running the show.
The hours Riley put into making shots was going to pay off as she was trying to emulate her favorite star. As Riley lived in Northern California, there was only one team that she was ever going to love, the dominant Golden State Warriors.
Barely missing a game
As Riley lived close enough to make any home game the Warriors had, she and her dad often found themselves watching their basketball heroes. This was where Riley got the first-hand experience watching some of the best basketball players in the world. Every single one of the players on the court could have been an inspiration to her, they definitely all had the talent, but did they have the charisma?
Riley, like many young kids, had a favorite when it came to her beloved Golden State Warriors, and she began trying to play like her hero. But who was that hero?
Have you worked it out?
The guy who Riley couldn’t get enough of watching on the court was none other than Steph Curry, arguably one of the most important basketball stars in the modern game. The Warriors were a great team for Riley to learn from as they play a style of basketball that focuses heavily on teamwork and skill.
Those are lessons many young athletes need to succeed, and Riley could see right in front of her where it gets players. Riley was trying to perfect her own point guard game, so who better to learn from than the one and only Steph Curry?
Steph Curry
There isn’t a better role model for Riley than Steph Curry. Curry isn’t the biggest player, nor is he the fastest, or most skillful, but what he might be is the hardest working. On his way to the top Steph Curry spent countless days shooting hoops to perfect his jump shot.
That practice paid off, and he is now recognized as one of the most dangerous shooters in the history of basketball. His ability to score from anywhere on the court is a valuable asset, and if Riley can learn to be like Curry, then her future is very bright.
An exciting player
Curry became the first player ever unanimously named the league’s MVP. He brings points to the Warriors, and it’s easy to see why Riley would want to copy Steph. Riley might have to wait for a growth spurt to play exactly like Curry, but that wouldn’t stop her from trying in practice.
Although Riley wasn’t yet able to match Curry on the court for skill, there was one way she could be like her hero.
Stepping into his shoes
If Riley wasn’t yet able to play like Curry, she could at least try looking like him. Curry is a huge NBA star, and he has his own endorsement with Under Armor. That brings him a lot of money, but it also means he gets signature sneakers designed in his name.
With Curry’s input, Under Armor are able to cash in on the star’s popularity as people want to wear his sneakers on the court.
Icon Curry 5’s
The thing Riley had her heart set on was a pair of Icon Curry 5’s, a signature sneaker from the star. Sadly for Riley, she would come across something on Under Armor’s website that would break her heart.
She was able to go through a ton of Steph Curry merchandise on the online store and then she found exactly what she was looking for. The Icon Curry 5’s, and they even came in customizable colors.
A good thing?
You might be thinking that Riley finding the sneakers she wanted was a good thing, but this was where she discovered her problem. There was almost an endless number of color combinations, and they came in every size under the sun, as long as you were male.
Riley noticed that there were no girls sizes whatsoever in Curry’s range of sneakers. That’s why she was so heartbroken because she couldn’t have the sneakers of her dreams.
A kick in the face
This was a sad time for Riley, as all she wanted to do was be like Curry. It seemed very unfair that boys and men of all ages were able to buy the Icon Curry 5’s but because Riley was a girl she couldn’t.
Was this just an oversight on the website’s behalf, or was this really the truth? Riley couldn’t be sure, so she decided to try and find an answer from Curry himself.
Letting Curry know
It wasn’t easy for Riley to suffer the setback, but she was keen to understand why Curry’s range only came in boys sizes. She wrote a letter to Curry and explained what she had experienced when she went looking for his signature sneakers in her size.
Riley felt optimistic that Curry would get this sorted because she knew he was a good guy who is an advocate of female sports. That’s why he’s her favorite.
Putting it out there
Riley started her letter like most fan mail. She began with, “Dear Stephen Curry,” before explaining who she was and that her dad was going to buy her a pair of Icon Curry 5’s but couldn’t.
Riley told Curry she was beginning a new season, so she wanted some Curry sneakers to inspire her to greatness on the court. If Riley wanted to be like Curry on the court, then why should anyone stop her?
Knowing her hero
There wasn’t much Riley didn’t know about Curry, and she knew her idol was a big fan of women in sport. Curry often brings his daughters to his basketball games, and one of the even shares a name with Riley.
The Warriors point guard has said before that he wants a better future for girls at the ages of his daughters. Riley went on to tell Curry the shoes were only available in boys sizes.
Telling him straight
Riley told Curry she knew he supports female athletes because of the words he’s said about his daughters. The young fan also called on Curry’s all-girls basketball camp as another sign of how serious he takes female sports.
To end her letter, Riley simply said: “Girls want to rock the Curry 5’s too.” The letter to Curry wasn’t the longest, but it said everything that Riley needed to say. Now Curry had to respond, right?
An unlikely outcome
The problem for Riley was not that Steph Curry would deliberately choose to ignore her letter, just that he has so much fan mail to get through.
There was no guarantee that Riley’s words would reach Curry, so for all the young Warriors fan knew, nothing would ever change for her. She would just have to try a pair of the boy’s sneakers and cross her fingers that she could get some to fit her.
The modern world
Perhaps many years ago Riley’s letter would never have been noticed by Curry, but this is the internet age, and anything’s possible. Not long after sending the letter, Riley’s fan mail went viral.
The letter made it onto several social media platforms, and many of the people who came across it were only too happy to help. They kept sharing and sharing Riley post until eventually the message was received loud and clear by Curry.
A busy schedule
During the time Riley’s letter was all over social media, Steph Curry was in the middle of an NBA season, but that didn’t stop him trying to make a difference.
Curry read the letter and admitted this was something that needed to change and as quickly as possible. It looks as though Riley actually was a good judge of Curry’s character and he really does stand up for women’s issues. Now it was action time.
Fixing the issue
Curry didn’t wait around, and he phoned his management as soon as possible. This was some gender bias that Curry hadn’t expected, and he wanted it fixed. Curry demanded his management corrected the issue immediately and then he sat down to send a personal letter to Riley.
After all, she had gone to the trouble to write him, so Curry was simply returning the favor, even if Riley could never imagine him sending a reply.
Turning her frown upside down
After sending the letter, Riley had no idea it went viral and that her hero Steph Curry had actually seen it. She came home from school one day, and her parents had something that would cheer her up, Curry’s response.
The letter was handwritten, and Curry explained to Riley that he was working with Under Armor to fix things. That wasn’t all though, and Curry had more to say to Riley for being so bold.
What Curry promised
For bringing the issue to his attention, Curry said he would be sending Riley a pair of Curry 5’s soon, in her size, but there was more. Curry then promised Riley that she would be one of the first kids in the world to receive the Steph Curry 6s when his new model came out.
This was better than Riley could have ever expected, but Curry wasn’t done rewarding one of his biggest ever fans.
A question for Riley
Curry had sent Riley some amazing treats, but he also had a big question to ask his young fan. The Warriors icon asked Riley if she would accept his invitation of appearing alongside him on the basketball court for International Women’s Day.
Curry felt as though Riley was the perfect person to represent girl power. Riley was only too happy to reply to Curry, and of course, it was a big yes for the invitation.
A Christmas to remember
So Riley got to appear alongside Curry for International Women’s day, but what about the sneakers the basketball star promised to send? Riley didn’t have to wait too long, and she got what Curry promised under the Christmas tree.
There were two boxes addressed to Riley from Curry and inside was the first ever Curry 6’s. Not only that but they were very much for girls as Curry lived up to his promise to Riley.
Making a difference
Thanks to Riley’s bold letter she made a real difference in the world and now Steph Curry’s sneakers are available to all genders. Curry has received plenty of praise and applause of the years for his actions on and off the basketball court, but this was different.
This time Curry was the one doing the applauding, as he was grateful for Riley’s letter that made him aware of the gender inequality in his sneaker line.