RIP Marvin Barnes

Let the stories begin. I say that he made it to
62 is a miracle.

http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/content/20140908-pc-basketball-great-marvin-barnes-dead-at-62.ece

 

'Bad News' - one of the great nicknames of all time. Probably one of Rhode Island's most celebrated athletes, too, behind DiGregorio and Davey Lopes.

 

The 30 for 30 on the St. Louis Spirits was largely an hour of guys telling Barnes stories.

 

One of the best mentioned in The Journal article:

"Barnes was a charismatic, and often troubled, star both on and off the court. He first caused waves as a teenager in South Providence when he was with a group of his friends who tried to commandeer a city bus. They didn’t get very far, mainly because Barnes was wearing his Central letterman’s jacket with his name embroidered on the chest."

 

THAT's the one I'll always remember. If anyone else hasn't read Terry Pluto's "Loose Balls," his ABA oral history, find one NOW.

And, yes, it's a miracle he made it to 62.

 

He always had the bitches, man.

And yes, Pluto's book is THE one to get if you want to learn about the ABA. I still pick up my 20-year-old copy of the book once in a while to reread random chapters.

Looking forward to a column by or interview of Bob Costas on Barnes in the near future.

 

Would argue that Foul was the best ABA book although it was not about ABA
per say. It was about Connie Hawkins but it covered his time in ABA in depth.

 

If Marvin's funeral is scheduled for 10 am, the pallbearers should wheel in the casket at 10:20.

 

Awesome.

 

Saw him play with Ernie D and Nehru King in a doubleheader at the Aud in 1971 or so; amazing player. Wasn't Kevin Stackom on those Friar teams as well?

 

Yes Stacom was part of that group