Marvin 'Bad News' Barnes died the other day at age 62
Barnes had been an extremely talented 6'9 basketball star in HS, College and the Pros.
Marvin's life was never dull- and was filled of stories.
Barnes was a AA basketball player at Providence College and then a star with the ABA's St. Louis; and later with various NBA teams such as the Boston Celtics
In high school in his hometown of Providence, RI, Marvin once robbed a gas station-wearing a mask...only the 6'9 Barnes was already a well known local hero and it didn't help that he wore his HS letterman's jacket with the name 'Marvin' stenciled on the front to the robbery. He got caught-imagine that!
In college, again at hometown Providence College, Barnes had an altercation with a teammate one day in basketball practice. Afterwards, Marvin hide outside the gym exit -and when the offending teammate came out 'Bad News' hit him over the head with a tire iron.
Bob Costa, the announcer for the ABA St Louis team, had a favorite story about Marvin. It seems that the team was scheduled to fly home to St Louis after a game in Louisville. The flight was short. However Marvin noticed that his ticket said that they were taking off at 8pm and landing in St. Louis at 7:56pm......Marvin was not willing to accept anyone's simple explanation about Eastern and Central time zones. Barnes announced, 'I ain't gettin' in no time machine' and rented a car and drove home alone.
Later, now in the NBA, Marvin admitted that he use to do cocaine on the Boston Celtics bench-simply putting his warmup jacket over his head to hide the deed. Once his teammates realized what he was doing, no one would sit next to him on the bench
Barnes was finally booted out of the NBA after numerous other incidents, when 'Bad News' attempted to board a plane with a loaded gun.
RIP Marvin 'Bad News' Barnes
Barnes had been an extremely talented 6'9 basketball star in HS, College and the Pros.
Marvin's life was never dull- and was filled of stories.
Barnes was a AA basketball player at Providence College and then a star with the ABA's St. Louis; and later with various NBA teams such as the Boston Celtics
In high school in his hometown of Providence, RI, Marvin once robbed a gas station-wearing a mask...only the 6'9 Barnes was already a well known local hero and it didn't help that he wore his HS letterman's jacket with the name 'Marvin' stenciled on the front to the robbery. He got caught-imagine that!
In college, again at hometown Providence College, Barnes had an altercation with a teammate one day in basketball practice. Afterwards, Marvin hide outside the gym exit -and when the offending teammate came out 'Bad News' hit him over the head with a tire iron.
Bob Costa, the announcer for the ABA St Louis team, had a favorite story about Marvin. It seems that the team was scheduled to fly home to St Louis after a game in Louisville. The flight was short. However Marvin noticed that his ticket said that they were taking off at 8pm and landing in St. Louis at 7:56pm......Marvin was not willing to accept anyone's simple explanation about Eastern and Central time zones. Barnes announced, 'I ain't gettin' in no time machine' and rented a car and drove home alone.
Later, now in the NBA, Marvin admitted that he use to do cocaine on the Boston Celtics bench-simply putting his warmup jacket over his head to hide the deed. Once his teammates realized what he was doing, no one would sit next to him on the bench
Barnes was finally booted out of the NBA after numerous other incidents, when 'Bad News' attempted to board a plane with a loaded gun.
RIP Marvin 'Bad News' Barnes
