RIP: Marvin "Bad News" Barnes
 

Dead @ 62
What a character.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...iritsyb001.jpg

Some of the last basketball Marvin played was in the early '80's as a member of our barroom team in a city rec league.

One evening Marvin showed up @ my bar, ready to go to the game. We got almost to the gym & had to turn around & go back to Marvin's house---he had forgotten to bring his sneakers!

A character for sure, but a very likeable guy w/ a great personality. I last saw him 2 yrs ago @ a PC-Syracuse game. I was shocked when I heard the "Bad News" on my TV last eve.

Here's a pic of Marvin & my wife:

If you're not from Rhode Island you couldn't understand how legendary he was in every way. What an interesting life.

If you've never read Terry Pluto's history of the ABA, "Loose Balls", you're missing a good book. Lots about Marvin, including the time the team had a flight from Indiana to St Louis. Due to the time zone change the arrival was a few minutes earlier local time than the takeoff, and Marvin refused to board, saying he "wasn't getting on no time machine". Lots of great stories in that book.