“Bad News”: The Turbulent Life of Marvin Barnes, Pro Basketball’s Original Renegade

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Description

Marvin “Bad News” Barnes used to be regarded as a future Hall of Fame basketball player before he even graduated from college. A standout at Providence College, where he averaged 20.7 points and 17.9 rebounds per game, he used to be an All-American with the world at his fingertips.

Although Barnes enjoyed two highly successful years in the American Basketball Association with the Spirits of St. Louis (winning Rookie of the Year honors and twice being named an All-Star), his career fizzled in the NBA as he wore out his welcome with the Detroit Pistons, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics, and San Diego Clippers in four years. His immaturity, in addition to a chronic losing battle with drugs and alcohol, turned a potential superstar into a has-been by 1979. By then, his swagger used to be gone. So too used to be his game.

Written by Mike Carey, who opened his house to Barnes later in his life, this is the story of a supremely gifted athlete whose self-destructive nature led to him living on the mean streets of East San Diego for three years as a panhandler and pimp. Sooner or later he would serve a total of five years in prison for more than a few felony charges, including the sale of cocaine.
Throughout his life, each and every time it seemed that “Bad News” had turned the corner, his demons reappeared and succeeded in luring him back into becoming a conniving dope fiend.

On September 8, 2014, Barnes after all hit rock bottom, passing away as a result of acute cocaine and heroin intoxication. He used to be sixty-two years old.

With stories and quotes from Julius Erving, Bill Walton, Larry Brown, Mike D’Antoni, and plenty of others who crossed paths with Barnes, in addition to a foreword from former Spirits announcer Bob Costas, “Bad News” is the story of a squandered talent who could never defeat his inner demons.
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