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"Bad News": The Turbulent Life of Marvin Barnes, Pro Basketball's Original Renegade
Marvin “Bad News” Barnes was considered 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 was 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, as well as a chronic losing battle with drugs and alcohol, turned a potential superstar into a has-been by 1979. By then, his swagger was gone. So too was 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. Eventually he would serve a total of five years in prison for various felony charges, including the sale of cocaine.
Throughout his life, every time it appeared 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 finally hit rock bottom, passing away due to acute cocaine and heroin intoxication. He was sixty-two years old.
With stories and quotes from Julius Erving, Bill Walton, Larry Brown, Mike D’Antoni, and many others who crossed paths with Barnes, as well as a foreword from former Spirits announcer Bob Costas, “Bad News” is the story of a squandered talent who could never defeat his inner demons.
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, as well as a chronic losing battle with drugs and alcohol, turned a potential superstar into a has-been by 1979. By then, his swagger was gone. So too was 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. Eventually he would serve a total of five years in prison for various felony charges, including the sale of cocaine.
Throughout his life, every time it appeared 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 finally hit rock bottom, passing away due to acute cocaine and heroin intoxication. He was sixty-two years old.
With stories and quotes from Julius Erving, Bill Walton, Larry Brown, Mike D’Antoni, and many others who crossed paths with Barnes, as well as a foreword from former Spirits announcer Bob Costas, “Bad News” is the story of a squandered talent who could never defeat his inner demons.
264 pages, Paperback
Published October 2, 2018
17 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Mike Carey
11 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 24, 2020
As far as pure entertainment value this might be the best sports biography I have ever read.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
January 29, 2022
Boy, talk about self-destructive! Barnes is a bit before my time, but from my dad and reading about the ABA, I definitely knew about it, but I never would have imagined anyone could get sucked in by drugs time and time again like this guy, yet still have so many people willing to help (perhaps enable) and try again.
I'm not sure if that's heart warming or sad. This book is definitely written by a friend, and presenting as much 'good side' as there can be... I can only imagine what the opposing view might look like.
There was enough fun basketball stories in the first half to satisfy my desire for those, though.
I'm not sure if that's heart warming or sad. This book is definitely written by a friend, and presenting as much 'good side' as there can be... I can only imagine what the opposing view might look like.
There was enough fun basketball stories in the first half to satisfy my desire for those, though.
July 20, 2019
Carey's biography of Marvin Barnes is the product of years of meticulous research and vivid experiences; Carey and Barnes were even roomates for a while, and it's obvious to me that the journalist knew very well the former basketball star.
This is a well written book which captures everything Barnes was, and for that this is not a book about basketball. This is a book about a dope fiend who happened to be a pro ball player. The story of a great talent who succumbed to drugs.
It's not an easy book, because brings you close to human miseries, showing how Barnes spoiled almost his whole life as an adict, rising and falling all the time. So, the book is full of anecdotes, both funny and grave, and it's a very interesting reading.
This is a well written book which captures everything Barnes was, and for that this is not a book about basketball. This is a book about a dope fiend who happened to be a pro ball player. The story of a great talent who succumbed to drugs.
It's not an easy book, because brings you close to human miseries, showing how Barnes spoiled almost his whole life as an adict, rising and falling all the time. So, the book is full of anecdotes, both funny and grave, and it's a very interesting reading.
January 4, 2024
This book is an excellent biography of uber talented basketball player, Marvin Barnes. Marvin had the talent to compete successfully with his basketball contemporaries such as Dr. J, George Gervin, Maurice Lucas, Bill Walton and the other future Hall of Famers from the 1970s. What a sad and tragic life that ended prematurely with Marvin overdosing and flat broke. Squandered talent due to a drug addiction Marvin just couldn't overcome. Marvin stated near the end of his life that he had been through rehabs 20 different times. The book is written by a close friend of Marvin's and includes the last few tragic weeks of Marvin's troubled life. The book serves as an extreme cautionary tale for us.
June 6, 2021
Marvin Was Starving
Easy read! Never knew or seen Marvin play, but was intrigued about him and his reputation as a player. Sadly there are many Marvin Barnes in all walks of life regardless of profession that despite the help around them tend to think they can do it on their own! Jesus is for real, those who are committed to Him, tend to have better success in their journey through life.
Easy read! Never knew or seen Marvin play, but was intrigued about him and his reputation as a player. Sadly there are many Marvin Barnes in all walks of life regardless of profession that despite the help around them tend to think they can do it on their own! Jesus is for real, those who are committed to Him, tend to have better success in their journey through life.
May 3, 2019
Sports tragedy. One of the all time ABA greats on the court. Off the court, equally if not exceedingly more, one of sports all time tragedies.
Sports tragedy. One of the all time ABA greats on the court. Off the court, equally if not exceedingly more, one of sports all time tragedies.
Sports tragedy. One of the all time ABA greats on the court. Off the court, equally if not exceedingly more, one of sports all time tragedies.
September 3, 2024
Excellent book about a star player one only read about or saw in person as the era was prior to social media, cable, internet, etc. No holding back on transparency.
November 17, 2016
Honest look at "Bad News" Barnes
This was a great read -- I first became acquainted with Barnes in Terry Pluto's classic "Loose Balls." This is an excellent, honest and ultimately, sad look at an imperfect man who couldn't kick his demons. A worthwhile read.
This was a great read -- I first became acquainted with Barnes in Terry Pluto's classic "Loose Balls." This is an excellent, honest and ultimately, sad look at an imperfect man who couldn't kick his demons. A worthwhile read.
December 6, 2016
This was a very easy read. It is a sad story of wasted potential. Marvin Barnes must have been a pretty charismatic person, but in the end he couldn't overcome being an addict.
March 25, 2017
As a young kid I remember watching the old ABA games. And Marvin Barnes was one of the athletes I remember watching. The story of Marvin Barnes is truly sad. It is unbelievable how much he abused his body with drugs. This is a good book (story) about the destruction drugs and alcohol can do to a person.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews