Reader Responses to The Shooter

I hate to take issue with anything in Greg Donaldson’s poignant tribute to Bill Reynolds ’68. But I must take exception to Greg’s description of Marvin “Bad News” Barnes as a “winner.” Barnes was an immensely talented, but deeply flawed human being. His nickname had more to do with his personal life than any professional success he might have enjoyed. At times, it seemed that Barnes was in court as often as he was on the court. Beginning in high school and continuing throughout his brief ABA/NBA career, Barnes was a serial lawbreaker. Over time, he was charged with felony assault, burglary, parole violation, drug possession, trespassing, and violation of team regulations. He served 152 days in the Cranston Adult Correctional Institute. Barnes never played on a championship team. His professional career ended in tatters at the age of 27. I suspect Bill wrote about Barnes because he was a dynamic, local superstar who was undone by his own wayward hubris. And that’s a story, all right.