RIP Dick Barnett, 88
- Thread starter redken1
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Last saw him about a dozen years ago while he was walking by Columbus Circle. (He was wearing a beautifully tailored 3-piece suit; I was not.) About six feet after we passed each other, I called out -- just loud enough for him to hear -- "Fall back!" Hearing it, he turned, smiled and gave me a quick wave as he walked on. Needless to say, it made my day. Conversely, news today of his passing deeply has saddened me.
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Great story!
Silly Donovan
Well-known member
Played in an era when NBA basketball was actually a “team” sport not the three point shooting free for all it us today. One of the best guards in the esteemed history of the Knicks organization.
In the schoolyards, many of us did. Not for game situations but trying to replicate it and still shoot with any accuracy. Nearly all failed even when just shooting around, and I never saw a single player in any type of organized ball use that kick that was uniquely Barnett.
Your comment though calls to mind just how many kids copied the mannerisms and moves of Frazier, Monroe, Bradley, etc. When I went out for the team at a CUNY school there was a black kid who not only copied the on court moves of Earl Monroe (with much less success) but even when he sauntered into the gym, other kids identified him as mimicking Monroe.
The old Knicks captivated NY and elevated interest in basketball at all city and suburban playgrounds by THAT much.
Footnote: When I was a kid, and after the 1st championship, Narnett spoke at our CYO awards breakfast. He was a great, caring speaker and obviously very bright and well spoken. In those days we were lucky to see away games on tv as home games were blacked out. Without the media blitz of today we mostly never heard guts like Barnett ever speak, so that was a memorable event.
I grew up a huge fan of Dick Barnett and his Knicks teams. That sweet lefty jumper, unorthodox but deadly. Softspoken, humble but a killer on the court. He was a defender of course, because Red Holzman insisted on defense first.
Those leg kickers and the leaners, poetry in motion. Perfect complement to Clyde. I liked him and Clyde more in 69-70, than Monroe and Clyde in 72-73, just me.
I think Dick got his PhD and went into Education and was very accomplished. May he rest in peace.
I went to an orthopedist once out here in NJ, who was a Knicks ballboy during the Championship years and has displays and memorabilia from the Championship teams, and I asked him about Dick, and he said Dick was the nicest of a bunch of nice players, Willis too.
Those leg kickers and the leaners, poetry in motion. Perfect complement to Clyde. I liked him and Clyde more in 69-70, than Monroe and Clyde in 72-73, just me.
I think Dick got his PhD and went into Education and was very accomplished. May he rest in peace.
I went to an orthopedist once out here in NJ, who was a Knicks ballboy during the Championship years and has displays and memorabilia from the Championship teams, and I asked him about Dick, and he said Dick was the nicest of a bunch of nice players, Willis too.
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I forgot exactly, but Barnett and Willis had St. John's connections too. Little Looie came through again.
classof2010
Well-known member
Nice man and no nonsense, straight shooter.
Barnett had a PhD in education and was a Professor who taught Sports Management at St. John’s. Willis Reed joined the St. John’s Men’s Basketball team’s coaching staff as a Volunteer Assistant Coach which helped prepare him for the Head Coaching job he got at Creighton.
Silly Donovan
Well-known member
Now that was a team you could root for. Great floor leader in Clyde, great shooters on the wings, great passing, unselfish guard play and a strong presence in the post with an actual post game. Loved that team. They say the NBA game has evolved? Evolved into what??One of the all-time great NY sports photos:
Oh and one other thing. The collective basketball IQ of that team was off the charts.
Don't forget Cazzie Russell, I hope he's still alive