Remembering Dick Barnett

Significant and emotional basketball history abounds, when recalling the career of Dick Barnett, who achieved things so much more than those in basketball, before dying days back, at age 88.

Barnett played on the two New York Knicks’ title teams, the most recent in ’73 when even as a little used reserve he hit a big shot in the epic game 4 Knicks’ home win vs the (68-14) Boston Celtics in the NBA semi-final round.

He was a far more integral part of the Knicks’ great, best record 1970 title team, starting in the backcourt with Walt Frazier (“listen closely” or imagine John F.X. Condon’s “at the guards” ……), Dick getting 21 and Frazier 36 as the Knicks eased in #7 for the title, handing the Lakers a 7th final round loss (the first 6 to the Celtics) in that many appearances as L.A.

Speaking of L.A. look up Mr. Barnett, albeit in defeat in two of the title round games in which the Lakers were ousted (’63 and ’66), doing some scoring when he played for the Lakers, which he did for 4 seasons as he was injured for one entire one (’63-’67).

It was the injury that spurred Mr. Barnett’s efforts into education leading him to being Dr. Dick Barnett and somewhere or at least once a card indicating such and a chat with me.

“Fall back,” Dick–hopefully to a better place where Chick Hearn who named your unique shot and Bob Wolff, who Channel 9’d that #3 ’70 NBA final round tilt, when you (vs me as I was a Lakers’ fan, who so often “suffered” painful losses) hit a big shot in an overtime period that manifested when the great Jerry West, another you might see and once part of a fine Lakers’ backcourt with you, hit a say 63 foot shot as “reg” time expired.

Also maybe and hopefully there, my mother who at say 1:30 A.M. came into my room to lower the TV volume and in doing so more or less blocked “el” screen” as Dick hit that big shot!

I would think that is Dick Barnett with the ball as a member of the great Tennessee A and I team(s) that won 3 consecutive N.A. I. A. crowns.

Barnett also was a member of the 1962 A.B.L. title winning Cleveland Pipers, whose owner was someone named Steinbrenner.