We’ve seen Roosevelt Barnes repeatedly described as a former Purdue football player, which does indeed apply to his final year, which in turn led him to being drafted and playing four years with the Detroit Lions.
Before that, however, he played a year of Purdue baseball and four years of basketball.
In fact, Barnes played in 99 basketball games for Purdue from 1978 through 1981 – all as a backup guard except for one start – and he compiled modest totals of 139 points, 76 rebounds, 24 assists, 23 steals and 85 fouls. He played for the NIT runner-up and the NCAA’s third-place team.
His epic moment, however, has been best described as a duel with Isiah Thomas, who was said to have sucker-punched him in retaliation for an alleged previous punch. Bob Knight asserted the allegation on his TV show and even joined the ranks of reporters he always berated by pointing to replays. Later, after losing at Purdue, Knight alleged poor treatment from fans and supposedly asked Purdue’s George King to appear on his show. Knight instead paraded out a donkey wearing a Purdue hat and called it a symbol of Purdue mentality.
Rumors that Isiah was wearing a jackass suit weren’t true. Rather, it’s been well-documented that he followed his coach and actually became one.
Thanks, Roosevelt, for helping stoke the fires of a legendary rivalry.
Before that, however, he played a year of Purdue baseball and four years of basketball.
In fact, Barnes played in 99 basketball games for Purdue from 1978 through 1981 – all as a backup guard except for one start – and he compiled modest totals of 139 points, 76 rebounds, 24 assists, 23 steals and 85 fouls. He played for the NIT runner-up and the NCAA’s third-place team.
His epic moment, however, has been best described as a duel with Isiah Thomas, who was said to have sucker-punched him in retaliation for an alleged previous punch. Bob Knight asserted the allegation on his TV show and even joined the ranks of reporters he always berated by pointing to replays. Later, after losing at Purdue, Knight alleged poor treatment from fans and supposedly asked Purdue’s George King to appear on his show. Knight instead paraded out a donkey wearing a Purdue hat and called it a symbol of Purdue mentality.
Rumors that Isiah was wearing a jackass suit weren’t true. Rather, it’s been well-documented that he followed his coach and actually became one.
Thanks, Roosevelt, for helping stoke the fires of a legendary rivalry.
