bubbrubbhoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
We are the intuitive minds that plot the course. Woo-WOOO!
Posts: 1,369
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Post by bubbrubbhoya on Dec 31, 2009 8:50:51 GMT -5
Many thanks, Barker, for always putting in your time for the Hoyas. You always cared about us, and we'll miss you for it.
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EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,272
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Post by EasyEd on Dec 31, 2009 9:08:48 GMT -5
MCI - you da man. Great commentary.
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tlphoya
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 431
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Post by tlphoya on Dec 31, 2009 11:38:48 GMT -5
Barker, Thank you!!!! May you find happiness and prosperity in the your next endeavor and the New Year!!
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Post by vivanloshoyas on Dec 31, 2009 12:42:17 GMT -5
Great comment, MCI.
Let's make sure we start a "Bar-ker! Da-vis!" chant at VC tonight.
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
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Post by SirSaxa on Dec 31, 2009 12:49:33 GMT -5
Memories. I remember back in the day on the original board I acted like I was Barker's agent as I constantly went around bringing attention and puffing up anything he wrote. I'm sure I annoyed the hell out of a lot of people with that overkill approach. But I was just so excited because I came across a writer for a local newspaper who seemed to actually report on the Hoyas as if he was covering the Washington Redskins. One of the first major articles that Barker wrote that caught my attention occurred during JT Jr's final seasons as coach. JT had gone on some now infamous rant during the post season banquet and sat down with Barker a day later to explain his frustrations with his players, himself, the game itself. Safe to say JT's banquet speech would have gone unknown to the general public if Barker had not written about it. Barker wrote an extensive piece that ran on the front page of the Washington Times. Not the 1st page of the sports section, but the front page of the actual newspaper. I remember wondering how the heck did this guy get such a revealing interview with the usually closed off John Thompson? It wasn't until years later that I learned Barker was a Georgetown grad who worked at The Hoya. That probably helped him gain some trust from Thompson. But I think just as important was that Barker was a good reporter who cared about his assignment. Guys like Ken Delinger of the WPost were understandably, at that point of their careers, far less enthused to cover a dying college program that wasn't even the most beloved college team in the area. The last interesting beat writer for the Hoyas from the Washington Post at that tiime was J.A. Adande who covered the team during Iverson's two seasons. Barker started his beat for the WTimes around that same time and with the exception of one or two years has remained the beat writer for the Hoyas. Meanwhile over at the WPost there has been at least a half dozen writers covering the team over that same timespan. With that type of longevity, those types of connections to Georgetown University and that type of passion to cover the program is it any wonder that Barker's coverage has been superior to anyone's at the bigger newspaper? I will miss those fall college previews that Barker and all the rest of the WTimes staff provided for college basketball; the coverage that the WPost, when it finally awoke, eventually copied. I will miss his features on actual Hoya players, something the Post has had little interest in. I will miss his pregame articles that actually centered on the team, not the opponents. I will miss his non-season (off season) articles about the Hoyas which we would get a few times each year (once again something the Washington Post will not do....its reporters only write Hoya articles that they are obligated to write). I will miss Barker overusing some adjectives and some corny catch phrases when describing the players. I will miss the guy that provided us with the best quotes from members of the program and provided the best insight of the program. My experience reading sports is about to feel a lot more hollow, especially when it comes to Georgetown and college basketball. Heck, I feel like I'm losing a friend. A fond farewell to the sports staff at the Washington Times. I hope they find employment elsewhere soon. Most of all a special farewell and thanks to Barker Davis who treated the Georgetown program significantly when others did not and when the program itself had temporarily fallen from significance. Good luck to you, Barker. And God bless. Nicely done MCI. With that post, you've expressed appreciation for all of us -- and better than most of us could. I think the team will make their own tribute to Barker tonight on the court!
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Post by daytonahoya31 on Dec 31, 2009 13:03:19 GMT -5
Barker,
As someone who knows first hand the trials and tribulations you go through as a journalist, let me be the first to say that you've done a great job. In my opinion, the only person at the post who challenged you even a little was Camille. But your insight, features, approach to the beat, ability to break news and your attention to detail will be very missed by me and a legion of Hoya fans.
God bless, Barker. I hope you land on your feet.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
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Post by Boz on Dec 31, 2009 13:15:14 GMT -5
Can we draft Barker as Sports Information Director?
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tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,321
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Post by tashoya on Dec 31, 2009 15:18:37 GMT -5
This is certainly the end of an era and the future information pipeline to our beloved Hoyas will certainly not be as strong. Best of luck to you, Barker. I hope it's one of those things that seems bad at first but turns out to be great.
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Nevada Hoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 18,429
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Dec 31, 2009 16:33:44 GMT -5
Allow me to add my thanks to Barker for all his fine work, especially on the Hoyas. A hearty Hoya Saxa to you!!!
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MCIGuy
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Anyone here? What am I supposed to update?
Posts: 9,426
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Post by MCIGuy on Dec 31, 2009 17:12:14 GMT -5
Should let everyone know Friday's (tomorrow's) sports page for the Washington Times is reportedly going to be a very special one. So if you're in the DC area you may want to pick up a copy. Especially if the Hoyas win tonight.
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nodak89
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Roy Roy Royyyyy!!!
Posts: 1,881
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Post by nodak89 on Dec 31, 2009 17:17:52 GMT -5
Hoya Hoya Saxa, Barker!
Thanks for all your great work and best of luck in 2010.
ps I work with Ryan O'Halloran's mom here in Fargo. What a weirdly small world.
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HoyaChris
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,408
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Post by HoyaChris on Dec 31, 2009 19:21:22 GMT -5
Without question, Barker's coverage of the Hoyas has consistently been at the highest level, rivaling and sometimes surpassing the early work of Ken Denlinger and Michael Wilbon in terms of Hoya coverage. He is absolutely irreplaceable.
While it has not been mentioned here, arguably Barker's best work has been his golf coverage since golf seems to better lend itself to prose. My hope is that he finds the right subject and takes the time to unleash his inner Herbert Warren Wind.
Hoya Saxa Barker. Our lives will all be a little more empty without your work.
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Post by vamosalaplaya on Dec 31, 2009 22:04:46 GMT -5
Barker - Thanks for the amazing work. You'll be sorely missed. In the meantime, start a blog, get a press pass, and keep writing even if you move out of journalism.
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NJHoya95
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 206
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Post by NJHoya95 on Dec 31, 2009 22:12:41 GMT -5
Barker is the best. He'll be sorely missed.
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tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,321
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Post by tashoya on Dec 31, 2009 22:30:15 GMT -5
Was anything special done for Barker at the game? If there was, I didn't see it.
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 30,547
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Post by DanMcQ on Dec 31, 2009 23:19:19 GMT -5
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lichoya68
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
OK YOUNGINS ARE HERE AND ARE VERY VERY GOOD cant wait GO HOYAS
Posts: 17,438
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Post by lichoya68 on Jan 1, 2010 0:38:23 GMT -5
great article as usual we will miss you barker ALOT go hoyas best of luck to you a GREAT HOYA AND GREAT SPORTSWRITER in my humble opinion
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hoyainspirit
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
When life puts that voodoo on me, music is my gris-gris.
Posts: 8,393
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Post by hoyainspirit on Jan 1, 2010 1:13:05 GMT -5
It's the way Barker writes, his style, that I truly appreciate. Man can tell a story! How about a Hoya blog for us, Barker?
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GPHoya
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 466
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Post by GPHoya on Jan 1, 2010 7:52:16 GMT -5
Barker,
Thanks for putting the "maim in the game". The fun you found in your job entertained and informed the faithful and left us truly envious of your position as a poorly paid ink-stained wretch. Your coverage took me back to the days when a young Tom Boswell chronicled the rise of the Hoyas for the Post.
Boz has it right. A creative AD would find a way to use your talent to guide Georgetown sports to the forefront of using new media to fuel student, alumni and fan enthusiasm for the Hoyas.
Whatever direction your career takes, all the best and stay in touch with the beat. We are in your debt
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Post by vivanloshoyas on Jan 1, 2010 7:58:03 GMT -5
Saw Barker last night at the VC as he was making his way down the tunnel by section 108 at halftime. Gave him a shout-out and he came to shake my hand and thank me. I actually kinda choked up and just told him how much we appreciated him and thanked him for all his work over the years. I hope the mgmt at the Times took the time to give him a proper send off (Dan Daly's eulogy was great too). I'll be on my way to Safeway shortly to pick up my dead tree copy of today's Times. Barker's last piece is going in my drawer of special Hoya mementos.
Thank you again Barker for all the great memories. May God bless you as you start the first day of the rest of your life.
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