BARTON BROS. Q&A
by Adam K. Moussa Between academics, basketball and finding time to hang out with some of their favorite Memphis Grizzlies, brothers Antonio and Will Barton rarely have a moment to spare. But, for Tigers fans, the sophomore siblings took a break to chat about brotherly love, growing up in Baltimore and honoring Tigers legend Larry Finch. You and your siblings were raised by your mother, Karen Bush, in a singleparent household, what were some of the most valuable lessons that she taught you? WB: She taught us the importance of faith and persistence. She raised me, my brother and my sister by herself, and that wasn't easy for her, but she always found a way to made it work. She stressed that when you have obstacles in your life, you can always overcome them, no matter how difficult they may seem.
Obviously it must be a "thrill" to play alongside your brother once again. Has there been one moment in particular where you were "wowed" by the experience? AB: Every day is like "wow" for us. It's special for us to be together, doing something that we love. That brotherly bond is something that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. We know that as long as we have each other, we're good.
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ARTON OS. Q&A What aspect of your brother's game do you wish you possessed the most? WB: I wish I had Tone's speed and explosiveness. He is probably the fastest player I have ever been around, up close and personal. AB: I would have to say his versatility. That is what separates him from a lot of other college basketball players. A lot of players his size can only play one position, but Will can play all over the floor.
of the two of us, Tone is the clown. AB: Something that people don't realize about my brother is that he has worked for absolutely everything he has. From the outside looking in, people think that everything comes so natural to him and that he has been given a lot. But in actuality, he is always the first one at practice taking extra shots and getting in extra work. To me, he deserves everything that he has coming to him.
What is something that Tigers fans don't know about your brother? WB: I don't think a lot of people realize just how funny Antonio is. If you look at his demeanor on the court, he looks so serious and tough, and he is. But, off the court, he is the funniest, goofiest person you will ever meet. A lot of people think that I am the funny one because I am more outgoing, but
How special is it to be reunited with your cousin, 2011 Grizzlies' Draft selection, Josh Selby, in Memphis? AB: It's a blessing that we can all be in one city. We all grew up playing together on AAU teams and rec league squads, so it feels good to be together again. Being surrounded with family is priceless. You all are also close with another Grizzlies' player, Rudy Gay. How did that relationship originate? AB: Rudy is a Baltimore alum. He and Joey Dorsey have always been supportive of us. Those guys would always come back to the Cecil Kirk gym in Baltimore and help us with our game. It is like that with a lot of players from the city. We just all band together because being from Baltimore means something special to us. Speaking of Baltimore, the city is filled with basketball talent. What makes it such a great hoops town? WB: It's hard growing up in Baltimore, so we are instilled with toughness at a very young age. We might not always be •the strangest, tallest or most
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BARTON BROS. Q&A gifted, but our toughness is what sets us apart. When you play against a guy from Baltimore, you know that you are in for a battle, Before coming to Memphis, what did you know about the Bluff City? AB: I didn't really know too much about the city. I had obviously heard about the U of M basketball program, but the biggest thing I knew about Memphis was Yo Gotti. We listen to him back home and we can relate to his music. Having spent a year here, what have you enjoyed the most about Memphis thus far? AB: The support that the community gives us is amazing. Memphis is different than any other place because the entire city rallies around Memphis basketball, and that is something very special. Fans might get down some times, but they never lose faith and they are very loyal.
What have this season's throwback uniforms honoring Larry Finch meant to the team? WB: That's a big deal for us. He is undoubtedly one of the most beloved Tigers in history and when he passed, it hit the city hard. We just wanted to do something to honor him, and it means something special to us to have his No. 21 on our jerseys. Plus, those uniforms are fresh.
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