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Bob Bargnani
Robert Romano Bargnani, better known as Bob Bargnani, was born in Madrid, Spain in 1944. Bob was born to his parents Ramona and Gerardo Bargnani nearing the end of World War II. Shortly after his birth, Bob’s father Gerardo, a farmer, was enlisted in the Spanish army. Gerardo was taken as a prisoner of war, and although he was later claimed to be seen in Austria, he never spoke to his son again before his death in 1958. Bob’s mother, Ramona, moved Bob and herself into her parents house, where Bob was raised by his grandmother until she died of throat cancer in 1961.

One year later, Bob graduated from a Spanish boarding school and enrolled in the University of Almeria, where he studied human anatomy and played on a recreational basketball team. Bob had played intramural basketball during the latter years of high school, but never formally as his school did not have a team. At the University of Almeria, Bob shined as the best basketball player at the university. Before graduating, he met his future wife Valeria. Bob took a job in Barcelona as a anatomy scientist, and played in a small semi-pro basketball league as well. While playing with the Barcelona Fuegos, he still shined, and received an offer to play basketball in the United States during the 1967 season. He signed a one year contract with the Baltimore Bullets, and moved himself and his newly-wed wife to the US.

His season was short lived. He averaged 7 points and 4 assists per game, but suffered a broken right foot in December, ending his season. Due to his injury, and a below average performance, the Bullets did not re-sign Bargnani for the 1968 season. Bargnani started the season as a free agent, but was signed to a 1 year contract by the Cincinnati Royals in November of 1967. He finished the season as a bench player, averaging 6 points and 3 assists per game. The Cincinnati Royals franchise began to run low on funds, but they were able to re-sign Bob Bargnani to a 2 year contract. In the summer of 1968, Bob became a father to his first child, a son named Vasquesio. The following winter, he averaged 10 points and 5 assists per game, a career high in both categories. The Royals made the playoffs that season, but Bob broke his right foot for a second time and missed the postseason. During this time, he became an alcoholic, but denied all rumors during the 1969-70 season, although his averages dipped to 4 points and 4 assists per game. He was involved in a car accident back home in Spain during the summer, causing him to miss the entirety of the ’71-’72 season.

Sadly, the franchise suspended operation indefinitely the following summer. Bargnani retired that summer, and moved his wife and son to Boston, Massachusetts. Four years into his retirement, Bargnani announced his return to the NBA. In 1976, Bargnani signed a 1 year, minimum deal with the San Antonio Spurs, but his performance was disappointing. Bargnani averaged 2 points and 1 assist per game and as rumors of an alcohol addiction resurfaced, he retired from the NBA for good.

During his career, Bob Bargnani played shooting guard for the Baltimore Bullets, Cincinnati Royals, and the San Antonio Spurs. Over his 5 year career, he averaged 6.75 points per game, and 3.25 assists per game. After his playing days ended at the age of 33, moved back to Spain to live with his dying mother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Syndrome the year before. After his mother’s passing in 1978, Bargnani divorced his wife and moved to Barcelona, Spain. In Barcelona, he worked as a global ambassador for the Spanish Basketball Federation. He traveled across Europe promoting Spanish basketball leagues, and funding basketball academies to globalize the game he loved. He continued working for the SBF until he retired in 2014 at the age of 70, due to declining health. By the time he retired, he had founded 4 basketball academies in 3 different countries, and had visited over 20 countries promoting basketball in Europe. In 2015 he was put on the waiting list for a liver transplant due to years of alcohol abuse. He lived at Sant Juan Hospital in Barcelona, and waited 2 years for a transplant. He received the transplant in 2017 at the age of 73, but he passed away on December 4, 2018 after suffering from a stroke. He was buried in Madrid, his hometown, and he left behind his ex-wife Valeria, his son Vasquesio, and two adoptive granddaughters, Cecilia and Silvia.