SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Former SuperSonic working at Starbucks?

Jul 30, 2015, 11:35 AM | Updated: 12:24 pm

Former Seattle SuperSonic Vin Baker, 43, is reportedly working at a Starbucks in Rhode Island. (AP ...

Former Seattle SuperSonic Vin Baker, 43, is reportedly working at a Starbucks in Rhode Island. (AP file photo)

(AP file photo)

He couldn’t make a free-throw shot, but former SuperSonic Vin Baker is convinced an espresso shot is a different story.

Baker, 43, is reportedly working at a Starbucks in Rhode Island &#8212 working for the guy who sold the SuperSonics to Clay Bennett, no less.

To his credit, Baker was named to four NBA All-Star teams and made almost $100 million over the course of his career. But he fell onto hard times and struggled with alcoholism.

He told the Providence Journal:

“When you make choices and decisions and think that it will never end, and then you get into spending and addiction and more spending, it’s a definite formula for losing…. I would insist that you surround yourself with the person you trust the absolute most, someone who can tell you, ‘You’re wrong, don’t buy that, don’t go there, that person’s no good.’ I would also say be able to monitor every single dime that comes out of your accounts as if you’re a Starbucks barista.”

Not only is the father of four kids keeping a better eye on his money, he serves as a minister and is training to be a Starbucks manager.

“I hope Vin Baker bounces back, becomes a manager at Starbucks, and makes an honest living,” said KIRO Radio’s Ron Upshaw. “He can’t get the $100 million back, but it’s better than being an alcoholic.”

KIRO Radio co-host Don O’Neill said Baker could have run the other way and left those four kids, like his father did.

“He blew through all that money, but now he’s willing to stand up, take a job, be a barista, and do whatever he has to do … I think that’s good on Vin Baker because it’s hard to face your demons.”

“Now you just made me miss the Sonics,” said everyone (and Ron).

Let’s just hope whoever placed this sign on top of a Starbucks doesn’t hold a grudge against Baker, for his sake.

Seattle News Archives & Features

Associated Press

Authorities arrest arson suspect in connection with one of Spokane’s devastating wildfires

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A man from Spokane, Washington, was arrested Monday and charged with setting one of the devastating wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of homes and other structures in and around the state’s second-largest city. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested and booked on suspicion of first […]

2 days ago

rain seafair aug. 1...

Tom Brock

Blue Angels cancel Saturday Seafair performance due to high winds

The U.S. Navy's precision flight team, the Blue Angels, had to cancel its Saturday performance at Seafair, due to high winds.

4 days ago

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has declared a statewide wildfire emergency. (Photo: WA. Dept. of Natu...

Tom Brock

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson declares statewide wildfire emergency

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide wildfire emergency Saturday, which includes a prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning.

4 days ago

Associated Press

Seattle police say 15-year-old arrested in connection with festival shooting had a ghost gun

SEATTLE (AP) — The 15-year-old arrested after a shootout at food festival near Seattle’s Space Needle over the weekend was armed with an untraceable ghost gun with an extended magazine, police said Tuesday. Police Chief Shon Barnes told a news conference that the weapon was a 9 mm gun from Polymer80 — a now-defunct company […]

8 days ago

Associated Press

Police search for second suspect following Seattle food festival shooting that killed 3

SEATTLE (AP) — Police searched for a second suspect Monday after gunfire erupted at a crowded food festival beneath Seattle’s Space Needle, leaving three people dead and four others wounded, including a toddler. Another suspect was earlier arrested. Investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other Sunday and, although one remained on the […]

9 days ago

Associated Press

Multiple people have been shot after gunfire erupts near Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, police say

SEATTLE (AP) — Multiple people were injured in a shooting Sunday night at an events complex close to the Space Needle in Seattle, police said in a statement. Authorities did not immediately release more information.

10 days ago

Former SuperSonic working at Starbucks?