Detroit News Editor Nolan Finley Calls Out Monica Conyers

I have to admit, I listened to some of aninterview between Detroit radio personality Frank Beckmann and Detroit City Council President Monica Conyers and I could do little more than shake my head in disbelief. The interview was posted in a blog written by Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley. On a personal note, I have mixed feelings about Beckmann. I appreciate his work as a commentator for University of Michigan football, but I could live without his conservative politics. That aside, I was actually impressed with the way he stayed tough during his interview with Conyers (who is tough to pin down and who has a level of aggressiveness that can make a questioner uncomfortable). Here is the Frank Beckmann interview with Monica Conyers right here.

Detroit News:
http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/nolanfinleyblog/index.php

WJR:
http://wjr.com/Article.asp?id=1197527&spid=6552

Detroit News Blogger Nolan Finley Seems To Believe In Feed-The-Rich Idea

The return of trickle-down economics. Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley (in a blog entitled: Obama Parses Pork) it appears subscribes to the trickle-down theory of economics: Give money to the rich (typically in the form of tax breaks)and hope that money eventually works its way down to the people who need it most to feed their families, keep their lights on and pay their car notes. Finley uses the tired-old Chicago politics stereotype to imply that President Obama should somehow be familiar with corrupt government and then later takes a shot at Detroit’s government (granted the Detroit City Council is very suspect). But, we went through the trickle-down economics theory with President Bush and look where we are now. It’s time for a new approach. Pork is going to be in most bills (from Democrats and Republicans) of this magnitude and Finley needs to take off his blinders and realize this is big-time politics at work. You want votes and support then you have to give something to get something. All the whining about pork and earmarks oftentimes is laughable. So-called pork projects many times go to help people in communities (in spite of the fake outrage you hear from the opposing party or believers in the opposing party).

Detroit News:
http://apps.detnews.com/apps/blogs/nolanfinleyblog/index.php

Some In Detroit Making A Lot Of Demands With Their Hands Out

Some “leaders” in Detroit have their hands out asking for money from the state and neighboring counties (to repair a crumbling and inadequate Cobo Hall) while also demanding to have more say than others who are contributing millions. You can’t have it both ways. If the neighboring counties and the state are coming in to help out then they should have a fair shake at the decision-making table. I can understand how much it hurts to not have Detroit have exclusive or majority say in the operations of Cobo, but these are desperate times and Cobo needs help … Detroit needs help. It may not be a perfect deal (for Detroit), but it is probably the best deal (a  $288 million pact) an ailing city is going to get whether some people like it or not.

Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090314/METRO/903140422

Rest In Peace Mr. Davidson

Bill Davidson was widely considered one of the best owners in all of sports as the owner of most notably the Detroit Pistons of the NBA. He also was owner of (among other things): the Detroit Shock of the WNBA, he Tampa Bay Lightning and Palace Sports and Entertainment(which includes numerous holdings). Mr. Davidson died on Friday leaving behind a tremendous legacy. He treated his players well with state-of-the-art facilities, a private jet for the Pistons (Roundball One) when no other owner was really thinking of it and much more. He was straightforward and honest and was the first owner to win championships in three different leagues with the Pistons, Shock and Lightning. Mr. Davidson also was tremendously generous in his philanthropic endeavors having donated millions of dollars to the University of Michigan (where he graduated) and Wayne State University (where he earned his law degree). Indeed, Mr Davidson, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, will be sorely missed by all those he touched … even if from afar as fans of his teams or as those who attended events at his entertainment venues. What a legacy he leaves as it appears his widow, Karen, will now take over as the face of the empire Mr. Davidson built.

Said Tom Wilson, the president of Palace Sports and Entertainment, to Detroit radio station WWJ:

“There is a huge hole in our hearts tonight,” said Palace Sports and Entertainment President Tom Wilson in an interview on WWJ-950. “This really is somebody that you thought would go on forever. He seemed to have nine lives, and every one of them was jovial and optimistic and positive. He was a forward-looking person. He was a guy who never dwelled on mistakes, he had so much positive energy. He was the most eternal optimist ever.

“It’s an overwhelming presence we’ve lost.”

We will miss you Bill Davidson (1922-2009)

Detroit Free Press (general article):
http://www.freep.com/article/20090314/SPORTS03/90313096/Longtime+Pistons+owner+Bill+Davidson+dies+at+86

Detroit Free Press (Karen will succeed him):
http://www.freep.com/article/20090314/SPORTS03/90314037

Detroit News:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090314/SPORTS0102/903140415/1004