So it looks like we have a new mayor again, this time Dave Bing, the former NBA star and industrial magnate. So who is Dave Bing? Although not a native son of Detroit Bing was born in the poor neighborhoods of Washington, DC in 1943. It wasn’t until in 1966 when the Detroit Pistons failed to get their first choice and got Bing instead that Bing and Detroit’s destinies became entwined. He turned out to be a pretty fortunate pick for the Pistons, becoming the NBA Rookie of the Year and then scoring the most points in the NBA the next year, and eventually ending up in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Not only was he a successful athlete who overcame two major eye injuries, he applied what he learned about teamwork and leadership to become a successful entrepreneur. He spent the down time during his years in the NBA by learning about business and finance both by reading books and by working for the finance and manufacturing industries. He got a job at the National Bank of Detroit (now part of J.P. Morgan Chase) after going in just to apply for a mortgage. After two years working in the auto industry for Paragon Steel he was ready to start his own business, Bing Steel. This would later become a part of the Bing Group and employ over a thousand people.
Not only was Bing employing Detroiters, he was serving as a positive African-American role model, raising money for schools, funding charities, spending 15 hours a week doing volunteer work, and redeveloping Detroit’s riverfront with upscale condos (until running for office). He’s been widely recognized for these merits.
“The easiest thing to do is quit on Detroit.” - David Bing
Detroit gave David Bing an opportunity to become an NBA star and then gave him an opportunity to make his riches and he’s been giving back ever since. He’s invested a lot of time, sweat, and money on improving Detroit instead of taking the easy route by quitting on Detroit.
Bing has already won the election so this isn’t an endorsement for the man. But he’s now our mayor. It would be easy for anyone to give up on Detroit’s $200 to $300 million budget deficit just as a would be for President Obama to give up on tackling the economic mess that he inherited. Here’s hoping that the team Mayor Bing puts together combined with his business community relationships and experience successfully leading companies and also his dedication and love for Detroit will turn out to be the best chance that Detroit has. At least until September when we have to elect a mayor again.
