Hon. Dave Bing, ampoule Mayor of Detroit
During the past quarter century, when you thought of Detroit, you couldn’t help but think of a crime-ridden urban wasteland thanks to film such as RoboCop, True Romance, Blue Collar, Assault on Precinct 13, 8 Mile and Grand Torino.
The Honorable Dave Bing wants to paint a new picture of Detroit. The Mayor and NBA Hall of Fame guard, who is a graduate of Syracuse University, spoke yesterday at Whitman Day. He talked about coming and playing at Syracuse and being drafted #2 overall by the Pistons. He also said he had to work during NBA off-seasons to make ends meet.
Working those summer jobs (in banking and the auto industry) turned out to be one of the best things to happen to Bing, who says in his first entrepreneurial venture he lost 1/2 of his NBA savings.
After that minor setback, Bing became a salient model for post athletic business success and has parlayed his business influence all the way to city hall (he was elected in 2009).
“I am where I am and I compete where I am,” he said.
Beyond the court and the business world, Bing hopes his Third Act will include leading an economic, political and psychological transformation for the motor city.