Borrowing Criteria From a Slam Dunk Contest, Detroit Selects Its New Mayor

Detroit has a new mayor, and before you ask-- no, it's not Kwame Kilpatrick, serving via videoconference from jail. Instead it's former Detroit Pistons guard Dave Bing, who becomes the third man to serve the term won by Kilpatrick in 2006.

From the Detroit Free Press...

Dave Bing began his Detroit journey in 1966 as a beloved basketball player before ascending to businessman and booster and now, to mayor of America's 11th largest city.

Bing's stunning victory by a 4-point margin in Tuesday's special mayoral election signaled the desire of Detroit voters to abandon the status quo of local politics.

Although Bing has never held public office before, his qualifications to govern Detroit are numerous, including:

* Won Rookie of the Year honors with the Pistons in 1966.

* Averaged 27.1 points per game during the 1967-1968 season.

* Led the NBA in free throws during the 1970-1971 season.

* Was endorsed by Pistons GM Joe Dumars.

* Is in the NBA Hall of Fame.

* Can dunk.

Bing is just the kind of leader that Detroit needs at this critical juncture, what with its flagship automobile industry on life support and an upcoming 3-on-3 grudge match against the Sacramento City Council (Kevin Johnson, mayor.)

So in the wake of the Kilpatrick scandal, job losses and a crisis in public confidence, all eyes now turn to Bing to see whether he'll replicate the success of another Detroit icon who rode his athletic prowess all the way to one of the top executive posts in the city....

Matt Millen.