The Plum Tree Blossoms Even In Winter: Wayne State President Roy Wilson Pens Riveting Memoir Roots. A3
Michigan Chronicle
Vol. 85 – No. 36 | May 11-17, 2022
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Will Detroit Bid on the 2025/2026 NBA All-Star Game? By Donald James Senior Writer, Real Times Media
While the NBA Playoffs are heating up to determine the next NBA Champion, the organization is mum about what cities will host the 2025 and 2026 All-Star Games. The next two years are set: Salt Lake City (2023) and Indianapolis (2024). Hosting the prestigious threeday weekend of the game would be huge for Detroit, complete with an international spotlight and people from at least 215 countries tuning in. In addition, an economic windfall, perhaps pumping more than $100 million into the local economy, is highly possible. Cleveland hosted the 2022 AllStar Game and reportedly raked in $100 million for its local economy over the three-day weekend of festivities. The Downtown Cleveland Alliance estimated that approximately 428,000 people crowded downtown, flooding hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars and other venues and businesses. In 2019, Charlotte, the host city for the All-Star Game Weekend, reportedly saw an $87.7 million economic impact. As with any city that has hosted the mega weekend, it meant the influx of NBA players, celebrities, fans and media personalities, all spending money on hotel rooms, food, liquor, souvenirs, entertainment and other activities. Is there an effort afoot to attract the Big Game to the Motor City after the Detroit Pistons and other local powerbrokers made a bid in 2017 for the 2020 or 2021 NBA All-Star Game? “Similar to NBA All-Star bids that were submitted by our organization in 2017, we are always evaluating opportunities to showcase Detroit and the vibrancy of the city,” Pistons’ Vice President of public relations Kevin Grigg told the Chronicle. “The NBA has not opened another cycle for bid submissions regarding future allstar games at this time. However, we will continue to monitor that process and strategize with local organizations like the Detroit Sports Commission on how we can leverage our assets to bring big sporting events to Detroit.” Since the inception of the NBA All-Star Game in 1951, the mid-season classic has been played in Detroit only once: 1959, at the old Olympia Stadium. In 1979, the game was played at the Pontiac Silverdome, home of the Pistons from 1977 to 1988. The venue was 31 miles from downtown Detroit. The Pistons played at The Palace in Auburn Hills for the next three decades before moving to the newly-built Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit to start the 2017 season. Shortly after the move, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly
Magic Johnson, from left, Greg Mathis and Johnny Gill attend a ceremony honoring Mathis with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday in Los Angeles
Star Power
Detroit Native Judge Greg Mathis Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame By Andre Ash Judge Greg Mathis, 62, was presented with a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, Wednesday, May 4. Mathis, host of the Daytime Emmy Award-winning nationally syndicated, “Judge Mathis,” was joined by family, friends and TV executives for the star unveiling. “It is my hope that this most prestigious honor of my career would bring hope to the many people who are inspired by my journey, right as they step over me,” Judge Mathis said. There were numerous guest speakers at the special event along the Hollywood Blvd. where they talked about Mathis’ impact on their life and in society. “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything in the world,” said Smokey Robinson. The fellow Detroit native and legendary music producer spoke at the podium beside Mr. Mathis. He was excited to be in attendance and witness his longtime family friend be recognized. “I want all the kids to look at him as an example. My brother would’ve been a thug, he changed his life around and became a judge, so it can be done.” The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce selected Judge Mathis who now receives the 2,722nd star on the popular Los Angeles Boulevard. Other stars expressed their congratulatory remarks at the red carpet
unveiling, including another Michigan native, former basketball star and businessman, Magic Johnson. “The real story behind Greg is the fact that he has touched and saved so many people’s lives by his story but also by him reaching back and giving back especially when you think about the state of Michigan.” “Today there is a lot of hope, because people who have the same background as you know that they can achieve greatness as well. This is Black excellence today,” Johnson added. In an interview with Michigan Chronicle, Judge Mathis sees the star recognition as a culmination of a journey that began for him in Detroit and a journey that continues. “I’m proud for myself and for Detroiters and particularly for my grandchildren who will be able to bring their friends up Hollywood Blvd. for a couple more generations and show them their grandad’s star and name.” Mathis understands the nature of entertainment where some people have activated getting this type of spotlight, but for the native Detroiter, he says he never sought the honor and still sees himself as the community advocate he has always been before the fame. “I don’t consider myself as a celebrity, I consider myself as a retired judge who happens to be on television.” he adds. As a young man, Mathis was involved
in street gangs, dropped out of school and spent time in jail. He promised his dying mother he would turn his life around. As he prepared to witness and appreciate the Hollywood star recognition, he recounted his humble beginnings. “I was prepared for the transition, the transformation in my life and that was through an early childhood quality education.” Mathis recalls attending Christan school where during that time he remembers his mother instilling the importance of education and values. He used this foundation as the blueprint and preparation for changing his life around following the promise he made to this mother. Mathis would go on to attend Eastern Michigan University and after college began his first job as an intern for Detroit City Council. He would later start a youth agency outside the Herman Gardens housing projects to help his fellow troubled peers. “It’s the journey that has been most fulfilling to me ...it became a bit surreal once television came. I still haven’t been able to get my arms around the television success. I still look at myself as li’l ol’ Greg Mathis in the community trying to help.” After Mathis earned his law degree, he became the youngest judge in Mich-
See JUDGE
GREG MATHIS page A2
See BUSINESS page A2
WHAT’S INSIDE
Michigan's $4.7 Billion Plan
By Sherri Kolade One-On-One
X:
with Robert O'Hara: Director of
The Life and Times of Malcolm X
City.Life.Style. B1
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Nearly a year has passed and yet, the 2021 flooding is still a hot topic of conversation as Detroiters and others in the region faced catastrophic storms that damaged homes, property and vehicles with many grappling with the aftershocks to this day. However, the state has a plan with a newly formed $4.8 billion infrastructure plan signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer that is geared to address chronic flooding issues for regions throughout Michigan. Will this bring the city to the next step in infrastructure fixes, or would this just be a band-aid until another solution comes down the pike? Whitmer’s $4.8 billion Building Michigan Together Plan is to invest in new funding to “Fix the
Damn Roads” while addressing flooding through this bipartisan investment signed in late March. “The Building Michigan Together Plan makes historic, bipartisan investments in the kitchen-table issues that matter most to Michigan families and builds on our work to fix the damn roads,” said Whitmer in a press release. “I am so proud that the Michigan legislature and I were able to come together to get this done and continue fixing the roads together with the right mix and materials, so they stay fixed. This plan will make a real difference in our communities, support thousands of good-paying jobs and set up Michigan’s economy for decades of success. It is a testament to what is possible when we put Michiganders first.” The Building Michigan To-
gether Plan calls for critical investments of $645 million in Michigan’s infrastructure, including:
more resilient to future flooding events by adding reliable generator backup power to all 164 state-owned pumping stations.
• $317 million for road and bridge programs, benefiting both state and local projects.
• $93 million for airport infrastructure improvement grants.
• $66 million to make state transportation infrastructure
See INFRASTRUCTURE page A2