Dave Bing

Earl Monroe, overlooked three times by the voters, was inducted into basketball's Hall of Fame with Elvin Hayes, Dave Bing and the late Neil Johnston.

Among the usual cliches in the annual State of the Union speech is a phrase to the effect: “Our union is strong.” Presidents Bush, Clinton and Reagan all used the phrase and President Obama didn't disappoint Wednesday night. But the same phrase usually works its way into the local version of the annual speech, whether State of the State or State of the City. According to aides, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to use some form of the sentiment when he delivers his State of the City address Thursday.

Elvin Hayes, Dave Bing and Earl (The Pearl) Monroe were elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday. Also chosen was the late Neil Johnston, the Philadelphia Warriors' hook-shot artist who led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons in the early 1950s. All will be inducted on May 15. Hayes, who starred at the University of Houston in the late '60s and ended his 16-year NBA career as the league's third-leading all-time scorer, said making the Hall of Fame is a dream come true.

NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing and incumbent Ken Cockrel Jr. advanced to a May 5 runoff election, vying to serve out the remainder of disgraced ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's second term. With 99% of precincts reporting, Bing received 26,104 votes, or about 29%, while 24,500 ballots, or 27%, were cast for Cockrel. The Democrats were among 15 mayoral candidates in the nonpartisan special primary.

Among the usual cliches in the annual State of the Union speech is a phrase to the effect: “Our union is strong.” Presidents Bush, Clinton and Reagan all used the phrase and President Obama didn't disappoint Wednesday night. But the same phrase usually works its way into the local version of the annual speech, whether State of the State or State of the City. According to aides, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to use some form of the sentiment when he delivers his State of the City address Thursday.

NBA Hall of Famer Dave Bing and incumbent Ken Cockrel Jr. advanced to a May 5 runoff election, vying to serve out the remainder of disgraced ex-Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's second term. With 99% of precincts reporting, Bing received 26,104 votes, or about 29%, while 24,500 ballots, or 27%, were cast for Cockrel. The Democrats were among 15 mayoral candidates in the nonpartisan special primary.

Detroit's deteriorating fiscal picture is so dire that Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday declared a city financial emergency, paving the way for eventual state oversight and control. The announcement comes after a state team last month reported on Detroit's growing problems, including a $327-million budget deficit and more than $14 billion in long-term debt. The next step would be the appointment of a board and state emergency manager with broad powers to deal with the city's sinking finances.

An advisor to the Detroit mayor and two former police officers were among dozens of members and associates of the Highwaymen motorcycle gang charged with attempted murder, cocaine and steroid distribution and other crimes. Hatim "Tim" Attalla, a member of newly elected Mayor Dave Bing's volunteer crisis team, was named in a 35-count indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Authorities said 30 defendants were in custody and others were being sought.

Basketball Hall of Fame officials announced today that former Boston Celtics star Dave Cowens has been added to the list of players renominated for election. Jerry Healy, Hall of Fame publicist, said that Cowens' name had been inadvertently omitted from the list of nominees released last Tuesday and that the error was not discovered immediately. His addition brings the short list of candidates back up to 16. Results of the voting are announced in February.

1951 -- Ed Macauley, Boston 1952 -- Paul Arzin, Philadelphia 1953 -- George Mikan, Minneapolis 1954 -- Bob Cousy, Boston 1955 -- Bill Sharman, Boston 1956 -- Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1957 -- Bob Cousy, Boston 1958 -- Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1959 -- Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis; Bob Pettit, St. Louis 1960 -- Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 1961 -- Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati 1962 -- Bob Pettit, St.

Earl Monroe, overlooked three times by the voters, was inducted into basketball's Hall of Fame with Elvin Hayes, Dave Bing and the late Neil Johnston.

Elvin Hayes, Dave Bing and Earl (The Pearl) Monroe were elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday. Also chosen was the late Neil Johnston, the Philadelphia Warriors' hook-shot artist who led the NBA in scoring for three consecutive seasons in the early 1950s. All will be inducted on May 15. Hayes, who starred at the University of Houston in the late '60s and ended his 16-year NBA career as the league's third-leading all-time scorer, said making the Hall of Fame is a dream come true.

Former Detroit Pistons star David Bing, now a steel company owner, says he wants to raise $2 million to restore sports in the Detroit public schools. The Board of Education cut all sports programs and laid off hundreds of teachers and other employees as part of a $50-million budget-cutting plan. Interscholastic sports made up $1.4 million of the cuts. "Somebody needs to do something," said Bing, who averaged 22.6 points a game in nine seasons with the Pistons from 1966 through 1975.

Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest of the NBA's 50 greatest players, skipped their historic first gathering Friday with his buddy, Charles Barkley. The consensus among those who showed up was that Jordan and Barkley were on the links, trying to determine who's the greatest golfer. "They're probably playing golf right now as we speak," said Billy Cunningham, who coached Barkley at Philadelphia. Being fashionably late to All-Star weekend has become a Jordan and Barkley tradition.