As 2013 winds down, we dive into the archives to compile Deadline Detroit's 50 most interesting, unique and/or trafficked stories of the year. Over five days, we're counting down our "best of" list, and throwing in some honorable mentions along the way.
We reviewed stories 50-41 Thursday, stories 40-31 Friday, and stories 30-21 Saturday from our Best of 2013 list. Today, we move up to 20-11.
20. Are Car Dealers and Politicians Colluding To Bilk Consumers?; 1/17/13
Traditionally liberal consumer advocates and libertarian free-marketeers don't agree on much, but both believe that regulations designed to protect the auto dealership cartel harms consumers for the benefit of a small group of politically-powerful businessmen. You might even call it an oligarchy.
19. Orchard Lake Man Erects Giant Sculpture To Flip Off His Neighbor; 11/16/13
Ever dreamed of getting revenge on an ex? An Orchard Lake man did so by moving next door to his wife and building a one-finger salute statue in his backyard. Just in case she wasn't clear how he felt.
18. Tigers Anti-Bullying Facebook Message Draws Expected, Disappointing Response; 10/17/13
The Detroit Tigers posted a Facebook message against anti-gay bullying because, you know, people who torment weaker kids are jerks. Naturally, the commentariat was offended because if baseball teams don't condone the sort of abuse that often leads to suicide, well, this just isn't 'Merica anymore.
17. What Detroit Can Learn From Its Women; 6/25/13
The local creative agency 4exit4 decided Detroit's women are pretty bad ass, celebrating their accomplishments in an online video entitled "A Girl's Guide To Detroit."
16. The Diego Rivera Murals As You've Never Seen Them; 11/25/13
A video by New D Media turns the DIA's iconic Detroit Industry murals into a trippy light show.
15. Hey, Tigers Fans: Show Respect And Stop Behaving Like Redneck Townies On Opening Day; 4/6/13
Boy howdy, did you people really love or hate this post about the way Opening Day -- truly, one of Detroit's great annual events -- leaves downtown ankle-deep piles of garbage and drunken, public vomiting.
14. Anthony Bourdain's Detroit -- 'One Of The Most Awesome' American Cities; 11/5/13
Anthony Bourdain's visit to Detroit for his CNN show "Parts Unknown" absolutely captivated this city. Our Bourdain coverage across-the-board was probably better-read than anything we did on the mayoral race, the Kilpatrick verdict or bankruptcy. Of course, Anthony Bourdain is cooler than all of those things put together.
13. City Trashes Crisco Can Artist Installed At Fist To 'Ease Bankruptcy Pain'; 7/29/13
How best to quickly demonstrate what's happened to Detroit using visual art? What about sticking a giant can of Crisco next to the Fist? Yep, that'll do it. Unlike abandoned boat hulls and tire piles in Detroit's neighborhoods, city government was remarkably efficient tearing down this bit of guerrilla art.
12. Topless Prophet: Local King of Strip to Star in Reality TV Show; 10/9/13
Local strip club owner Alan Markovitz is set to star in his own reality tv show, like "Hardcore Pawn" but with barely-dressed women instead of hocked jewelry. You know you'll watch.
11. Dumb, Lazy, Happy And Rich: Why Kevyn Orr Is Right -- About Michigan; 8/12/13
Kevyn Orr didn't win any friends by calling Detroit "dumb, lazy, happy, and rich" but maybe he had a point about how things operate, not just in Detroit, but across Michigan.
HONORABLE MENTION: Packard Plant Buyer Jill Van Horn's Release: A Hot Mess Of Weirdness; 10/30/13
Few things were stranger or more amusing this year than crazy Texas doctor Jill Van Horn -- seriously, do not trust your family's medical care to Jill Van Horn; she is nutter butters -- pretend-buying the Packard Plant for $6 million in imaginary money. It's a shame the deal fell through because Van Horn's mechanisms would've combined into a process and to create a churn that would've totally saved Detroit. Seriously, that's what she believed.
