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 and stories 40-31 Friday from our Best of 2013 list. Today, we move up to 30-21.
30. The 'Hip-Hop Mayor' Took All the Wrong Lessons From the Music; 3/14/13
When first elected, Kwame Kilpatrick represented a new generation of political leadership that came of age as hip hop emerged as a musical force. But Kilpatrick, who happily embraced the "hip hop mayor" moniker, ultimately let down his generation by ignoring the better angels of the genre's nature.
29. ‘Hey Girl, Brad Ausmus' Knows What The Ladies Like: Sabermetric Baseball Analysis; 11/4/13
The Ivy League-educated Brad Ausmus is the Tigers new manager and, to believe the hype, women all over Detroit are swooning over the handsome new skipper. Because that's how ladies are! However, we think Detroit's female baseball fans simply appreciate Ausmus' analytical baseball mind.
28. Crumbled Empire: ESPN, Not Detroit, Lost Out With X Games Decision; 7/18/13
ESPN decided they'd rather take the X Games back to Austin instead of Detroit or Charlotte. Fortunately, Detroit's would-be X Games organizers plan to go ahead with their own extreme sports events and that might be for the best.
27. Video Pitch to Creatives: 'We're Moving to Detroit And So Should You'; 7/28/13
Lowe Campbell Ewald moves downtown from Warren in January 2014, and they'd like to see other creative agencies follow.
26. The Loneliest Horse In Highland Park, Grazing In A Trashy Lot With No Shade; 7/18/13
The headline pretty much says it all. We found this horse living in a Highland Park lot.
25. A Day In The Life Of Detroit: Gratiot Avenue Photo Gallery; 8/21/13
We did a few of these streetscape galleries in 2013 and plan several more in 2014, but Gratiot was easily your favorite. We liked it as well.
24. The Michigan Parole Board's Crime Against White Boy Rick; 9/10/13
After more than a quarter-century in prison and helping law enforcement lock-up other dealers, and even some crooked cops, maybe it's time to parole the 1980s coke-dealer known as White Boy Rick.
23. The Drone Cam Does The Packard Plant. See The $6 Million Ruin Like Never Before; 10/25/13
The Packard Plant has a new owner, Peruvian developer Fernando Palazuelo, but even he probably hasn't seen his property like the Drone Cam.
22. Kevyn Orr Is Rick Snyder's Hammer, Not An Advocate For Detroit; 12/2/13
If you ignore Gov. Rick Snyder's cynical maneuvers to pay (overpay?) friendly consultants and advisors during Detroit's bankruptcy, Kevyn Orr seems like a swell guy looking out for Detroit's best interest. Darrell Dawsey argues, however, that you can't ignore those things.
21. Found 8mm Video: Images Of Detroit Neighborhoods, 1937-1949; 8/26/13
From the tail end of the Great Depression through the euphoria of the post-War 1940s, few places in the world were as interesting as Detroit. This video gives you a look at what life was like living in the middle of the Arsenal of Democracy.
HONORABLE MENTION: Battle Rages Over Anthony Bourdain's Portrayal of Detroit On CNN; 11/11/13
Anothony Bourdain recorded an episode of his show "Parts Unknown" in Detroit earlier this year and some people, basically Fox 2's Murray Feldman and political consultant Steve Hood, were upset that Bourdain actually went, you know, to "parts unknown." Feldman would've preferred he just used file video from old Auto Show galas because he says that's the real Detroit. Hey Murray, you know what they call it in New York or LA when rich people get dressed up for a charity event? Tuesday.
