Bill Halls, who covered basketball for the Detroit News, is gone from the paper, but not forgotten -- at least in NBA circles.
Halls, who retired in 1998 after 30 years with the paper, got a nice letter from NBA Commissioner David J. Stern to commemorate his 80th birthday. Halls covered the PIstons when Dave Bing was a beloved figure in the city.
At a party at Halls' Pleasant Ridge home on Saturday night, his good friend Mike O'Hara, a former football writer for the News, read Stern's letter aloud.
Dear Bill:
I join your many friends in celebrating your 80th birthday this weekend. Your many years of covering the NBA were, and still are, appreciated. And it's hard to believe that it has been more than 40 years ago since you, Bob Logan, Joe Gilmartin and others founded the Professional Basketball Writers Association. Our league and team PR people aren't sure if you should be thanked or blamed for that!You covered so many of the Pistons greats over the years. There aren't many who can say they watched the Pistons from the days of Earl Lloyd and Ray Scott, through Dave Bing and Bob Lanier, and into the Chuck Daly-and Isiah-led championship teams.
I hope that you, Marge and your three children celebrate this latest milestone in style.
Sincerely,
David J. Stern
