Joe Louis

Joe Louis IS Detroit, from the Kronk Gym – a haven for boxers that churned out stars, to the stadium where The Redwings play you see Joe Louis at every turn in Motown. If you stroll past Jefferson Ave & Woodward you’ll be greeted by a massive fisted hand; a sculpture tribute to Joe Louis. The clenched iron fist is bare, without a glove, and is aimed at both his enemies inside and outside the ring.

Joe Louis became a strong symbol, for second chances and against the sheer stupidity of racism when he battered The great white Nazi hope Max Schmeling in his second fight against the German, ripping into him in a frenzied blur. He’s a true Detroit legend.

The Guardian Building

The first time I saw the Guardian Building I was in the back of my history professor’s car. He had offered to give me a guided tour of Detroit, a town he was obviously very proud of, and I gladly accepted.

The lavish beauty of Detroit’s Guardian Building is arresting and unexpected – it is a gorgeous Aztec Art Deco skyscraper. It rivals New York’s Chrysler Building, maybe even betters it, but it is an unknown pearl. This ornate, pre-Wall Street crash, Babel is a 36 floor ode to the possibilities of a blank chequebook – but also a reminder that the sky is no longer the limit; a building of such glaring opulence couldn’t be built today.

The Queen Mother

When Betty Met Motown…

Motown, the United States, the whole world in fact, was glued to TV screens for the Royal Wedding on Friday but what some Detroiters might not know about is our connection to the Royal Family.

“Special” Relationship?

With the current levels of Royal hype in America you’d be forgiven for thinking that the “special” relationship between the USA and England has been around for a long time. You’d be wrong. The US in the 1930s had a very different mindset toward its former colonial motherland, with immigrants from Europe looking back over their shoulder at a Britain that was seen to be a fusty feudal relic – and precisely what they had left Europe to get away from.

To make matters worse America saw Edward VIII’s abdication as a very personal slight. In Britain upper class chins wagged about how the King had to abdicate because the woman he wanted, Wallace Simpson, was a divorcee. In America though, the belief was that he was forced to abdicate because he was marrying an American. In truth, both were factors in Edward’s abdication. What was even more injurious to American perceptions of the Royals was that Edward, dashing playboy that he was, was succeeded by Albert – a stuttering shambles of a man. Not only was Albert considered un-regal but even his name was awkward, sounding far too German – so he was crowned George VI. His wife, a royal fixture, who later became the queen mother , was also seen as dowdy and overweight. Together they were the worst combination, a couple without a stately feel and an ugly one to boot. Elizabeth was so stung by the press abuse that she went on a diet for 6 months before she crossed the Atlantic.

Detroit.

As they crossed Canada, and then headed back towards Niagara Falls, Elizabeth made a point of pulling her husband away from distant stages and platforms and into crowds. Attitudes changed swiftly, and by the time their train moved through Windsor Ontario, they could look over to Detroit for their first glimpse of the United States. The Motown skyline welcomed the Royals with a huge sign. The King had seen the US before as a young man – but his wife, “Bettie” her first viewing of America – indeed the first time a Queen had seen the United States – was of Detroit.

Old Firm Madness

Listening to tonight’s 606 podcast was interesting. The two presenters were trying to focus on the Old Firm and their disgraceful behavior but every time a caller rang in they became more and more irate. The phrase that really had them foaming at the mouth was “you wouldn’t understand, you’re not from Glasgow”. With each successive caller seemingly fobbing the presenters off with this phrase, the levels of fury inside the studio would rise; until, that is, a wise head rang in and tried to explain the sectarian hatred that lies deep in the DNA of some Glaswegians.

Once that was explained, the tone changed, and the presenters – Darren Fletcher and Robbie Savage – starting screaming “But it’s just a football game!!”. Without wanting to quote Shankly, they were wrong. If you put rabid Catholics and Protestants, these two sectarian enemies, into any space, be it a tiddlywinks game or a dog show, they will want to beat and humiliate the other side.

Mario Balotelli – an alright bloke.

Over the past few months Man City striker Mario Balotelli has been portrayed as a blight on English football. The levels of opprobrium (despite sensible articles documenting Balotelli’s horrifically troubled childhood penned by people like Gab Marcotti) have become ridiculous.

Look closely at what Balotelli has done (smashed his car, thrown darts at the training ground, generally foisted his ego on anyone close by) and he’s not exactly the worst person in the world. Is he?