Devil's Night in Detroit ... Turned into a Novel

As a kid, I can remember having mixed feelings about Devil's Night (the night before Halloween in Detroit ... look it up).

It was right around the time of my birthday, so I usually kept the birthday celebration going -- through Devil's Night, Oct. 30, and then Halloween, Oct. 31.

So, when I had the chance to write my latest short novel, I had a real event that provided the perfect setting for a story about adversity, love, pain, race, violence and more.

I developed "They Still Call it Devil's Night" with that, and so much more, in mind.

Check out my latest short novel (I am saving the longer, better ones for the possibility of traditional publishing (it could be a long shot, but I am gong to hang onto that hope).

Bill O'Reilly Goes On The Attack Against Detroit Free Press Cartoonist

Here is Mike Thompson's Detroit Free Press cartoon that apparently caused Bill O'Reilly to blow a nut.

Fox News far-right (I know ... kind of redundant) commentator Bill O'Reilly has been working overtime to take revenge on numerous people who have dared to in any way be what he perceives as negative toward Juan Williams, who made bigoted comments about his fear of Muslims on airplanes.

One of the targets of O'Reilly has been Detroit Free Press cartoonist and blogger Mike Thompson, who apparently drew a cartoon that drew the ire of Big Daddy Bill.

I found the response of Thompson, and a portion of it is published here:

For the past week, Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly and his colleagues at Fox News have been bending over backwards to defend former National Public Radio news analyst and current Fox commentator Juan Wiliams, who was fired from his NPR gig for making disparaging remarks about Muslims. A journalist should not be fired for speaking his mind, according to O’Reilly. No, apparently a journalist who speaks his mind should have his e-mail inbox crammed with threatening, disparaging e-mails, according to O’Reilly.

Last Sunday I drew a cartoon about Fox News and the Juan Wiliams affair. O’Reilly apparently took offense to my cartoon and showed it on the air Monday evening. He then gave out my work e-mail address and instructed his viewers to “let him know what you think.” O’Reilly stressed that his viewers should take the high road in their e-mails to me, which is a little like placing a bowl of Halloween candy in front of kids and telling them not to gorge themselves. O’Reilly’s smart enough to know what would happen.

And e-mail me they did, more than 2,500 e-mails, many of them unsuitable to publish here, clogged my inbox.

O'Reilly is not above name calling (does the word "pinhead" ring a bell?), badmouthing people (ask Boyce Watkins, the family of the murdered Dr. George Tiller and others), using blatant acts of intimidation (not unlike what gangs do), dispatching his hired thugs (disguised as "producers") to harass and badger his enemies and more. He has not resorted (yet) to the methods of U.S. senate candidate Rand Paul supporters through which he would have people beat down and stomp on critics.

Ah yes, tough guy Bill O'Reilly now is going after cartoonists.

Drew Sharp Was Anything But With Michael Vick Column In Detroit Free Press

Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp is a smart man who understands how the media game is played. As a columnist, Sharp and numerous others across this country look for ways to distinguish themselves from a crowded group of competitors hungering for the same thing: a major national platform. Over the years, Sharp has found his angle: He is angry, he takes on the challenge of writing about controversial topics and he goes against the grain with columns that are almost always negative and bashing athletes, coaches, owners and even fans.

This all brings me to Sharp’s column about Michael Vick that was published on Saturday by the Detroit Free Press. I briefly pondered a rebuttal of sorts on Saturday, but something held me back (not exactly sure what it was). But, I changed my mind when I saw CNN’s Howard Kurtz provide Sharp with a platform on the Sunday morning CNN show “Reliable Sources.” Drew went on and, in essence, parroted most of the same lines he had written about in his column about Vick (that included a small taste of the controversial situation that now involves Louisville men’s college basketball coach Rick Pitino.

Here are a couple of excerpts followed by my thoughts:

Philly threw Michael Vick a Milk Bone. Here’s hoping he chokes on it.

This only reaffirms why I ceased being a sports fan a long time ago. It wasn’t worth the duplicity. There should always be a more honorable aim than winning at any cost. Vick’s getting a second NFL life is but another example of our society’s morality of convenience.

If that makes me a “hater,” so be it. At least I know I’m not a hypocrite.

I’m hoping that those who staunchly preached a second chance for Vick will exhibit the same compassion when the next 29-year-old black man leaves federal prison following an almost two-year sentence but can’t run a 40-yard dash in 4.4 time, chuck a football 70 yards or sell a $100 jersey.

Yes, Drew … you are a “hater” as you put it, but that is besides the point.

In general, our society is in favor of second chances for a good number of people who run afoul of the law. I would imagine every day people are released from prisons and get second chances. I highly doubt people like Drew Sharp know or care about many of these people and I doubt even more Drew Sharp would take an opportunity to write about the average person who comes out of prison and is given a second chance. If Michael Vick or some other person emerged from prison and went to work at a fast food restaurant or as a custodian, I doubt Drew Sharp would care, talk about the morality of convenience or winning at all costs. But, the fact that Vick is expected to again achieve fame and financial riches bothers people like Drew Sharp and many others who want to continue to gleefully pile on and further demonize Vick who has paid his price (his debt to society if you will) for his role in heinous crimes against animals.

Pistons President Joe Dumars: Go Big Or Go Home

It’s not exactly a well-kept secret, but Detroit Pistons President Joe Dumars told Detroit Free Presswriter Vince Ellis that he is looking at the front court for some help. According to the article, the trading of young big man Amir Johnson has not impacted that draft philosophy. The Pistons are looking to strengthen the front court. While this is not a particularly deep draft (withlots of obvious high-end players), the Pistons think they can get a quality player with the 15th pick of the first round.

From Ellis’ Free Press article:

So with that in mind it appears that the Pistons’ first-round pick will come from one of these five candidates: Louisville forward Earl Clark, Gonzaga forward Austin Daye, Louisville small forward Terrence Williams, Wake Forest power forward James Johnson and Ohio State center B.J. Mullens.

We’ll see what happens, but the Pistons need to become younger and more athletic and dynamic up front. We’ll see how the trading of Amir and this draft help begin to shape the Pistons in the future. The Pistons need youth, but the also need athleticism and toughness up front.