THE SIDELINES : Bing Seeks Money for School Sports
Former Detroit Pistons star David Bing, now a steel company owner, says he wants to raise $2 million to restore sports in the Detroit public schools.
The Board of Education cut all sports programs and laid off hundreds of teachers and other employees as part of a $50-million budget-cutting plan. Interscholastic sports made up $1.4 million of the cuts.
“Somebody needs to do something,” said Bing, who averaged 22.6 points a game in nine seasons with the Pistons from 1966 through 1975. He said Wednesday that he is forming a group to raise money to continue the athletic programs.
“Obviously, I would love to see the sports programs saved,” said school board member David Olmstead. “‘Dave Bing is probably the one person in this community who can galvanize that kind of support.” School board member George Vaughn was less enthusiastic, saying he prefers to save academic programs.
“I realize there is a need for athletics, but in reality, most students do not participate in interscholastic sports,” Vaughn said.
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