Next year, Indianapolis will be hosting the Final Four. So, in a gesture of kindness (or possibly something more sinister) the mayor of Indianapolis, Greg Ballard, was invited to attend this year's Final Four in Detroit. It, uh, hasn't gone so well.Ballard was robbed after Saturday night's games while he was walking back to his hotel. Of course he was. Everyone gets robbed in Detroit.
Ballard was walking back to his hotel after Saturday night's semi-final games at Ford Field when he stopped to assist a man who appeared to be suffering a seizure on a sidewalk. When the mayor stopped, two or three other men surrounded him and stole his cell phone from his pockets, the mayor's office said.
Detroit definitely has an interesting economic stimulus plan. But then again, it was only his cell phone that was stolen. At least he didn't get shot or worse, wind up frozen in ice.
And just so you know, it's not like Ballard didn't get a warning.
Michigan State Police had issued a law enforcement warning in advance of the event that a nationally known group of professional pickpockets was expected to arrive for the event.
Anyone else think that if UNC wins tonight they'll be mugged and beaten before they get on board their team bus? And that's not even counting what the Michigan State fans will do to them.
Mayor of Indianapolis receives hospitality, Detroit style [Deadspin]
Indy mayor says he was victim of pickpockets at Final Four [Detroit News]
Detroit pickpockets grab Ballard's phone [Indy Star]
more
