DETROIT (WWJ) - The Detroit teen who pleaded guilty to murdering his mother as she slept last February has been sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.

Joshua Smith, 14, was tried as an adult in the death of his mother, 36-year-old Tamika Andrea Robinson.

Friday, his grandmother, Annie McKenzie, asked the court for leniency.

“I lost a daughter — now I’m losing a grandson as well,” McKenzie said, through tears. “I would like to ask the court to have mercy on him. He was a good boy, I don’t know what happened that night … That was not the Joshua that I know and love.”

McKenzie said she wants her grandson to know she still loves him, supports him and has forgiven him.

Joshua told police he was tired of being called names. His uncle said Joshua was a good kid who just wanted to hang out and have fun with friends and was tired of helping to care for his mother who was ill.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/10/26/14-year-old-gets-25-to-50-years-in-mothers-murder/

Forget the national tracking polls and the beltway media spin, voting has begun in many of the battleground states and the numbers so far look very strong for President Obama’s re-election.

What is also becoming clearer is that African-Americans in many of these battleground states are taking advantage of early voting in significant numbers.

It’s quite possible that this surge in African-American early voting turnout is a response to voter suppression tactics implemented in battleground states. These voter ID laws disproportionately impacted minority and young voters. It’s quite possible that in an effort to avoid any hassles, black voters are getting to the polls early.

African-Americans are 26 times more likely to vote early than in person in national elections.

It’s also possible these voters are even more motivated to vote in this election after the failed attempt by Republicans to infringe on their fundamental rights. Whatever the reason, there is no doubt that early voting numbers are so high in key segments of the president’s base because of Obama’s massive get out the vote operation six years in the making.

National Field Director Jeremy Bird says that there is a common misconception about early voting. He wrote on a new Obama For America blog that, “[o]ur campaign is about inclusiveness, and we’ve always been focused on bringing new people into the process. As our supporters vote early in huge numbers around the country, we have the perfect example: We’re turning out voters who have been traditionally less likely to participate, sometimes called “sporadic” voters.

“A common misconception about early vote is that both parties have a set number of voters, and all early vote does is let some of them cast their ballots before Election Day. That’s simply not true. What early vote does is help us mobilize sporadic voters by giving them more time and more convenient ways to make their voices heard. It also broadens the universe of voters and frees up more of our get-out-the-vote resources later, especially on Election Day. When you look inside the numbers so far, among sporadic voters it’s not even close.”

By growing the electorate and targeting sporadic voters, many of whom are African-American, the Obama campaign hopes to prove the polls and conventional beltway wisdom wrong.

Nearly 6 million people have already voted and in important battleground states like North Carolina, 60 percent of the votes already cast have been in support of President Obama. Only 30 percent of early voters in North Carolina have been Romney voters.

This past Sunday, in big part thanks to “Souls to the Polls” (when African-Americans vote en masse after attending Sunday church services), over 10,000 African-Americans voted in North Carolina.

Overall, 24,000 North Carolinians have cast their ballots since early voting began 4 days ago, a total that is up 61 percent at the same point from 2008.

In another battleground with early voting, Ohio, attempts to cut back early voting time were considered a direct attempt to infringe on the “souls to the polls” tradition in many African-American communities. It’s likely the combination of suppression efforts and the push back against disenfranchisement both by the Obama campaign publicly and in court has created a scenario where more African-Americans will vote than four years ago.

Black voters may have taken their right to vote for granted but the risk of it being taken away has proven motivating.

Early voting allows for them to exercise this right at their own convenience, particularly voters with busy schedules and transportation needs.

It might be too early to know for sure whether African-American turnout will trump 2008 numbers, but there are plenty of signs, days and weeks into early voting, that they are on pace to set another record and might just win the president a second term.

http://thegrio.com/2012/10/25/why-are-african-americans-so-dominant-in-early-voting/

How badly do you want to see the Detroit Tigers win the World Series before a hometown crowd at Comerica Park?

Better consult your financial counselor first. While a recent tour of StubHub.com shows that there are thousands of World Series tickets for Games 3, 4 and 5 in Detroit available for resale, those historic memories will cost you a pretty penny.

The barrier to entry is steep. Admission to Game 3 of the World Series begins with a single game standing room only ticket priced at $345. No word on whether an enterprising Detroiter will sell sidewalk space outside the gates of Comerica Park.

Planning to roll up to Game 3 with your homies? Snatch up 12 tickets in the front row of the On Deck Circle in section 127 for the (we think) reasonable price of $5,000.

What about an entire classroom of little princesses and Lord Fauntleroys? 32 bleacher seats in row ff of section 106 can be had for $9,997. Are the hot dogs and sodas still included?

There's no way the Tigers can win the best-of-seven series without playing Game 5 in Detroit -- maybe that's why Aretha Franklin is scheduled to deliver the National Anthem (and hopefully the ballgame). Somewhat shockingly, a standing room admission ticket on Monday, Oct. 29 begins at $325 -- that's a $20 discount from Game 3!

But if you're already there, why not spring for two tickets in the stadium's premium lounge, the Motor City Casino Champion Club? You can actually sit by the '68 and '84 World Series trophies while you watch Miggs and Co. bring the 2012 hardware back to Detroit. If you don't mind the cheers from the crowds spoiling the surprises due to the televised tape delay, there are several plasma screen televisions for all your Phantom Cam slow-mo replays. Private bar and restrooms eliminates the sick feeling of being trapped in a stall when Jhonny Peralta hits a homer. Plus an all-you-can-eat dinner and dessert buffet! Better stick some dinner rolls in your pockets, since a pair on StubHub will set you back $5,000. It takes some serious green to watch the Tigers like a champion.

Just make sure you're purchasing tickets from a reputable seller. Dearborn Patch reports that police are on the lookout for Kodi Atkins, who is accused of selling fake ALCS tickets in Detroit via Craigslist under the name of "Fred." He's also been implicated in ticket scams in St. Louis and Chicago.

And if you can't muster up the moolah to make it to Adams and Witherell in person, stay current with all of our Detroit Tigers coverage and check out our slideshow of the best bars to cheer on the Tigers below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/world-series-tickets-prices-detroit-tigers_n_2011003.html?utm_hp_ref=detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - As bitter cold temperatures approach, DTE Energy and The Heat And Warmth Fund (THAW) are partnering to present the Week of Warmth celebration in an effort to support the distribution of more than $1 million to help needy families in Michigan.

The Week of Warmth is a series of family focused events that combine fundraising, energy education, uplifting community gatherings and convenient access to assistance resources.

This year’s even kick off Saturday at 9 a.m. at New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit. Susan Sherer, CEO of THAW, says this year will definitely be different from last year’s event at Cobo Center.

“We thought that this year it would be a smarter to go where the people are, really meeting them where they are in the churches around the detroit area, so we’re going to 18 different churches,” Sherer told WWJ’s Chrystal Knight.

Week of Warmth events include:

Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Day
Saving energy, saves money. More than 125 homes in a target community will benefit from energy education and the installation of energy-saving measures like CFL bulbs, weatherization products and more.
When: Saturday, Oct. 27

Night of Warm Hearts
Your warm heart can warm a home. Our annual fundraising gala features an elegant strolling dinner by Andiamo, a live auction and a line-up of exciting entertainment.
Where: The Fillmore Detroit, 2115 Woodward Ave., Detroit
When: Friday, Nov.9
Time: 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Tickets: $175 per person Purchase Tickets Here

Hallelujah for Heat
More than 3,000 guests will come together to celebrate the spirit of giving at this gospel concert.
Where: Second Ebenezer Church, 14601 Dequindre Rd., Detroit
When: Saturday, November 10, 2012
Time: 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Customer Assistance Day
Funds raised during the Week of Warmth will be distributed to those in need during our Customer Assistance Day which will be held at area churches.
When: Monday, November 13, 2012
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Read more about THAW, here.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/10/26/dte-energy-thaw-partner-to-help-detroiters-stay-warm-2/

DETROIT (WWJ) - The Detroit Tigers are in a 0-2 hole against the San Francisco Giants after a shutout loss Thursday night on the west coast, but now its time to bring the Fall Classic home to Comerica Park.

There’s no denying Tigers fans were utterly disappointed by the Giants leaving their home team in the dust.

Reggie Williams and Joseph Wilson, both of Detroit, were among the fans gathered at Buffalo Wild Wings in Ferndale to watch the game on the big screens.

“I don’t understand what’s going on. I mean, we start off with good pitching but the bats need to come alive. That’s the problem, the bat’s not coming alive,” Williams told WWJ’s Sandra McNeill.

“Yeah, I am mad. Fielder and Cabrera, they’ve got to hit that, they’ve got to swing at it,” said Wilson.

Nick Petkov, of Birmingham, couldn’t help but agree.

“Those guys need to come through. They’re making a lot of money so, you know, it’s about time that they come through. I mean, it’s the World Series,” he said.

Even though fans say they’ve been let down by the team’s performancethus far in the World Series, most have confidence the Tigers are going to pull it back together in Detroit.

“I think it’s real tough for the Tigers, you know, but I think we’re going to come home, we’re going to get it done and we’re going to end up winning the World Series. I’ve got faith in them,” said Scott Mack. “I think when they get home at Comerica Park and they smell that Detroit air, get that Detroit crowd going, it will work out.”

And many, many more fans are keeping the faith.

“It’s alright, we’re going to come back. They’ve got to come here so we’ll be there tomorrow and we’re going to take it,” said Mike Barr.

“They’ve got history. The Tigers are a good team and I think that they can do it. They’re only down by two games so they can definitely come back,” said Melissa Bettani.

“I’m not worried. they’re coming back to Detroit. The Tigers are going to win both games. The town is just going to erupt and they’re going to do it for the town,” said Chris Lavelle.

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/10/26/despite-losses-fans-say-tigers-will-bring-it-in-detroit/

Emanuel Steward, revered as one of the best trainers in boxing history and whose Kronk Gym symbolized Detroit's gritty, blue-collar boxing scene and produced numerous world champions, died on Thursday after a short illness. He was 68.

Steward, who also managed many of the fighters he trained, worked with more than two dozen champions during his decades-long career. A younger generation of boxing fans knew him as an expert analyst on HBO's boxing telecasts.

Victoria Kirton, Steward's executive assistant, told the Associated Press that Steward died in a Chicago hospital on Thursday afternoon.

Often called the Godfather of Detroit boxing, Steward was a beloved figure because of his outgoing personality, seemingly endless energy to talk about boxing with anyone who would approach him and dedication to his fighters. As a cornerman, he commanded respect because of his strategic genius and for having the knack to say the right thing at the right time in the corner during the heat of battle.

Fighters also loved him for his generosity and for the father-figure role he often played in their lives. Training fighters was not just a job for Steward. He often took fighters in to live with him in his Detroit home, training them by day and parenting them by night.

Steward was most closely identified with his work with three superstar fighters: multi-divisional world champion Thomas Hearns, who was with Steward from the beginning, former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Steward kept his usual busy schedule through the summer, training middleweight contender Andy Lee -- who lived with Steward -- for his loss to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 16 and Klitschko for his title-retaining sixth-round knockout win against Tony Thompson in their July 7 rematch. But he had been hospitalized since September, causing him to miss two HBO broadcasts, and underwent surgery. His sister, Diane Steward Jones, said the surgery was for the stomach disorder diverticulitis, although many others who knew Steward said it was for advanced cancer.

"There are no adequate words to describe the enormous degree of sadness and loss we feel at HBO Sports with the tragic passing of Manny Steward," HBO Sports president Ken Hershman said. "For more than a decade, Manny was a respected colleague who taught us so much not only about the sweet science but also about friendship and loyalty. His energy, enthusiasm and bright smile were a constant presence. Ten bells do not seem enough to mourn his passing. His contributions to the sport and to HBO will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."

Born in West Virginia on July 7, 1944, Steward became interested in boxing at age 8 after being given a pair of boxing gloves. When he was 12, he moved with his mother to Detroit and began training at Brewster's Gym, the famed gym that produced the great Joe Louis.

As an amateur fighter, Steward compiled a 94-3 record and won a 1963 National Golden Gloves title as a bantamweight. But his calling was as a trainer, not as a fighter.

Although Steward was schooled as an electrician, he began coaching amateur fighters as a part-time coach in 1971 at the Kronk Gym, which he helped transform from the basement of a community center into a breeding ground for professional champions, who would walk to the ring wearing the unmistakable red and gold Kronk colors.

In 1977, he led one of those amateurs into the pro ranks. It was Hearns, who became a star and with whom Steward found fame and glory.

But there were other important fighters, too, including Hilmer Kenty, who became Steward's first professional champion in March 1980 when he won a lightweight world title by stopping Ernesto Espana in the ninth round at Joe Louis Arena in downtown Detroit.

Five months later, Hearns destroyed Pipino Cuevas in two rounds to win a welterweight title. For the next 30-plus years, Steward had a constant stable of champions, some of whom he was with from the early days of their careers and some more established fighters who sought him out because of his reputation. Other champions he trained at one time or another included Mike McCallum, Jimmy Paul, Michael Moorer, Dennis Andries, Milton McCrory, Duane Thomas, Gerald McClellan, Evander Holyfield, Oliver McCall, John David Jackson, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Oscar De La Hoya, Naseem Hamed, Jermain Taylor, Chad Dawson, Miguel Cotto, and Cornelius "K9" Bundrage.

Klitschko, who is training in Austria for a Nov. 10 title defense against Mariusz Wach, knew the gravity of Steward's illness and was forced this week to announce a replacement for Steward for the fight, tapping Steward disciple and pro heavyweight Johnathon Banks, a Kronk Gym product.

"(My brother) Vitali and I, along with the entire Team Klitschko, send our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Emanuel's family and friends," Wladimir Klitschko said in a statement. "It is not often that a person in any line of work gets a chance to work with a legend. Well I was privileged enough to work with one for almost a decade."

Steward began working with Klitschko in 2004 and their first fight resulted in a knockout loss to Lamon Brewster. But under Steward's steady hand, Klitschko rebuilt himself into a heavyweight force and one of the most dominant heavyweight champions in history.

Steward got a lot of the credit for helping Klitschko mentally as much as he did for training him physically. Klitschko and Steward shared a close bond that went deeper than simply trainer and fighter.

"I will miss our time together," Klitschko said. "The long talks about boxing, the world, and life itself. Most of all I will miss our friendship. Rest in peace Emanuel. You will be greatly missed.

My team and I will carry on with the goals we had set while Emanuel was with us because that is exactly what Emanuel would have wanted. I know he will be with us in spirit along the way and we will accomplish these goals in his honor. Until we meet again my friend."

Steward trained then-welterweight champion De La Hoya in 1997.

"It brings me great grief and sadness to hear of the passing of one of the best and most respected trainers of this era, Emanuel Steward," De La Hoya said. "I learned a lot from him during our professional relationship and I will be forever grateful for his help during that time. We were also friends and I know I am going to miss him as so many others will too. He was an important part of our boxing community."

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum was a friend of Steward's for since the 1980s and promoted many of the fights involving the fighters he trained.

"We are all grieving the passing of our friend Emanuel Steward," Arum said. "His founding and leadership of the Kronk Gym in Detroit was outstanding. His efforts produced many world class fighters and champions including Tommy Hearns, Milt McCrory, Michael Moorer and many more. Emanuel Steward always stood for the best that boxing could offer. He will be missed by all of us."

Although Steward was part of many big wins, he had his share of hurtful defeats. None stung him more than when Hearns was knocked out in the 14th round by Sugar Ray Leonard in the memorable 1981 welterweight championship fight. Steward said it was the most painful experience of his life, boxing or otherwise. He was also hurt by the third-round knockout loss Hearns suffered against Marvelous Marvin Hagler challenging for the middleweight title in their all-time great 1985 showdown.

Steward was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996 and was named trainer of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 1993 and 1997. The BWAA voted him manager of the year in 1980 and 1989.

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/8551612/emanuel-steward-famed-boxing-trainer-dies-68

National Urban League president and CEO Marc H. Morial has called out GOP vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan over claims that he is committed to strengthening the social safety net standards in the fight against poverty.

The congressman gave his first policy speech yesterday and said the aim of a Romney-Ryan administration would be to restore upward mobility and fight poverty in America by limiting the federal government’s commitment to safety net programs.

Ryan said during the speech that, “Upward mobility is the central promise of life in America … But right now, America’s engines of upward mobility aren’t working the way they should. Mitt Romney and I are running because we believe that Americans are better off in a dynamic, free-enterprise-based economy that fosters economic growth, opportunity and upward mobility instead of a stagnant, government-directed economy that stifles job creation and fosters government dependency.”

However, Morial believes there is stark contrast between Ryan’s remarks on fighting poverty and his proposed budget plan, which he says will dismantle current anti-poverty programs.

In a statement released by the Urban League yesterday addressing Congressman Ryan’s speech, Morial said, “If Rep. Ryan’s budget were to become law, it would sharply intensify the deep economic disparity hampering the recovery … Ryan’s remarks today are completely at odds with his devastating plan.”

Adding that Ryan’s proposed $1.9 trillion across-the-board cuts will gut social safety net programs like SNAP, Supplemental Security Income for the elderly, disabled and poor, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, unemployment compensation, school lunch and other child nutrition programs.

Morial added that Ryan was wrong in his assessment that that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has weakened welfare work requirements, a claim that has been widely confirmed to be untrue.

“Several states had asked the federal government for more flexibility in connecting welfare recipients with jobs, and the Department of Health and Human Services granted it,” said Morial, adding, “on the condition that the changes produced 20 percent increases in the number of people getting work.”

“Why would Rep. Ryan object to an initiative that results in 20 percent more welfare recipients getting jobs?” Morial questioned.

Morial believes that the claims of economic growth that is supposed to benefit the poor and middle class would only benefit the wealthy based on the alleged fact that “almost all of the growth in incomes over the last 30 years has gone to the top one percent,” a trend that he sees continuing and possibly accelerated under the Ryan budget plan.

http://thegrio.com/2012/10/25/national-urban-league-ceo-marc-morial-ryans-remark-on-poverty-inconsistent-with-his-budget-plan/

Colin Powell has left John McCain embittered and angry with him for the second election in a row.

In 2008, the former Secretary of State and decorated general surprised many pundits when he endorsed Barack Obama for the presidency instead of his old friend and fellow Republican, McCain.

This morning Powell reaffirmed his allegiance to the president, citing his leadership on issues of foreign policy and the fact that he “didn’t get us into any new wars.”

Just like four years ago, Republicans are far from pleased with Powell.

McCain, while appearing on Brian Kilmeade’s radio program, said, “General Powell, you disappoint us and you have harmed your legacy even further by defending what is clearly the most feckless foreign policy in my lifetime.”

Powell, on the other hand, feels uncomfortable with McCain’s candidate Mitt Romney.

“I’m not quite sure which Gov. Romney we would be getting with respect to foreign policy,” Powell said on CBS This Morning. “My concern … is that sometimes I don’t sense that he has thought through these issues as thoroughly as he should have.”

http://thegrio.com/2012/10/25/mccain-slams-colin-powell-for-obama-endorsement-you-disappoint-us/
 

On the 20th day of the federal corruption trial involving former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, his father Bernard Kilpatrick, contractor Bobby Ferguson, and former water Department head Victor Mercado, tedious testimony continued.

One new witness testified Wednesday morning as well as a returning witness from last week.

This week marked the first that prosecution attorneys worked carefully to set the foundation for evidence submitted to prove the defendants were involved in a complex bid rigging scheme. Wednesday was also one of the few times since the trial started three weeks ago that Mercado’s name, and racially charged language up in testimony.

The first witness the United States called forth Wednesday was Pratap Rajadhyaksha, former chief operating officer of the minority-owned engineering firm DLZ.

The Detroit Water and Sewer Department (DWSD) hired DLZ starting in 2003 to replace old water mains in the city as part of a pilot program. After the trail run in 2003, the DWSD started another larger water main replacement projects in the downtown area ahead of the 2005 Super Bowl.

Rajadhyaksha testified that Mercado told him to hire Ferguson’s construction firm Ferguson Enterprises as one of the subcontractors to do the multi-million dollar projects.

After working with Ferguson throughout the pilot program, Rajadhyaksha said his work was Ok, but that Ferguson was not the best subcontractor of the three minority-owned companies that were hired for the job.

“He was the most difficult contractor to deal with. He was continually late but we hung tough and everything got done.” Rajadhyaksha told the jury. “We [DLZ management] spent 50 percent of our time working with Ferguson’s teams and 50 percent of our time working with all the others,” Rajadahyaksha said.

At one point Rajadhyaksha said he wrote a letter to Mercado, asking him to remove Ferguson as a contractor on the pilot project. Mercado told Rajadahyaksha to keep working with Ferguson.

After Rajadhyaksha sent the letter to Mercado, Ferguson confronted him. “He was very upset,” Rajadahyaksha said.

“He said ‘Don’t worry about the director (Mercado) worry about me.”

Rajadhyaksha said he took that to mean that Ferguson had connections above Mercado in the Mayor’s office.

Ferguson’s attorney Mike Rataj objected to prosecutors asking Rajadhyaksha his interpretation of Ferguson’s statement, which Judge Nancy Edmunds overruled.

Although Rajadhyaksha acknowledged that it was a tough job where subcontractors and DLZ engineers worked late into nights and often through weekends, Rajadahyaksha said that Ferguson asked for more change orders—more money for what he said were unforeseen expenses—than any of the other contractors.

Rajadhyaksha said he was surprised when the pilot construction tuned into a full-blown contract. Mercado insisted DLZ hire Ferguson Enterprises again to work on the water mains downtown.

“I thought this was unusual,” Rajadhyaksha said. “In casual conversations with Mr. Mercado he said he was under pressure to give Mr. Ferguson work and that he was getting tired of it.”

Much of Rajadhyaksha’s testimony, which lasted three hours, outlined what seemed to be common business squabbles and interactions.

In cross examination, Ferguson’s attorney Mike Rataj worked to discredit the former DLZ contractor as a credible witness, pointing out that Rajadhyaksha did not have a clean slate, that he was in fact fired from DLZ by his own brother and suggested the Rajadhyaksha himself was involved in unethical meetings with city officials in order to get privileged information about upcoming contracts.

Rataj asked Rajadhyaksha if he told EPA Special Agent Carol Paszkiewicz, one of the federal investigators in the corruption case about the firing.

Rajadhyaksha said he hadn’t.

The second witness the prosecution called on Wednesday was EPA Special Agent Carol Paszkiewicz, who testified about out evidence collected through archived text messages between Kilpatrick and Ferguson in 2003 and 2004 suggesting that the two conspired to make sure Ferguson’s construction firm got multi-million dollars water main replacement contracts.

Paszkiewicz blushed at times when she had to read each text out loud, often in Ebonics slang and cluttered with profanity and racially charged language.

Ferguson: “Just left Victor. The date has been changed to my benefit. But we still have problem on the big one, [Mercado] thinks he is slickman with these white folks.”

According to Paszkiewicz’s collection of texts, Kilpatrick responded: “His slick sh—t is running out. I got his ass on something. I ain’t happy.”

Days later, on March 23, 2004, Ferguson sent the mayor another text, worried that the water main project was going to be awarded to white firms.

“Victor just outsmarted us, he just had me come to his office. I thought it was about the job we have, it was about the three lowest bidders, white folks,” Ferguson allegedly wrote in a text.

In July 2004, Ferguson received the multi-million dollar DWSD contract to replace water mains downtown instead of the lowest bidding white-owned contractors.

Defense lawyers say the move is an act of affirmative action although there was one minority-owned firm with a bid lower than Ferguson’s. It is estimated that Ferguson’s company earned more than $16 million from water main contracts.

Prosecutors say the defendant’s scheme cost the city millions in costly contracts.
The four defendants, Kwame and Bernard Kilpatrick, Mercado, and Ferguson, after charged with using city hall as a racket for personal gain, conspiracy, and extortion among other charges.

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) It’s traditional for the mayors of states with opposing teams in the World Series to place a bet on the outcome, which is why Detroit’s Dave Bing and San Francisco’s mayor Edwin Mah have a bet that involves doing community service in the others’ towns.

But CBS’ own late night host David Letterman had a unique take on what they should bet, saying on his show airing on CBS 62, ”Well, Detroit and San Francisco have made a bet: If the Giants win, Detroit will send San Francisco a new Ford Mustang — and everyone in town can get a turn driving it to work … But if the Tigers win, San Francisco will send Detroit a copy of the new Barbra Streisand album.”

In other late night news, President Barack Obama was on the Jay Leno show on the peacock network and weighed in on the very serious topic of who he supports in the World Series: The San Francisco Giants or the Detroit Tigers?

Obama used it as a chance to dig at Mitt Romney — and support the Tigers.

“I will say, I’ve spent a lot of time in Detroit lately, and I didn’t want to let go Detroit go bankrupt,” he said. “So in this particular World Series, I might be a little partial.”

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/10/25/late-night-hosts-the-president-weigh-in-on-tigers-in-world-series/