February 8, 2006 | Detroit Free Press

Motor City Notebook: The D is all the rage

By Bill McGraw, Staff Writer

People for years have employed Motor City and Motown as synonyms for Detroit, but those words seem to be losing steam these days as a hip little nickname emerges in the adult world.

The D.

The D is hardly new, having arisen from young Detroiters about a generation ago. In recent years, various hip-hop artists such as Eminem have helped disseminate the letter nationally.

For months last year, Eminem's record company had a billboard along I-94 at 14th Street that proclaimed, "Welcome to The D." Eminem also sports an English-style D tattoo on his arm.

ESPN host Stuart Scott has been known to use the term, and last week, as Detroit served as the national epicenter of sports media during the Super Bowl, you could hear The D repeatedly along Radio Row, by both hosts and listeners. Some print reporters also used it in their stories. Kid Rock referred to Detroit as The D on Jimmy Kimmel's show.

"Welcome to The D," WDIV-TV (Channel 4) reporter Karen Drew said as she began interviewing Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush at Saturday's Maxim magazine party.

"When I grew up, we always said, 'I'm from The D,' " said Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. "I love the fact that people are starting to recognize us as that."

Drake Phifer, who runs the Detroit-based Urban Organic marketing firm and Web site, said he and his Detroit friends at Morehouse College in Atlanta in the '90s bragged that they were from The D, and reminded students from The Big D -- Dallas -- "that we don't need no modifiers."

Phifer added: "The D has a brevity and toughness about it. It's becoming commonplace."

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Phillip McKenna, president of Northville-based McKenna Associates, is putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to keeping Detroit's Super Bowl momentum going.

McKenna is buying Detroit Institute of Arts memberships for his 43 employees. It's $55 a year. And he said he will pick up the tab for any guests his employees take to the DIA. He said he'd like to see other residents support Detroit in its post-SBXL glow.

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J. Douglas Peters, a Detroit attorney, and Vincent Robinson, a model train builder from Rochester Hills, have published a booklet titled "Detroit: Freight Cars Before Automobiles." It's $29.95.

With photos, text and drawings, the authors tell the largely forgotten story of the era when Detroit was a national leader in building boxcars. Proceeds go to the Detroit Historical Museum, which is selling the book. It's also available by calling Peters during business hours at 313-875-8080.

Know about another company or individual attempting to follow the example of Phillip McKenna in boosting Detroit? Contact Bill McGraw at 313-223-4781.