Diamond in the rough. (Larry Robinson, businessman) (Editorial)

Troubled times for a celebrity businessman.

In a city starved for glitterati, Larry Robinson shone.

"The Diamond Man," they called him. And sometimes even "Mr. Cleveland." For decades, he was the closest thing to a star the beleaguered city could claim.

He clearly reveled in the role. Whether he was behind a radio microphone, in front of a television camera or at the podium stumping for one of the umpty-ump charitable and political causes he championed, Larry Robinson joyfully played the part of the celebrity businessman. To his credit, he not only thrived on the community's cheers, he did his best to deserve them. Few, in fact, have done more.

But for all his contributions to civic life, Robinson commanded the most respect for his role as a business wizard. It was a role he performed so convincingly that, as recently as last year, the local business tabloid gave him its annual award for business excellence and dubbed him a man with the "Midas touch."

Unfortunately, the legend of Midas has an unhappy ending.

Robinson was not "writing a second jewelry business success story with his Antwerp Diamond Centre." The business was careening toward bankruptcy. And when it crashed, The Diamond Man finally broke character.