Sports
At the Magic City Classic, what you wear is just as important as who you cheer for
For many, the annual game between HBCU rivals Alabama A&M and Alabama State is about more than football. It’s a chance to connect and celebrate Black culture.
At Huntingdon College, Alabama’s 1st NCAA women’s wrestling team is ready to roll
Players, coaches and school officials hope Huntingdon's women's wrestling program can serve as a blueprint to continue the sport's growth in the South.
Q&A: Author of ‘Rocket Men’ details how Black quarterbacks helped move the NFL forward
John Eisenberg talks with the Gulf States Newsroom about the Black quarterbacks who helped change the NFL, as well as the players who never got the chance.
Birmingham City Council OKs $4.5 million more for Rickwood Field improvements
Major League Baseball chose Rickwood Field, the country’s oldest surviving baseball field, to host its “2024 MLB at Rickwood Field, A Tribute to the Negro Leagues” game next June.
Parents, students deal with record-breaking heat at the start of football season
This has been a record-breaking summer across the country and particularly in the Gulf South in August. Several cities between Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama shattered their all-time high temperature records.
MLB to stage Negro Leagues tribute game at Rickwood Field next June honoring Willie Mays
The stadium, opened in 1910, is the oldest professional ballpark in the U.S. and a National Historic Site. The game will honor Hall of Famer Willie Mays, a Birmingham native who began his professional career with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948.
Alabama fires baseball coach after report of suspicious bets
The firing was announced three days after a report warning of suspicious wagers prompted Ohio’s top gambling regulator to bar licensed sportsbooks in the state from accepting bets on Alabama baseball games. Pennsylvania and New Jersey also have halted bets on Alabama baseball.
HBCUs capitalize on growing interest by adding sport options
HBCUs are riding a wave of popularity not seen in decades. Many are adding sports beyond the more typical offerings of football, basketball and track and field.
UAB tops Utah Valley, sets up Conference USA showdown in NIT
UAB beat Utah Valley 88-86 in overtime to set up an all-Conference USA final in the NIT. UAB will face North Texas for the fourth time this season on Thursday for the NIT championship.
With the NCAA Tournament in town, Birmingham is ready for thrilling games, an economic boost
Birmingham is hosting NCAA Tournament games this weekend for the first time since 2008. It's the latest addition to the city's growing profile as a sports hub.
Oats steers Alabama to March Madness in a turbulent season
Nate Oats is steering Alabama through the best and most scrutinized season in Crimson Tide history after one player was charged with capital murder and two others were involved.
JeffCo Commission agrees to support Magic City Classic for 1 year, will consider longer contract later
The annual football game between Alabama State and Alabama A&M Universities has been played 80 times at Birmingham’s Legion Field.
Commission considering funding to keep Magic City Classic in Birmingham
The Jefferson County Commission is deciding on a resolution about the level of support the county will provide to the annual football game.
The real winner of Super Bowl 57? The Gulf South and its wide range of football talent
The big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will feature nearly 30 players from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi combined.
UAB hires ex-NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer as head coach
The former NFL quarterback most recently spent four seasons as a high school football coach.
Auburn hires Liberty’s Hugh Freeze, who’s coming back to SEC
Auburn athletic director John Cohen announced on Monday the hiring of Freeze, who spent the last four seasons as coach at Liberty.
Auburn fires coach Bryan Harsin
Harsin went 9-12 overall and 3-5 this year. Auburn has lost four straight games while struggling against Power Five opponents. Auburn will owe more than $15 million and half of that must be paid within 30 days.
Will the Magic City Classic return to Legion Field next year?
With Legion Field nearly 100 years old and Protective Stadium opening last year in downtown Birmingham, people have questioned if the Magic City Classic will find a new home.
3 key reasons why ESPN chose Jackson State’s rivalry with Southern for College GameDay
An ESPN producer called JSU’s rise one of college football's biggest stories. Here are three key elements that make Saturday’s rivalry game worth highlighting.
Birmingham’s status as a minor league sports hub gets a major boost from the New Orleans Pelicans
Friday night isn’t just any old preseason game for the New Orleans Pelicans. It’s also a pivotal moment for Birmingham in its quest to be a sports town.
Deion Sanders has ushered in a new era of HBCU football. Will the SWAC capitalize on it?
As a new college football season kicks off, a brighter spotlight will be put on HBCUs in the Gulf South, thanks to the influence of “Coach Prime.”
Bill Clark has a knack for making comebacks. Will he make one more?
Bill Clark has had to overcome some serious hurdles during his career at UAB, as well as in his personal life. He not only resurrected a football program that had been neglected—and then out-right killed—he’s also been fighting through what he’s called a serious injury since childhood.
Look back at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham
Germany finished the Games with the most golds with 24. The United States had the second most with 16. Italy won the most medals overall with 49.
Flying disc, wushu, parkour and more from The World Games this week
Check out highlights as the international competition turns to its final stretch.
American b-girl wins silver at The World Games. Hopeful for the 2024 Olympics
Sunny Choi is a New York corporate professional by day and a top-ranked, back-spinning, floor-flipping b-girl off the clock. She medaled this past weekend at the World Games.
Here are some of our favorite pictures from The World Games so far
The first weekend brought competitions in sumo, breaking and karate.
The World Games kicks off in Birmingham
Thousands of athletes from around the world have gathered in Birmingham to compete in The World Games. The eleven-day competition is a chance for non-Olympic sports to shine.
Saban: Current state of college football not ‘sustainable’
The Alabama Crimson Tide coach is confident his program will thrive in this new era of college football, but he's concerned about the sport overall.
How to prepare for human trafficking during the World Games
The World Games are expected to attract tens of thousands of people to Birmingham this summer. Experts say that’s likely to increase human trafficking. Here's what you can do.
The World Games were delayed for a year, but did it help with preparedness?
The World Games was originally set to come to Birmingham July 2021, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed the large event for a year.
What is korfball? A look into the World Games sport and Birmingham
In about 100 days, Birmingham will host the World Games. It’s an international competition for non-Olympic sports. Some are more well-known and others you’ve probably never heard of. One of those more obscure sports is korfball. It was created in the Netherlands, but WBHM found the sport has some interesting ties to Birmingham.
Birmingham leaders say decision to ban Russian athletes from the World Games ‘a show of solidarity’
The World Games ban was in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine last week.
