I love Alabama football.
I attended the University in the early ‘60’s when Bear Bryant was winning football games just as Nick Saban is today. By the way–even the Bear lost a game or two every once in a while.
My claim to fame is that while eating at the Little Cookie, a burger joint in Tuscaloosa, Joe Namath asked me to pass the salt.
And I take great pride in our University’s growth. Continue reading Should our self-worth hinge on Alabama football?
ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Mike Warren. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
My name is Mike Warren.
I grew up in Auburn, attended schools there, and graduated from Auburn University. I received my law degree from Duke and I’ve joyfully lived in Birmingham ever since.
My first Birmingham job was with a major law firm and then I joined one of its largest clients, Alabama Gas. I eventually became Chairman and CEO of Energen, Alabama Gas’ parent company.
When I retired from Energen at the end of 2007, I became the CEO of Children’s of Alabama.
I tell you this to give you a sense of how long I’ve worked in our business community. I’ve witnessed first-hand Birmingham’s wins and some of our biggest disappointments. And though I love Birmingham, I join many others who feel Birmingham has never reached its full potential. Continue reading UAB the biggest and best hope for Birmingham
To compare Birmingham with no UAB to Anniston is an unfair exaggeration and I apologize to the good citizens of Anniston. I could have selected any mid-sized city, but I Googled “cities in Alabama” and Anniston came to the top alphabetically.
Visualize Birmingham without UAB. Exit the Red Mountain Expressway at University Avenue (without UAB–it would be 8th Avenue South) and drive west.
What would we see in place of the 86 square blocks occupied by UAB? Continue reading What would Birmingham look like without UAB–Anniston?
One hundred years from now, when historians write the history of Birmingham, 2013 will be the year they say changed everything.
Birmingham’s been called the “City of Perpetual Promise.” We’ve been described as the “Magic City” at our zenith and as the “Most segregated city in America” at our low point.
We’ve always been a great place to live, but not a great city. 2013 will be the year Birmingham begins its long-hard journey to become that great city. Continue reading Can Birmingham get over its low self-esteem?
I graduated from U of A, love Bama football, and wish I could be paid a dollar every time I yell, “Roll Tide!”
Many of my friends are just like me; except the ones that do that “War Eagle” thing. Living in Birmingham is all about the Tide and the Tigers.
I believe it’s written in our State Constitution Continue reading How badly is the Univ. of Ala. hurting Birmingham?
The year 1999 was painful for me and my family. My wife, Ina-Mae, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is located here in Birmingham. And I’m absolutely convinced Ina-Mae would not have survived without UAB.
Patients come from all over the world to visit UAB. When Ina-Mae registered with doctors at Kirklin Clinic, nurses seemed genuinely surprised we lived almost in walking distance. Continue reading Birmingham is in the center of my heart
When our Chamber of Commerce (BBA) visited Charlotte in 2004, we were greeted by the President of the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
Charlotte’s a city on fire, but the first words out the President’s mouth were, “We don’t have anything like UAB.”
Can you believe a great city like Charlotte is jealous of us? Continue reading How can we have UAB and suck?