Guest blogger

Our region’s future and the conversations we do not have

8 Comments
Charles Ball, Executive Director Regional Planning Commission
Charles Ball, Executive Director Regional Planning Commission

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Charles Ball.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Recent news that Mercedes may be moving its U.S. headquarters to Atlanta or North Carolina should unnerve us.  Why- Because it is just the most recent reminder of conversations we are not having, and opportunities we continue to miss.

Foreign Auto HQs.  In 2006, Nashville lured Nissan’s U.S. headquarters from California.  And they accomplished this without an international airport or even one daily flight to Japan.  What they did have was a business community with an audacious, “can do” spirit and a Nissan plant down the road.  Japanese-owned Bridgestone Tire moved there in 1991.  So, why aren’t we talking about courting the headquarters of Mercedes, or Honda or Hyundai?  Georgia may be willing to offer up to $50 million for Mercedes.  We probably don’t have $50 million to offer, and we don’t have any flights to Germany.  But Atlanta doesn’t have a Mercedes plant 30 miles from downtown.  What do we have to lose?* Continue reading Our region’s future and the conversations we do not have →

Guest blogger, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham: The city of my youth makes a comeback

3 Comments
Jerry Carter
Jerry Carter

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Jerry Carter.  It appears it’s not just young folks thrilled with Birmingham’s comeback.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

I spent a number of my childhood years in the Norwood section of Birmingham in the ’40’s and early ’50’s.  Those years provide the basis for my long-distance passion for the city.

I recall the old street rails for the trolleys, and buying Krystal hamburgers for 12 cents on the downtown corner of 2nd Avenue North.  The animated Christmas displays each year in the windows of Pizitz and Loveman’s department stores were awesome.  The Alabama Theatre was the absolute mecca for movie viewing.  I still recall my amazement when the Wurlitzer organ would rise up to stage level and music would fill the large hall. Continue reading Birmingham: The city of my youth makes a comeback →

David Sher posts

John Archibald—a double standard

17 Comments
John Archibald, columnist for The Birmingham News/al.com
John Archibald, columnist for The Birmingham News/al.com

Writing about John Archibald might be the riskiest and dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but this piece is not really about Archibald.

I’m also going to write about UAB football, but this piece is not about UAB either.

As the title indicates, it’s about a double standard.

On September 30, 2012, Birmingham became the second largest city in America without a daily newspaper. The decision to cut back daily delivery of The Birmingham News was made by Advance Communications–its parent company, headquartered in New York. Continue reading John Archibald—a double standard →

David Sher posts, UAB

UAB beat Saban & 5 other things I learned from writing about the UAB football fiasco

3 Comments
Nick Saban, Football Coach at the University of Alabama
Nick Saban, Head Football Coach at the University of Alabama

Yes, it’s true.

On September 23, 2000 the UAB Blazers beat LSU 13 to 10 and spoiled LSU’s homecoming.  Nick Saban was the LSU Coach and Jimbo Fisher, now head coach at FSU, was an assistant.

I also learned…

It wasn’t just the termination of the UAB program that made folks angry, but how it was executed.  There are a lot of good people who were hurt by the decision, but more importantly, there was a great deal of resentment because of the way it was handled (or not handled).  Rumors swirled weeks before–then after the final game of the season the historic announcement was made.  UAB students, employees, and donors felt they were lied to and betrayed.  Continue reading UAB beat Saban & 5 other things I learned from writing about the UAB football fiasco →

David Sher posts, UAB

Ray Watts: A good man at the wrong place at the wrong time

42 Comments
Dr. Ray Watts, President UAB
Dr. Ray Watts, President UAB

I am dumbfounded by the unfair personal attacks against Dr. Ray Watts and UAB’s decision to shut down football.

We say we want brave leaders who are willing to make unpopular decisions when it’s for the greater good—but that certainly is not how we are responding.

It appears almost everyone—student, public, and media—are unanimously dumping on Dr. Watts.  These are the same folks who had the opportunity for years to support Blazer football, but were missing in action.

Continue reading Ray Watts: A good man at the wrong place at the wrong time →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Race relations

Time for our old Birmingham leadership to croak

3 Comments

The above title is not my quote because I would be one of the “croakers,” but it’s something I hear from the younger generation regularly.  Okay, they may not use the word, “croak,” but they say it’s time for our old leadership to step aside.

The next generation of Birmingham leaders does not understand our racial divide.  They grew up in a different time and they see the possibilities and advantages of a common vision.

Steve Boswell, a young professional, in his guest blog characterized our older citizens and leaders as ‘doubters’—“a group who believe the racial divide has evolved into an immortal chasm that will not be bridged.” Continue reading Time for our old Birmingham leadership to croak →

David Sher posts, UAB

Call BAMA ‘UAT’—Join the witness protection program

5 Comments

University of AlabamaI wrote a piece doubting the longevity of UAB Football, a young Auburn student wrote a rebuttal, and all hell broke loose on the Internet.

I expected some push back—but it didn’t come from where I expected.

Sher hates UAB & Birmingham

In my defense, I am pro UAB and Birmingham, but some commenters didn’t think so.

“What a convoluted, illogical, irrelevant opinion by Sher. And this man is supposed to be singing the praises of The Comeback Town?…What a conceited jerk.” Continue reading Call BAMA ‘UAT’—Join the witness protection program →

David Sher posts, Government structure

David Carrington: “I don’t care!”

5 Comments
Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington with Commission President Jimmy Stephens
Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington with Commission President Jimmie Stephens

I wrote most of this piece about Commissioner Carrington a few months ago, but did not publish it for fear it would appear too political.

Now that the Jefferson County Commission election is over, I feel more comfortable making my comments.  Commissioner Carrington has been reelected and Commissioner Jimmie Stephens has been elected President.

I’m not saying Commissioner Carrington is better or worse than any other commissioner–I just happen to know David better.  I do feel strongly that our County Commission–though not perfect–did a credible job with the hand it was dealt. Continue reading David Carrington: “I don’t care!” →

Guest blogger, UAB

5 reasons David Sher Is Wrong About UAB Football

4 Comments
Michael Bullington, Auburn student,
Michael Bullington. Auburn student

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Michael Bullington.  In this piece, Michael is responding to 5 reasons UAB will pull the plug on UAB football.  If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

1)  Eventually, the U of A Trustees will cave

There is continuous and  mounting public pressure for the University of Alabama System’s Board of Trustees to offer greater resources and attention to UAB.  UAB is not the commuter school that it once was. About 18,700 students are enrolled at UAB, more than half as many as UAT has. If UAB’s student population was a city, it would be the 34th largest city in Alabama. Also, while only 40% of students at UAT are from the state of Alabama, nearly 80% of UAB’s students are in-state. These are students whose families have paid taxes to support the system. Their voice matters. If football really matters to UAB students (and it should), then they will fight for their program. Regardless of football, they should fight for their school. UAB Football  may take a hit, but given time the Board will inevitably come to realize that greater athletic offerings can only help UAB, the System, and the State. #FreeUAB Continue reading 5 reasons David Sher Is Wrong About UAB Football →

David Sher posts, UAB

5 reasons why UAB will pull the plug on UAB football

6 Comments

UAB FootballThere’s been talk that UAB may discontinue its Division 1 football program.  UAB boosters are joining ranks to save it.

It’s heartbreaking because Bill Clark and UAB are showing new life, but I think it’s unavoidable.  There are just too many obstacles for UAB football to overcome.

Even though UAB is having a great turnaround season only 9,457 fans showed up at Legion Field this past week for UAB’s loss to Louisiana Tech. Continue reading 5 reasons why UAB will pull the plug on UAB football →

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham