No Fun League, Part I

This season, the NFL seems eager to shrink it's fan base.

I've spent years trying to convince football fans in the South to put aside their differences with the NFL and give the pro game a chance. If this is the year I finally convinced you to do that, I'm t

Sports & Leisure

Mid-Season Football Review!

By Matt Hooper

It seems almost incomprehensible that half of college football's regular season is over, but with game six in the books for two of our state's Big Three teams (UAB was idle last weekend), our glass is

Sports & Leisure

Meet me in Birmingham, 2020, and other sports stories

Weekly sports columnist Matt Hooper takes sports to a place it's never been... improv theatre.

By Matt Hooper

Second City? Actually, it was fourth. The scene: The decision room at the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. Friday, Oct. 2, 2009. The issue at hand: Which city will host the game

Sports & Leisure

Ramblings of a football-addled mind

Alone with my thoughts, with no game to cover...

By Matt Hooper

I found myself alone last Saturday, watching football in my apartment. An uncommon occurrence, just me and the cat and my giant television. In the afterglow of my wondrous trip back home to Florenc

Sports & Leisure

UAB/Southern Miss (Not-so) Live Blog!

Follow along with tonight's Blazers-Eagles game live from Legion Field! We promise not to break any NCAA rules this time!!

By Matt Hooper

UAB-Southern Miss Live Blog

Sports & Leisure

Corner of Stadium and Royal: The Story of the Greatest Game I Ever Saw

Florence, Alabama. Corner of Stadium and Royal. December 11, 1993. The most cherished memory of my childhood. The greatest football game I ever saw...

By Matt Hooper

Florence, Alabama. Corner of Stadium and Royal. December 11, 1993. The most cherished memory of my childhood. The greatest football game I ever saw. Sixteen years ago. My dad trying to find a place

Sports & Leisure

Live-blogging is not a crime

The NCAA should be far more concerned about graduation rates, fiscal responsibility and rogue boosters rather than whether live-bloggers are giving you too much analysis too quickly.

By Matt Hooper

In the eyes of the NCAA, I’m a felon. I’m rule-breaker. I’m a flaunter of by-laws. I’m no better than Antonio Langham or Albert Means, Gene Jelks or the 1986 SMU Mustangs. What did I do, you ask

Sports & Leisure

College Football Game Day, Week Two

The Weekly's coverage of week two of the college football season...

By Matt Hooper

WEEKLY GAME OF THE WEEK Birmingham-Southern 35 - Campbell 28 LIVE BLOG! --- SMU 35 - UAB 33 Game Info: UAB Official Site SMU Official Site UAB Game Notes (PDF) SMU Game Notes (PDF)

Sports & Leisure

Birmingham Southern vs. Campbell - LIVE BLOG

Birmingham Weekly's live coverage of BSC/Campbell football!

By Matt Hooper

Birmingham-Southern vs. Campbell

Sports & Leisure

College football's back (and throwing me curves)

After only one week of college football, I've already learned a lesson: My predictions were terrible.

By Matt Hooper

“I’m going to begin with a bold prediction: If Alabama beats Virginia Tech to open the season…they will run the table. National champions. Mark it down.” – Matt Hooper, August 27, 2009 Every so