Alabama top seed in NIT

Video: A look at the biggest surprises in the tourney field.

The college basketball post-season has a possible bright spot or two for state teams, depending on a couple of first-round games this week. UAB (22-8) faces Clemson in a battle of 12th seeds at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio, in the NCAA Men’s Tournament. The winner becomes the actual No. 12 East seed to play No. 5 West Virginia on Thursday in Tampa in the second round, which used to be the first round. Really.

UAB advanced one round in the 2010 National Invitation Tournament before losing to North Carolina at Bartow Arena.

Meanwhile, Alabama State (17-17) plays Texas-San Antonio at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in Dayton to be the No. 16 East seed. The winner faces top seed Ohio State on Friday in Cleveland. In all, four play-in games — airing on truTV — have expanded the tournament to a field of 68 teams overall.

UAB’s inclusion was not without some controversy, especially after the Blazers’ early exit in the Conference USA Tournament on Thursday.

Alabama won’t be sitting out. The Crimson Tide (21-11), a top seed in the National Invitation Tournament, will welcome No. 8 Coastal Carolina to campus at 6 p.m. Tuesday, airing on ESPNU.

Brackets:

• NCAA Men’s Tournament
• NIT [PDF]

Video: NCAA selection committee chairman Gene
Smith defends the picks, including UAB.

Truck stop offers hot
showers, ample parking. Turn
off at next exit.

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Blueberry baskets
tumble into pie tins and
hand-cranked ice cream churns.

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Buy! The talk turns to
culture. Sell! Back to cooking.
Hold! Current events.

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The rocket plume did
not arc across the sky but
pointed to beyond.

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Episode 4 recap

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

Beach bunnies: Krista Klumpp, foreground, and Stephanie Valencia
enjoy their moment in the sun on “Survivor: Redemption Island.”

Krista Klumpp is in trouble with capital “trouble.”

The Fairhope native aligned with returning villain Russell Hantz early on “Survivor: Redemption Island.” Now, she and her ally Stephanie Valencia face a hostile majority on their own Zapatera tribe.

Meanwhile, Russell has his hands full at Redemption Island against defending loser Matt Elrod.

Who’s testing their alliance? Who has a new hidden immunity idol? And who’s crying now?

Find out after the jump …

[buy this episode — aff. link]

We are not above running multiple bikini shots.

(more…)

Video: Paul McDonald performs “Come Pick Me Up”
by Ryan Adams.

Paul McDonald performs in the Top 13 on “American Idol.”

Play time is over. The Top 13 on “American Idol” are heading into weekly combat with tonight’s theme, “Songs by Your Musical Idol,” including Huntsville’s Paul McDonald.

• Song: “Come Pick Me Up,” by Ryan Adams

[buy album | “Come Pick Me Up” — aff. links]

• Judges say: Steven: “I love the character and rasp in your voice. I love your voice.” J. Lo: “I hope America gets it.” Randy: “I love who Paul is. I love you for this show.”

• We say: It was certainly a bubbly rendition. Perhaps, too bubbly. As a fan of the song, it’s a little jarring to see McDonald go lounge on it.

Audio: “Come Pick Me Up,” Paul McDonald

Voting closes at 11 tonight.

Update March 10: Ashthon Jones of Goodlettsville, Tenn., was eliminated.

Previous: Paul McDonald makes it to the “American Idol” finals
Next: Top 12 — Songs from Your Birth Year

Video: “Come Pick Me Up,” by Ryan Adams
[buy this song — aff. link]

Also:

• Buy the “American Idol” album for this week | “Come Pick Me Up” [aff. links]
• Paul McDonald’s road to the Top 13

• • •

More “American Idol” at idol.wadeonbirmingham.com.

‘Survivor: Redemption Island,’ episode 4 preview

survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com

Video: How Russell Hantz may get his groove back.

Matt Elrod defeated his first opponent to remain on Redemption Island, but can he withstand Hurricane Russell?

One of “Survivor’s” biggest villains, Russell Hantz, faced his first torch snuffing last week. Will he make it in isolation to return for vengeance?

It’s so on on “Survivor: Redemption Island.”

Plus, more wacky antics from Phillip Sheppard. And is Fairhope native Krista Klumpp better or worse off since her ally Russell has been evicted?

Check out the action tonight, and look for the recap here.

Video: A quick look at tonight’s episode.

Episode 3 recaps:

• Wade on Birmingham
• Jeff Probst: “(Stephanie Valencia) and Krista have nobody left. They must make a move or they’ll be gone soon.”

“Survivor: Redemption Island” airs at 7 p.m. Wednesdays on CBS 42. Look for the full recap tonight following the show.

• • •

Back up for grabs … more “Survivor: Redemption Island” at survivor.wadeonbirmingham.com.

The hardwood vibrates
from fan intensity as
the players warm up.

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They couldn’t find the
reception, so they ended
up waltzing in place.

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Huntsville’s Paul McDonald will compete
in the Top 13 on “American Idol.”

During the first five seasons of “American Idol,” you could hardly see an episode without someone from Birmingham belting out a tune. Champions Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks and runner-up Bo Bice made it through three seasons of competition.

But the recent five seasons have been Alabama free. Until now.

Auburn native Paul McDonald will be part of the Top 13 on the 10th season of “American Idol.” The Fox reality competition features singers as young as 15 performing for viewers’ votes, with the winner receiving a recording contract.

In case you’ve tuned out, the show has brought in new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler (so long, Simon Cowell) to team with Randy Jackson and host Ryan Seacrest. The competition show will air at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, and the results will air at 7 p.m. Thursday on Fox 6.

Video: Paul McDonald sings “Maggie May” in his
Top 24 performance on “American Idol.”

McDonald, 26, graduated from Huntsville High School and performs with his band the Grand Magnolias, formerly Hightide Blues, based in Nashville. McDonald’s parents live in Huntsville.

He advanced from the group of 24 contestants with Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May,” and also performed “Blackbird” by the Beatles and “Tutti Frutti” by Little Richard in earlier rounds. The singer has also released three albums, including this year’s self-titled” The Grand Magnolias.”

McDonald has also been active in social media, originally on Twitter as @thePaulMcDonald with nearly 10,000 followers, and now tweeting from his mandated “Idol” account at @PMcDonaldAI10, the first of this season’s contestants to reach 5,000 followers.

The Grand Magnolias has its own Facebook page.

McDonald breaks a four-season drought for Alabama on the top-rated show. He spent the day sleeping in and preparing to see the premiere of “Red Riding Hood.”

His first round of finals competition begins Wednesday.

In December, Huntsville a cappella group Committed won “The Sing-Off,” NBC’s reality singing competition. Fairhope native and former Auburn head cheerleader Krista Klumpp has been competing in this season of “Survivor: Redemption Island.”

Video: Paul McDonald and Kendra Chantelle perform
“Blackbird” by the Beatles during the Las Vegas
round of “American Idol.”

•

“American Idol” fans: If you would like to write recaps and features
for Wade on Birmingham, please contact me for details.

•

Also:

• Paul McDonald website | “American Idol” page | Twitter @thePaulMcDonald and @PMcDonaldAI10 | YouTube

• • •

More “American Idol” at idol.wadeonbirmingham.com.

Settling is how this
country was founded, and the
way it stays the same.

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Hot coffee, good book,
jazz tunes, fresh croissants, light rain,
fresh flowers, soft smile.

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Love is the secret
hope, the persistent bug, the
vise on a lone heart.

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Lunchtime crowd lingers
longer to soak up the warmth
in the oasis.

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