The Birmingham-area teams competing for state titles are Hoover, Clay-Chalkville, Pleasant Grove and Leeds. Hoover faces Prattville for the first 7A championship; the two teams won 11 of the last 12 6A titles.
Clay-Chalkville won the 6A title in 1999; the Cougars face Saraland making its first trip to the finals. Pleasant Grove also makes its first trip to the 5A finals, taking on St. Paul’s, which won the title in 2007. Leeds won the 3A title twice before moving up to 4A; the Green Wave faces three-time 4A champs Deshler.
The seven championship matches will kick off with an exhibition flag football game between Hewitt-Trussville and Lawrence County. The Unified Sports program, part of Special Olympics, puts students with mental disabilities with other athletes for competition and fun. The Alabama Special Olympics is helping put on the Wednesday afternoon game.
All Super Seven games take place Wednesday through Dec. 5 at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, airing on Fox 6.1 and 6.2 and streaming online. Tickets are $12 per day and available online.
Wednesday
3:30 p.m.: Exhibition flag football: Hewitt-Trussville vs. Lawrence County
7 p.m.: Class 7A – Prattville (11-2) vs. Hoover (11-2)
Thursday
11 a.m.: Class 3A – Dale County (14-0) vs. Madison Academy (13-1)
3 p.m.: Class 1A – Maplesville (13-0) vs. Hubbertville (13-0)
7 p.m.: Class 5A – St. Paul’s (14-0) vs. Pleasant Grove (12-2)
Dec. 5
11 a.m.: Class 4A – Leeds (13-1) vs. Deshler (12-1)
3 p.m.: Class 2A – Elba (14-0) vs. Fyffe (14-0)
7 p.m.: Class 6A – Clay-Chalkville (14-0) vs. Saraland (13-1)
Legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin spends time in both
the town and the documentary “Muscle Shoals,”
airing next week on PBS.
The music documentary “Muscle Shoals” will air nationally on PBS for an encore run next week. The 2013 film chronicles the music, the artists and the special sound from the northwest Alabama, focusing on FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.
Among the celebrated musicians are Aretha Franklin, Steve Winwood, Bono, Spooner Oldham, Mick Jagger, Gregg Allman and Percy Sledge.
The film airs as part of the “Independent Lens” series, and includes the short doc, “Waiting for a Train: The Toshio Hirano Story.” Airtimes include both Alabama Public Television’s main channel 10.1 and World channel 10.2:
8 p.m. Monday on 10.1;
11 p.m. Tuesday on 10.1;
3 a.m. Wednesday on 10.1; 6 and 11 p.m. on 10.2;
7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thanksgiving on 10.2;
1 and 11 a.m. Nov. 29 on 10.1;
2 a.m. Nov. 30 on 10.1.
Video: trailer for “Muscle Shoals”
•
Videos: soundtrack videos for “Muscle Shoals”
In December, Wade on Birmingham will feature an excerpt from “Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music,” written by our friend Carla Jean Whitley. If you can’t wait, get the book from Amazon or iTunes [aff. links] or the Jefferson County libraries.
I love the recent crop of Birmingham-themed T-shirts. Maybe you need something to wear in early 30-degree weather. Or a cheap Christmas gift that doesn’t require braving Black Friday or Mauve Thanksgiving or Vermillion Wednesday.
Please note that I have no innate fashion sense, and that the tees are not listed in any particular order.
Birmingham = Birming + ham, by Brantoe
$23.40 from Redbubble
The venerable music showcase “Austin City Limits” celebrates its 40th anniversary. The TV program began airing on PBS in 1976 to showcase Texas artists, but has since expanded to feature performers from around the world.
The 2-hour special “Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years” includes two Alabama acts, Birmingham’s Emmylou Harris and Athens’ Alabama Shakes (with a bonus performance by lead singer Brittany Howard).
Brittany Howard (left), Jimmie Vaughan and Bonnie Raitt open
“Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years” with “Wrap It Up.”
Setlist:
“Wrap It Up,” Bonnie Raitt, Brittany Howard, Jimmie Vaughan and Gary Clark Jr.
“Your Good Thing (Is About to End),” Bonnie Raitt
“Me and Bobby McGee,” Kris Kristofferson and Sheryl Crow
“Gimme All Your Love,” Alabama Shakes
“What A Little Bit of Love Can Do,” Jeff Bridges
“Whiskey River,” Willie Nelson
“Funny How Time Slips Away,” Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett
“Crazy,” Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris
“On the Road Again,” Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett
“The Road Goes on Forever,” Robert Earl Keen and Joe Ely
“Bright Lights,” Gary Clark Jr.
“Two-Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer),” Foo Fighters
“Can’t Cry Anymore,” Sheryl Crow
“I’m Leaving,” Doyle Bramhall and Sheryl Crow
“Mulato,” Grupo Fantasma
“The Pleasure’s All Mine,” Jimmie Vaughan and Bonnie Raitt
“House Is Rockin’,” Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Mike Farris
With a few weeks left till Election Day, voters still have time to study the candidates and issues.
We have the sample ballots for Jefferson and Shelby Counties for the general election. (The Jefferson County ballot has 178 versions, one for every sub-district.)
Many newspaper subscribers in Alabama and Georgia won’t see today’s front page. Not unless their carrier has snow tires or a hover car.
Winter Storm Leon hit Alabama and Georgia Tuesday with an unexpected 1 to 2 inches of midday snow. The sudden accumulation in freezing temperatures created roadway hazards for cities in both states. A reported five are dead, with hundreds of vehicles temporarily abandoned along interstate highways and roads.
Thousands of children in Hoover, along with several hundred in Birmingham, stayed overnight in school with their teachers. (More than 11,000 students statewide remained in their schools.) Motorists who abandoned their cars and trucks found shelter at nearby businesses and churches, while many stuck it out at their workplaces.
Below are today’s newspapers, with front pages showing Leon’s aftermath.
Vanderbilt coach James Franklin celebrates with his team
Sunday over their BBVA Compass Bowl invitation.
The state of Alabama excels at football. Doubters, see evidence below …
• While No. 2 Auburn heads west to play for the national championship, rival No. 3 Alabama (11-1) will play Jan. 2 in the Sugar Bowl. Facing the Tide in New Orleans will be No. 11 Oklahoma (10-2).
Should both Auburn and Alabama win their bowl games, they could end the season ranked 1 and 2.
Leading candidate Jameis Winston, left, quarterback at No. 1 Florida State, is a Hueytown native.
• Closer to home, the BBVA Compass Bowl will feature Vanderbilt and Houston, both 8-4. The Jan. 4 game at Legion Field will be the last to feature the bank as title sponsor; a new sponsor has not been announced.
Vanderbilt last played in a Birmingham bowl game in 1982, for the Dec. 31 Hall of Fame Classic. The Commodores lost to Air Force 36-28 (and yes, I was at that game).
• Mobile will hold its two annual bowl games. The GoDaddy Bowl on Jan. 5 will pit returnees Ball State (10-2) against Arkansas State (7-5). It’s Arkansas State’s third consecutive appearance, and the first for Ball State since 2009.
And the 65th Senior Bowl will take place Jan. 25.
• With 78 bowl-eligible teams but only 70 slots, someone has to stay home and watch all these games. Alabama teams Troy and South Alabama — both 6-6 — didn’t receive invites.
A look at today’s newspapers, with front pages showing Auburn’s win over Missouri for the SEC Championship on Saturday in Atlanta.
The No. 3 Tigers (11-1) defeated No. 5 Mizzou (11-1) 59-42 to claim their third title in 10 years. Auburn heads to Pasadena to play Florida State in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 6. This marks Auburn’s second trip in 3 years, and a possible fifth consecutive national championship for the state.
Hoover, right, defeated Vestavia Hills 31-28
in Friday’s semifinals.
Two Birmingham-area teams are back in the state high school football championship games this week. Defending 6A champ Hoover is making its 13th trip in 14 years, while Leeds returns for its third trip to the 3A finals in 5 years.
Hoover (14-0) will play Auburn (13-1) on Friday. Leeds (12-2) will play undefeated Madison Academy today. The Green Wave of Leeds won titles in 2008 and 2010.
All Super Six games take place today and Friday at Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium, airing on CBS 42.2 and streaming online. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the gate, and available online.
Today
11 a.m.: Class 3A: Leeds (12-2) vs. Madison Academy (14-0)
3 p.m.: Class 1A: Maplesville (14-0) vs. Pickens Co. (14-0)
7 p.m.: Class 5A: Spanish Fort (14-0) vs. Muscle Shoals (13-1)
Friday
11 a.m.: Class 4A: Charles Henderson (14-0) vs. Oneonta (13-1)
3 p.m.: Class 2A: Washington Co. (13-1) vs. Tanner (12-1)
American schools teach students that slavery ended with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. A PBS documentary explores the forced labor by newly freed black slaves between the Civil War and World War II.
“Slavery by Another Name,” based on the book by the same title, tells the story of the South through research into documents and interviews with scholars. The 90-minute film also features interviews with descendants of victims of forced labor.
Filming took place in Birmingham and Atlanta. It first aired on PBS in February 2012, a month after screening at Sundance.
Author Douglas A. Blackmon won the Pulitzer Prize for his book [Amazon aff. link] in 2009. Birmingham and Shelby County are featured prominently as centers for virtual re-enslavement of black citizens.
See his journey narrated by him on social media, including a stop in Bayou La Batre beforehand.
Andrew Zimmern tours Birmingham
Chef Andrew Zimmern filmed outings Jan. 15-17, 2013, around Birmingham, Ala., for his show, "Bizarre Foods America." [http://bit.ly/YhQPwA] See his journey narrated by him on social media, including a stop in Bayou La Batre beforehand.
Andrew Zimmern was here #bhamChef Andrew Zimmern filmed outings Jan. 15-17, 2013, around Birmingham, Ala., for his show, "Bizarre Foods America." http://bit.ly/YhQPwA
Bayou La Batre
10pm in rural ‘Bama, dinner was TacoBell. Sour cream gun is same tool that makes spritz cookies and yes, the chalupa is a Bizarre FoodAndrew Zimmern
10 pound cow nose taken w bow …. It’s been a good night so far w warm fromt ahead of the cold snapchefaz
Donuts of the decade at Sugar Rush in Bayou La Batre Alabama …. Amazing find!chefaz
Oyster shucking house in Bayou la Batre…. Vietnamese community is culturally rich here and dominates the seafood trade in terms of employmentchefaz
Shrimp and fish traps along w Smell from porch tells me I am eating Vietnamese food… Appliances and scrap metal in yard remind me I am in the Southchefaz
Lunch in a Vietnamese home in Bayou La Batre. Fermented shrimp , fermented fish salad, pork belly with homemade shrimp paste…chefaz
Visual definition of a clusterfuck. Splitting crew and equipment en route to show location 2of 3.chefaz
Fermented shrimp from scratch. Pour sugar an fish sauce syrup over raw shrimp. Let sit in jar in sun for month. Add green papaya and garlic, store for 60 days in fridge and you have finished product at bottom left of pic. Insane condimentchefaz
.@kittenwithawhip @eatocracy This ones for you http://twitpic.com/bvaafeAndrew Zimmern
It was an honor to be a guide for the big hoss @chefaz and the #BizarreFoodsAmerica crew around #BayouLaBatre!vit_pham
Birmingham
Biology lesson at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Draining sperm from an east coast urchin at UAB…. Aquaculture!chefaz
14 day old urchin under electron microscope at UAB labschefaz
3 weeks old, urchin inverts itself and sprouts feelers and needles. Amazingchefaz
Mapping year old urchin feed trails in algae bedschefaz
Look closely between the needles and you can see the feet extended moving food to the urchin mouth. You never see that!chefaz
Urchin on right has feelers extended to grasp food and reposition its body. UAB research aimed to develop way to save this wild food by offering restocking and aquaculture options to a frighteningly popular market for these tasty critterschefaz
Fresh live urchin from UAB’s pilot program to create viable product to meet escalating demand for uni. The stuff is incredible. Game changer.chefaz
.@potlikker @johntedge @kittenwithawhip Lunch for one at Niki’s West in Birmingham…. A stunnerchefaz
Stewed tomatoes w toasted bread ‘dumplings’ at Niki’s might be tops in my book. I ate 2 bowls.chefaz
Real succotash …. Can’t stop eating it…Niki’s Westchefaz
@andrewzimmern @johntedge @potlikker HUMINAH! I’m gonna need to know more about that slaw sauce, sir.Kat Kinsman
@kittenwithawhip Have you not been B’ham? Niki’s has a finely shaved cabbage w salt and house made "real French" dressing that is amazingAndrew Zimmern
@andrewzimmern Ooooh! I went to B’ham but save for a Piggly Wiggly jaunt with @jennifervcole, didn’t get to explore. Gonna fix that in ’13.Kat Kinsman
Love Nikki’s West. @potlikker oral history for back story: http://southernfoodways.org/documentary/oh…@andrewzimmern @johntedge @kittenwithawhipJohn T Edge
Wanna see the Magic City? Check out @instagrambham , cool account that I stumbled on posting my own B’ham photos on @chefazAndrew Zimmern
Eat well & support #Alabama fishermen & foragers @HotnHotFishClub http://ow.ly/gQ1Tr #restaurantsAndrew Zimmern
Miss Myra’s Pit Bar-B-Q
Ribs at Miss Myra’schefaz
Entry way ….wall of fame of pigs at Miss Myra’s…. Can’t wait to try the chicken w white saucechefaz
Another hour and these are readychefaz
BBQ chicken at miss Myra’s in B’ham AL. Quite possibly best I have ever eaten… Amazing , check out the skin…!!chefaz
Miss Myra’s ribs…. Ray Sokolov called them the best he ever tasted… Can’t disagree. And the green beans are etherealchefaz
Best bbq chicken and best banana pudding I have ever eaten…top five ribs for sure, top ten in potato salad, green beans and slaw…incredible food at Miss Myra’s in B’hamchefaz
@andrewzimmern Thank you for choosing Miss Myras it was awesome having you and your crew to choose us to dine with thank you very muchMyra Wheat
@dauphinlover21 Thx Myra! Say hi to your dad and grandma for me , what a great time last mightAndrew Zimmern
Talking with chef Chris Hastings
Welcome to AL! “@andrewzimmern: Real succotash …. Can’t stop eating it…Niki’s West http://instagr.am/p/Ug9JASIK_1/”Chris Hastings
@chrishastings00 Great seeing you today! Looking forward to cooking with you tomorrow. Thrilled to be eating my way around your townAndrew Zimmern
@andrewzimmern This city is our little secret AZ. An honor to share it with you!Chris Hastings
Talking with Chad Fisher and chef Frank Stitt
It’s neat that @andrewzimmern’s been making the rounds in #Bham today. He’s at Ms. Myra’s now, one of my favs. Where would you send him?Chad Fisher
@RegsCoffeeHouse @ChadFisher77 @andrewzimmern @SliceBirmingham @dreamlandbbq @sawsbbq @littlesavannah I second those choices!Frank Stitt
@FrankStitt @RegsCoffeeHouse @ChadFisher77 @SliceBirmingham @dreamlandbbq @sawsbbq @littlesavannahFrank has my attention. Done.Andrew Zimmern
Talking with Justin Bieber
Both @andrewzimmern AND @justinbieber in Birmingham today. Twitter is going to explode.UAB Students
I think B’ham might not survive! RT @UABStudents: Both @andrewzimmern AND @justinbieber in Birmingham today. Twitter is going to explode.Andrew Zimmern
.@justinbieber You and I are both in B’ham today and tonight. Wanna grab some dinner later? Couple of places ya gotta see before you go.Andrew Zimmern
.@justinbieber You need to leave me your number when you leave a message on my phone, call back options blocked on your service plan.#kidsAndrew Zimmern
Gridlock at my hotel because of Bieber Fever in B’ham. Local Walgreens reports mascara scarcity at record levelsAndrew Zimmern
.@andrewzimmern, did you and @justinbieber ever meet up in Birmingham? The world wants to know!HuffPost Food
@HuffPostFood @justinbieber The Beebs flew in and out, and stood me up! Lesson learned, never make firm dinner plans with a teen idolAndrew Zimmern
@andrewzimmern Great time hanging out and cooking w/ you yesterday you and your team are amazing. Safe travels!Chris Hastings
@chrishastings00 pleasure was all mine. You have an amazing gift my friend.Pics rolling out this morning. Brilliant food, better companyAndrew Zimmern
Brassicas and other foraged greens at Hot & Hot courtesy of @chrishastings00chefaz
.@Chrishastings00 …Same greens on plate w grille mushrooms,pine meringue, mushroom taffy and Meyer lemon. Dish is called Walk in the Woods and comes from one foragers moment in time collecting one morning. Brilliant. Delicious.chefaz
.@chrishastings00 shrimp and grits with Benton ham and urchin saucechefaz
Hot & Hot pig skin noodle bowl from @chrishastings00chefaz
Bon white quail w blood sauce and offal forcemeat stuffed pasta from .@chrishastings00chefaz
Interview: 5 Questions with Hot & Hot Fish Club #Chef /Owner Chris Hastings. http://ow.ly/gU8eo #restaurants #alabamaAndrew Zimmern
Hot and Hot Fish ClubWhen Chris and Idie Hastings opened Hot and Hot Fish club in 1995 they were ahead of the farm-to-table craze, using locally sourced ingre…
Chris Hastings’ Alabama BouillabaisseFor the Seafood Broth 12 head-on large hoppers (or large pink shrimp) 12 snapper jowls 6 long, thin strips of orange peel, white pith rem…
Flurries in B’ham. Not a canned good left on grocery shelf anywhere. City braced for Snowmageddon.chefaz
Only place you find a bigger picture of @rodneyscottbbq than the one @jimnnicksbbq is in my house! Lunch is in play!chefaz
BBQ shoulder sandwich @jimnnicksbbq is in hall of fame IMHOchefaz
.@jimnnicksbbq brisket ribs pork turkey platter w sides… Thx Nick Pihakis, you are all about excellence!chefaz
Lemon pie @jimnnicksbbqchefaz
Birmingham snowshowers …once in a blue moonchefaz
Just spent last few hours bailing out my crew!Club raided by Bham PD, 13 dancers arrested | http://al.com http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/01/illegal_strip_club_raided_by_b.htmlAndrew Zimmern
Typical day in Alabama. Boudin noir from @FatBackTeam pigs & rosé. Thanks @cochonbutcher @jimnnicksbbq @andrewzimmernLockerz
@Angiemosier @FatBackTeam @cochonbutcher @jimnnicksbbq Thx to you all for an amazing day. Truly, you are all the gold standardAndrew Zimmern
.@cochonbutcher You two have now set a record! 3 bizarre foods eps… see you at the Super Bowl…chefaz
Hog heaven… Step one from @fatbackteamchefaz
Some hogs just taste better! @fatbackteam @cochonbutcher @jimnnicksbbqchefaz
Birmingham dinner event with guess who??? @jennifervcole in the house getting her goat groove on.chefaz
Thursday night private dinner club at Fish Market… Superb meal from George Sarris , note goat head in bottom right. Insane soup with yogurt and herbs…chefaz
Barns make the best sets thanks to @mrattnight and @tommystewardchefaz
Sweet Home Alabama. Thank you for an amazing week. From top to bottom a breathtaking and delicious culturechefaz
Wade Kwon is a communications consultant based in Birmingham, Ala. He has also been a journalist for 25 years.
A look at today’s newspapers, with front pages showing Alabama’s win over Notre Dame for the BCS National Championship on Monday in Miami.
The second-ranked Tide (13-1) beat the top-ranked Irish (12-1) 42-14 to claim its third title in 4 years. For those who like streaks, the victory marked the state’s fourth national championship and the SEC’s seventh title.
Alabama
The Anniston Star
The Birmingham News
The Dothan Eagle
The (Florence) Times Daily
The (Fort Payne) Times-Journal
The Gadsden Times
The Huntsville Times
The Montgomery Advertiser
The Opelika-Auburn News
The Selma Times-Journal
The Tuscaloosa News
Indiana
The (Bloomington) Herald-Times
The Evansville Courier and Press
The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette
The (Fort Wayne) News-Sentinel
The Indianapolis Star
The (Jasper) Herald
(Lafayette) Journal and Courier
The (Munster) Times
The (Richmond) Palladium-Item
The South Bend Tribune
Florida
The Miami Herald
Pensacola News Journal
South Florida SunSentinel
Zoom to full screen, zoom in on page details
and embed on your site.
Video: The official BCS rankings putting Alabama
and Notre Dame in the top game.
For those who enjoy the comforts of seeing the same teams again and again, this football post-season is for you …
• No. 2 Alabama capped another stellar season with an 11-1 record, a win over Georgia Saturday night for the SEC Championship and a BCS title fight against undefeated No. 1 Notre Dame next month.
The two storied programs haven’t faced each other in 25 years. Notre Dame leads the series 5-1, going back to New Year’s Eve 1973.
This marks the Tide’s third trip in 4 years, and the fourth consecutive year the state is represented in the national championship. The game takes place Jan. 7 in Miami and airs at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
• It wouldn’t be the BBVA Compass Bowl without Pitt. Literally.
Since the bank took over title sponsorship in late 2010, the 2011 and 2012 games invited Big East-but-soon-to-be-ACC member Pittsburgh to Birmingham’s bowl game.
Pitt (6-6) returns Jan. 5 to face the SEC’s representative, Ole Miss (6-6), making its first appearance in the game.
Kickoff is at noon at Legion Field, airing on ESPN. Tickets are $30 and $50 and can be purchased online or by calling (877) 464-9529.
• Hoover will play for the 6A state high school championship Friday. If that sounds familiar, it might be because this represents the Bucs’ 12th trip in the past 13 years. Dynasty much?
Undefeated Hoover plays Opelika (10-4) at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, McAdory (14-0) makes its first trip to the big game on Thursday. The Yellow Jackets face Spanish Fort for the 5A title at 7 p.m.
All Super Six games take place Thursday and Friday at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, airing on My68. Tickets are $10 and available online.
Leading candidate Jameis Winston, left, quarterback at No. 1 Florida State, is a Hueytown native.
