There’s been a lot of talk this year about the return of the Air Jordan 1. There are several models being released this year, including the recently released Opening Day Pack. The pairs honor Michael Jordan’s time in MLB’s Chicago White Sox system (including his Airness’ time as a Birmingham Baron).

The  “home” pair (above) features a white upper  compared to the “away” pair that features a black upper. They are already available online for purchase on eBay (go figure), though you may want to keep your eyes out for those available for their suggested retail price of $100.

Bob Farley/f8photo

Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex employee Darrell Alldredge puts a  final coat of paint on the goal post Wednesday morning in preparation for this weekend’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional. They’ve been working on improvements to the facility since January in preparation for this weekend’s action.

First round games start Friday at 12:15 p.m. with Tennessee (29-4) vs. American (22-11), then 30 minutes later, Butler (29-3) vs. South Alabama (26-6). At 7:10 p.m. 
Oklahoma (22-11) vs. Saint Joseph’s (21-12), and 30 minutes after the end of that game, Louisville (24-8) vs. Boise State (26-6).

Single game tickets go on sale this morning and you’ve still got time to fill out your brackets - at least until 10:55 p.m. (and that’s if you’re playing along with the NCAA).

11th Annual Birmingham Park and Recreation Family Fishing Rodeo is the largest community fishing event in the state of Alabama. Birmingham’s East Lake is stocked with tons of catfish and bass especially for this event.

Enjoy activity booths, fantastic giveaways, family-oriented fun, and more. For more information, call 205-254-2391.

Cost: Free

Location:
East Lake Park
84^th Street & 1^st Avenue North

Ironically on the anniversary of the Olympic soccer countdown beginning at Legion Field for the 1996 Olympics, it was reported that the U.S. women’s national soccer team will make its return to Birmingham and The Old Gray Lady on May 3. It’s a tune-up for the national squad as they prepare for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the first time that Legion Field has been used by either of our national soccer teams since the installation of an artificial turf playing surface in 2006.

Photo credit: Norway vs United States, WWC Third Place Match,  G romano/Flickr 

That’s what the inaugural teams of the All American Football League were asking, until a little earlier this afternoon. There had been reports circulating saying that the league would be folding before it even started. Birmingham-based Team Alabama was scheduled to open its training camp on Wednesday and its season in mid-April and according to a Birmingham News blog post was not aware of the league’s consideration of postponing its inaugural season for a second time.

According to a statement posted on the front page of the AAFL’s website, if funding is not secured, they will begin to make plans to start their inaugural season in 2009. The statement refers to the current majority owner’s finances being affected by the sub prime mortgage market.

Your Birmingham Barons will don replicas of their 1951-52 uniforms (from their time as a Red Sox affiliate) as they take on the Jacksonville Suns at America’s oldest ballpark for a “businessman’s special.”

They have a chance to run their winning streak in the annual retro game to three in a row while honoring former Baron and 17-year major leaguer Jimmy Piersall. The first 1,500 fans that get in will receive a vintage portrait of Piersall from the ‘52 season.

If you want to know more about just what that retro uniform will look like (among other things), click here to view the release courtesy of the Barons (hint, you may also want to check out the team’s new website, just saying).

Cost: We’ll update with a link once single game tickets are available.

Location:
Rickwood Field
1137 2^nd Avenue West (directions)

Members of Taylor Hicks’ Soul Patrol need only look to cable television network ESPN this weekend tonight to catch a glimpse of the season 5 American Idol winner. He’s playing to a sold out audience, only it’s a crowd of basketball fans hoping for a great show. Hicks will be suiting up for the New Orleans team in this year’s NBA McDonald’s All-Star Celebrity Game. Tip off is 6 p.m. local time.

Before you think about hopping a flight or the train to get down there and catch a glimpse, tickets are already sold out. Plus, Hicks was apparently a point guard in high school, so it’s not impossible to think of him dishing it to Master P or WNBA star Ruth Riley.