By Rubin E. GrantLisa Alexander was in for a big surprise when she entered her son Christopher in a local race for special needs children when he was 8 years old.“We didn’t know he was a great runner,” Lisa Alexander said. “He was so little and he just took off and kept running when he crossed the finish line. He’s kept running ever since.”Now a junior at Mountain … [Read more...]
John Callen Remembered as a Tennis Guy Who Tried to Make Tennis a Better Sport
By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.John Callen, the Birmingham native who humbly picked up tennis after picking up wayward tennis balls and then went on to a 33-year term leading the Southern Section of the United States Tennis Association, passed away April 3. He was 69.The USTA Southern executive director and chief operating officer battled cancer for more than a year. His … [Read more...]
Mountain Brook Sweeps State Lacrosse Championships
By Rubin E. GrantKee’vin Staples had been pushing the Mountain Brook boys lacrosse team all season to be ready when the playoffs arrived.So, when Mountain Brook met archrival Vestavia Hills in the finals of the Alabama Lacrosse Championships on May 7 at Hoover’s Buccaneer Stadium, the Spartans were ready.And when it came down to the final minute with the score tied … [Read more...]
Five Golden Rings: ‘Scrappy Goals’ Bring Mountain Brook Boys Their First State Soccer Title
By Rubin E. GrantJunior forward Vance Phillips downplayed his two goals that brought Mountain Brook its first boys’ state soccer championship.Phillips’ first goal tied the score 1-1 and the second one, in the second overtime, gave the Spartans a 2-1 victory against the Pelham Panthers in the Class 6A championship game last Saturday.“They were just scrappy goals,” … [Read more...]
Hoover Sweeps Class 7A Outdoor State Titles; Mountain Brook Claims Girls Class 6A Crown
By Rubin E. GrantFirst-year Hoover track coach Chris Schmidt laughed at the notion he was already trying to break former coach Devon Hind’s record.Hind won 42 state championships in 19 seasons coaching track and field at Hoover and Berry high schools before retiring at the end of the 2021 outdoor season.Even if he doesn’t have Hind’s record in his sights, Schmidt … [Read more...]