January 2009

The team will be named the Alabama Airmen.

Birmingham will join seven other franchises, the "Buford Majic" [Buford, GA], "Decatur Court Kings" [Decatur, GA], "Marietta Storm" [Marietta, GA], "Memphis Blues" [Memphis, TN], "Palm Coast Blue Waves" [Palm Coast, FL], "Rome Gladiators "[Rome, GA] and the "Tyrone Tornadoes" [Tyrone, GA].

In 2002, music business mogul Leroy McMath founded the WBA Exposure League to educate, develop and expose talented players to the NBA, the D-League, CBA and International scouts. The WBA is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Alabama Airmen owner Marlon Sims expressed excitement about the new partnership and upcoming season. "Coming into the WBA with my new team the Alabama Airmen, is a dream come true for me. This partnership allows my coaching staff and I to work in a sport we love, while building our community through enterprise and family fun," Sims said.

McMath elaborated on the WBA's partnership with Sims by saying, "The WBA targets franchises such Mr. Sims' that are both passionate about sports and understand the need to forge alliances in the community to help with initiatives that will improve the quality of life of residents by utilizing the core values that have made the WBA successful."

The 2009 playing season will run from May until July.

March 2009

The potential owner, who lives in Atlanta, had no substantial contacts in Birmingham that would work out.

Garrett has hopes there can still be a franchise in Birmingham sometime in the future.