Playing the Field: Alabama wants NBA team, plus LeBron’s baby mama

Oh those crazy kids and their grandiose dreams.

A 15-year-old is petitioning the NBA to consider starting a pro basketball franchise in Birmingham, Alabama. He has created an official website, Twitter handle, fight song (“home team, home team, because we trying to get our own team”) and video.

No, we don’t think David Stern will take this request seriously … although you never know, he did throw Oklahoma City a bone … and yes, we did sign the petition. Our only request is that instead of Birmingham, they call themselves the Greenbow Fightin’ Gumps.

And hey, if Birmingham can dream about an NBA franchise, then so can other po-dunk towns, right? Power to the people. Here are a few suggestions (we’re breaking our selections down by ranking the cities on a scale from 1-10 – 10 being the highest):

Jackson, Miss.

Location: 7 – sets itself up for instant Heart of Dixie rivalry with New Orleans Hornets – just watch out for tornadoes.

Fan base: 3 – desperate, biggest draw right now is a roller derby league

Celebrity: 6 – Faith Hill is best-known native, so we got the National Anthem taken care of. Also, Darth Vader himself was born in northern Mississippi.

Omaha, Neb.

Location: 6 — kind of in middle of nowhere, but claims 1.2 million residents in 50-mile radius.

Fan base: 8 — annually hosts College World Series, plus US Olympic Swimming Team Trials.

Celebrity: 10 — jackpot city (Gabrielle Union, Nick Nolte, Sting, Warren Buffett)

Little Rock, Ark.

Location: 3 — close to Memphis, that’s about it

Fan base: 3 — home to University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans. Enough said.

Celebrity: 9 — Bill Clinton sitting courtside? Take that, Lakers fans.

LeBron’s new talent and (alleged) baby mama

LeBron James’ talents weren’t the only thing he took down South. The King has long been rumored to have a secret love child (via BlackSportsOnline) with a TV reporter/home-wrecker. Sharon Reed, a Philly native, was reportedly removed from the Cavaliers beat after her relationship with LeBron “started getting out of hand.”

For James, we’re not shocked. He’s one of the most famous, successful athletes in professional sports. Plus, he’s an ego-maniac. And for Reed, well, it seems par for the course. She has been linked romantically to several celebrities, including Donovan McNabb, Aaron McKie and Robert DeNiro.

The whole incident kind of reminds us of an “Entourage” episode. Vince hits on attractive reporter until she finally caves and does the deed — only difference is this particular reporter seems to cave quite easily and often.

But who is Sharon Reed? The next Oprah? A Cleveland magazine tries to solve that mystery. We’re still not entirely sure who Sharon Reed is, but she looks great in a bikini.