No errors just help needed ( mysql help )

[Kyle]

<?php
echo "a href=\"index.ph p?alp=a\">A</a> ] "
."- [ <a href=\"index.ph p?alp=b\">B</a> ] "
."- [ <a href=\"index.ph p?alp=c\">C</a> ] ";


if (isset($_GET['alp']))
{
// Now what must i make the sql statment so that it will display all
the names that starts with a $_GET['alp'] ( a ) //
// and if i use like then it will display all names that has a 'a'
some where in the word. //

$sql = "SELECT * FROM store_items WHERE name = '$sid'";
$result = $db->sql_query($sql );

while($row = $db->sql_fetchrow($ result))
{
$name = $row[name];
}
}
?>