[Output Data from MYSQL...HELP!!!!]

Hi ..i m new to php and need some help. What i am trying here is to sort out the enteries in MySQL database by state. I also have alternate row color when the table prints. WHen i try this what i see is an empty table with no values..

Please someone help me...

Here is my code:

$host=""; // Host name
$username=""; // Mysql username
$password=""; // Mysql password
$db_name=""; // Database name
$tbl_name=""; // Table name

// Connect to server and select databse
mysql_connect("$host", "$username", "$password")or die("cannot connect");
mysql_select_db("$db_name")or die("cannot select DB");


$state=$_POST['state'];
$sql="SELECT * FROM $tbl_name WHERE state='$state'";

//$sql = 'SELECT * '
//. ' FROM `nacontact` '
// . ' WHERE 1 AND `state` = \'$stat\'';
$result=mysql_query($sql);

// Define $color=1
$color="1";

while($rows=mysql_fetch_array($result)){
// If $color==1 table row color = #FFC600
if($color==1){ ?>
<tr class="tab_12">
<?php
echo "<td> ".$rows['fname']." ".$rows['lname']."</td>
<td>".$rows['city']."" ?> , <?php echo" ".$rows['state']."</td>
<td>".$rows['email']."</td>
<td>".$rows['phone']."</td>
<td>".$rows['country']."</td>" ?>
</tr>
<?php // Set $color==2, for switching to other color
$color="2";
}

// When $color not equal 1, use this table row color
else { ?>

<tr class="tab_13">

<?php echo "<td>".$rows['fname']." ".$rows['lname']."</td>
<td>".$rows['city']."" ?> , <?php echo" ".$rows['state']."</td>
<td>".$rows['email']."</td>
<td>".$rows['phone']."</td>
<td>".$rows['country']."</td> " ?>
</tr>
<?php
// Set $color back to 1
$color="1";
}

}
mysql_close();
?>