I wouldn't buy the Alpha package. The Alpha is a good plane, but that engine is a bit less powerful than what you'll want for a sport model and the DX5 radio doesn't have any computer functions. A much better route is to get the Alpha and a good ball bearing sport engine. The Tunder Tiger .46 Pro is a well established product that puts out about as much power as a .46 can (aside from dedicated racing engines) and it's a good value. The Spektrum 6 channel (DX6i) has all the computer programming and multiple model memory so you can store your settings for multiple planes. However, you asked for opinions on what radio to buy, and at that price level I'll recommend the Airtronics RDS8000. I have one and it's 8 channel with all the functions that a typical 6 channel radio has. You can Ebay the 8 channel receiver that comes with it and buy a 5 channel one for $40, which will have you about $100 invested in your radio setup.
One thing too to consider about the Ultra Stick is that it has flaps, which means you'll need a minimum of 5 channels to fly it. Most buddy boxes are only 4 channels, so if you plan to train you'd better stick to a 4 channel plane to start. A standard Ugly Stick is the same plane with strip ailerons and no flaps, and will be forgiving enough to train with (with an instructor) and a fairly capable sport plane.