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Articles by Ben Smith
2026 FIFA World Cup: Socceroos young gun Cristian Volpato details journey to national team
Cristian Volpatoâs path to the Socceroos and his eleventh-hour World Cup call-up has been anything but straightforward. The man himself remembers the tears when he was let go by not one, but two A-League Men academies as a teenager, and is aware of the vitriol his defection to Italyâs youth teams caused back home. But Volpato says his decision to accept a last-minute World Cup spot and represent the nation of his berth was almost half-a-decade in the making and not an overnight call.
America has a people problem
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says the fact is, and will remain, that evil people do not follow laws. I made it twelve days. Twelve whole days without hardly saying a word about the atrocity committed at Utah Valley University. I thought it would be best to observe the situation without input for a while and see what all shakes out. Turns out that was probably a pretty good decision. Over the last twelve days, I’ve seen some of the best come out of people and some of the worst.
Granddaddy's gun
Outdoors columnist Ben Smith says simple things that remind him of childhood and family are priceless as he gets older. The older that I get the less I care about the monetary value of things. This is a new development. I used to not be sentimental about much, but also coming with age is a new appreciation for things that have sentimental value for me. Simple things like a pocketknife or an old tobacco pipe that my grandfather used to smoke.
Women’s archery growing in Mississippi
Local archery phenom Morgan Rives out of William Carey is a large part of why the sport is growing all across Mississippi and the Southeastern United States. Typically, when you think of athletics the first thing that comes to mind is the “Big 3.” In Mississippi, we celebrate our athletic seasons like most states celebrate actual weather seasons. Football means fall has arrived, even though it’s usually still well into the nineties for half of the season.
Passing the time until deer season
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says the most exciting thing on the calendar over the next month is by far alligator season. Last week I wrote about a recurring summer dream that I’ve been having about hunting a big buck. Fortunately for me, maybe actually writing about it has freed me from the curse of having it again because I haven’t dreamed about squat in the last week. On the other hand, it’s also getting harder and harder to be patient until deer season arrives.
It was just a dream
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says he’s just about over fishing for the time being and hunting season isn’t that far off, but it just won’t hurry up and get here. The sun finally begins to crack the darkness bringing life to the woods. Birds chirp from their perch as the new day slowly arrives. Squirrels leave their nests but remain in the treetops until the ground is safely lit up. In the distance, an owl hoots for the final time and will remain silent until darkness falls again.
The exploding whale
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith looks back the 1970 exploding whale story from Oregon. He says it makes him wonder how Mississippi would handle such an incident. A couple of weeks ago on what was supposed to be a peaceful beach getaway full of rest and relaxation, my wife convinced me to go walking with her each evening along the shoreline. An evening beach walk with my bride didn’t sound too bad, but it somehow turned into exercise, and I found myself doing all that I could to keep up.
What’s the best tasting freshwater fish?
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith shares his list of the best fish to eat from the abundant waters of the great state of Mississippi. For all of you that were complaining during this past January’s snowpacalypse, I hope you are happy. It’s so dang hot outside the hens are laying boiled eggs. I keep telling myself that it’s all just a mindset and the heat is only as bad as you imagine it to be, but I’m a liar.
Gigging with the GOAT
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith goes fishing on the Mississippi Coast with a living legend in the soccer community. The sun dropped on the horizon giving way to the bright lights of casinos dotted along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Along with the full moon, you could essentially walk the coastline without the aid of a flashlight. The harbor was silent. Charter boats gently rocked in their respective bays awaiting the next fishing adventures. The parking lot was empty.
In my carnivore era
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says as a hunter and fisherman, meat is essentially his life. But when he made it his diet plan, it wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be. For some people, New Year’s Day often marks the beginning of a weight loss journey. A quick Google search shows that eating healthier and losing weight are two of the top New Year’s resolutions each year in America. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions because they just don’t make sense to me.
'I swapped my BBQ for a Ninja Woodfire Grill and Smoker to smash out burgers without the hassle'
If you’re eyeing up the Ninja Woodfire Grill and Smoker, you’re probably looking to dodge the usual faff of lighting a barbie and waiting around in a cloud of smoke while everyone gets hungry. That’s exactly what I wanted and that’s what this thing does. It’s the Swiss Army knife of summer cooking. With seven functions, you’ve got no excuse to cook indoors. Grill, smoke, air fry, even dehydrate or reheat if that’s your thing. All of it electric, and none of it involving charcoal.
Land of the free
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says outdoorsmen everywhere had a great victory when U.S. Senator Mike Lee withdrew his measure to sell off millions of acres of federal lands. “O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!” I always loved that part of the Star-Spangled Banner before a ballgame. It still gives me chills when I go to a game and hear it played. The land of the free. Emphasis on land. And there are several other patriotic songs that mention our land.
Provisions from Dad
Through his father’s labor, outdoor columnist Ben Smith says he got to hunt, fish and play ball. His Dad never asked for recognition because Dads don’t ask for that stuff, they provide. Father’s Day is often a holiday that gets overlooked. A quick internet search into its popularity is solid proof because everything on the internet is true. Barely cracking the top ten of American holidays, it even falls behind Halloween.
Get your kids outside this summer
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says you have a great opportunity ahead of you this summer to create some real memories with your family. Don’t miss out! For all you guys that have kids you know the summer routine. The first week out of school is filled with things to do. They’ve been waiting for months to have a hundred “play dates” at the pool or take an afternoon trip to the movies. They are like Jekyll and Hyde that whole first week out.
Love God, love family, and shoot ducks
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says out of all the men who have influenced the sport of hunting and fishing, we just lost perhaps the greatest outdoor influencer of all time, Phil Robertson. Throughout the course of history, there have been many people that had a lasting impact on the outdoor community. I loved reading old stories of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett as a kid. Their adventures into what was pretty much the wild frontier back then would keep me on the edge of my seat as a read about them.
Cotton Grove Road
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says take some trips this summer but go off the map once you get to where you’re going. You never know what you’ll find if you’re looking. It’s not too often I get to mix work with pleasure, but every now and then the opportunity is just there for the taking. So, when I decided to go and watch William Carey Baseball play in their conference tournament in Jackson, Tennessee I started looking for opportunities.
William Carey’s Bobby Halford passes Ron Polk
In his forty-year career Halford’s won twenty conference championships, been to the NAIA postseason 27 times, and only had one, yes only one, losing season. This isn’t my normal weekly blathering’s about the outdoors, but I recently had the privilege to write this article about a man that has meant as much to me as almost anyone on the planet. Without him, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today.
My brown eyed girl
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith reflects on the joy and pain of being a dog owner. The best part of being a dog owner is the joy they bring you, especially when you’re not at your best. Tessie has always had mother-like instincts and seemed to know what we needed most at the time. The worst part of being a dog owner, and I mean the absolute worst part, is having to say goodbye. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked into this beautiful dog’s brown eyes and felt immediately better.
Outdoors: Stoned on turkeys
By Ben Smith Outdoors columnist I’d held out hope that this week I’d be writing about killing a turkey, but as fate would have it, I’m still not on the scoreboard. Shocker, right? It hasn’t been for a lack of trying. I’ve logged several miles over the last week chasing birds, but haven’t quite been able to close the distance. I did, however, enjoy one of the best turkey hunts that I’ve ever been on last week.
Stoned on turkeys
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says he may never kill a turkey, but as long as he gets to keep listening to them that’s almost enough. I’d really held out hope that this week I’d be writing about killing a turkey, but as fate would have it I’m still not on the scoreboard. Shocker, right? It hasn’t been for a lack of trying. I’ve logged several miles over the last week chasing birds but haven’t quite been able to close the distance.
A plea to parents of boys
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says he grew up around men. Real men. But today, they are a dying breed. I haven’t written a “soap box” article in a while and I don’t want you guys to think I’m losing my edginess, so here goes. I’m almost to that stage of life where I have to start worrying about boys. Not quite yet, but almost. And to be honest, it scares the ever-loving crap out of me, but probably not for the reasons you think. Look, I get it.
Wild turkey stamp signed into law
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says the stamp will only work if the majority of hunters do the right things. I know we’ve been down this road before, but I feel the need to revisit, and rejoice, over one of our latest pieces of outdoor legislation to pass through the House, Senate, and Governor’s desk. On the first day of spring, Governor Reeves signed the Wild Turkey Stamp, Senate Bill 2280, into law just a year after it died on the Senate floor.
Suck de head, pinch de tail
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says if you’ve never eaten crawfish, you are missing out. Suck de head an’ pinch de tail. Repeat until your belly is full. I went through almost five years of articles and couldn’t believe that I’ve never written about this. Five years of writing about the outdoors, many of those columns about food, and not a single one about my favorite thing to eat…crawfish. And if you’ve never eaten crawfish, you are missing out.
How knot to lose your next fish
“I’ll be danged if the next big fish I lose is because I tied a crappy knot,” writes outdoor columnist Ben Smith. We’d been on the lake for about an hour, maybe a little more. The bite was mostly slow. I’d caught three or four smaller bass, and my buddy had landed about the same amount. It wasn’t abnormal for the fish to not be tearing it up at the moment. After all, the temperatures had soared to well over one hundred degrees.
Will federal cuts affect outdoor programs?
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith ponders the impact federal cuts will have on national parks and historical sites, not only in Mississippi but nationwide. You can’t turn on the news or read any news source these days without coming across something pertaining to Elon Musk and DOGE. The newly created Department of Government Efficiency is making waves with findings of serious misuse of taxpayer funds, at least according to what I hear and read.
Post-hunting season to-do list
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith say you might think as soon as hunting season ends that there’s nothing to left to do. But that’s just not the case if you plan on hunting again in the future. We often talk about things we do ahead of hunting in preparation for the season. Things like checking our stands to make sure there are no loose bolts, shooting our bows or rifles to make sure they are sighted in, or something as simple as making sure our flashlights have batteries. But what about after the season?
Fisher of men
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith shares of an early February fishing trip that healed more than his need for a few crappie. This week I’ve decided to spare all of you from having to read anything involving smells or the digestive system. And for all of you that stuck around for the next installment of this column, thank you. Instead, this week’s discussion will be on a different part of our anatomy…the heart. Throughout the years of writing this column, I’ve never shied away from my beliefs.
Exploring the familiar smells of a deer skinning room
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith dives into a smelly phenomenon most hunters experience nose first. Alright guys, this is an article that my wife has begged me not to write. So of course I’m writing it. Not that the topic is incredibly offensive, or anything like that. It’s a perfectly natural occurrence in the outdoor community. She’s just afraid that I’ll sully my reputation, or hers, by writing about something she deems utterly ridiculous and disgusting.
What fuels the "obsession" to hunt
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith writes that he believes God made all of us different, saying he’s at his best when alone in the woods. I sat in the truck a little longer than usual after pulling into the garage. I’d been at the camp for a few days and for the first time all year returned home with enough meat in the cooler to be satisfied with the trip. But upon arriving at the house, something inside of me didn’t want to get out of the truck.
The devil and the dog
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith winds through a tale that tracks him from hunting dogs to a gas station. I have a friend that has told me several different times about how amazed he is that some of these columns just seem to write themselves. And he’s not wrong. Sometimes things just happen, or I just happen to be in the right place at the right time. This week is a great example of just that. See, I’d already planned to write something regarding hunting dogs.
A new member of the cult
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says just because he’s joined the smartwatch cult doesn’t mean he’s gonna start using cell cameras and fish finders. I’ve long been an advocate of minimal technology when it comes to hunting and fishing. Anyone that’s been reading this column for any period of time should already know that. I spent three years sleeping on the ground during hunting season. Of course I had a pretty cozy tent, but still, how’s that for minimalism?
Goodbye to 2024
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith looks back on 2024, writing that it was a year full of the greatest lessons he’s ever learned. I’ve started this article several different times only to delete it and begin again. Trying to find the words to put a bow on 2024 has been harder than I imagined. It shouldn’t be. I’ve written an end of the year article just like this one several years in a row now. The overall theme is usually pretty similar. A lot of hunting, a lot of baseball, and a year’s worth of laughs.
The duck massacre
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says he’s not a real duck hunter but tells of “the best duck hunt (kinda)” he ever had. Well, after the longest dry spell in over twenty years of hunting, I finally got on the scoreboard last week. It wasn’t exactly what I’d hoped to bring home, but we were totally out of meat, so a freezer queen was needed. It was the latest in the season that I’d killed a deer for as far back as I can remember.
Soft and lazy, but cozy
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says after three years of going it alone during hunting season, he thinks he enjoys having people around even more. Do you feel that? That hint of a cool breeze can only mean one thing…it’s deer season in Mississippi! Of course, technically it’s been deer season since October 1st, but this weekend kicks off the rifle season in our state. Since I’ve just about turned myself into the area’s best worst bow hunter, I’m welcoming the rifle season with open arms.
Deer camp traditions
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says his favorite deer camp tradition might even be considered the grossest one. There are all sorts of strange traditions practiced around the world. Some are religious in nature, some superstitious, and some are so weird that I don’t have a clue why they are practiced. For instance, there is a Hindu tradition in India where they smash coconuts on people’s heads.
Don’t be afraid to meet your hero
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith tells of his time with Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame at a recent William Carey scholarship banquet. It’s often said that you never want to meet your hero. Sometimes it’s better to just watch them from afar and formulate your own opinion about what kind of person they are than to meet them and find out the truth. I wouldn’t say that I’ve actually had anyone that I considered “my hero” in my life, but I’ve had several people that I’ve admired from a distance.
Hurricanes and deer
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith writes that deer are incredibly resilient creatures and endure changes to their habitat all of the time. The storms that have ravaged the Southeast the last few weeks have been a nightmare to say the least. I feel fortunate to have dodged the worst of them, while at the same time my heart has been broken for our friends in Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.
Sarpy man convicted of killing his estranged wife sentenced
Walter Alexander will serve decades in prison after shooting and killing his Brittany Alexander in August 2023. Papillion police said on Aug.
Best time of the season to kill your does
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says it’s a good policy to have in mind a total number of does you need to kill before you ever start hunting for the season. From the looks of things, the third ever velvet season in Mississippi looks to have been a success. I’ve seen several really nice bucks hit the ground, along with several more kids shooting their first ever buck with a bow! It’s an exciting time for hunters across Mississippi because it really does kick off deer season for all of us.
Practically a shotgun expert
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith tells of his recent outing at Providence Hill Sporting Club. I’ve never claimed to be the best outdoorsman. Heck, I barely even consider myself a real outdoorsman, but by societies standards today I may as well be Davy Crockett. That said, my shooting abilities, or lack thereof, were put on full display a week ago at Providence Hill Sporting Club just outside of Jackson.
Why do fish smell like fish?
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith takes a deep dive into the science of fishy smells. Turns out the smell of fish, even when they are alive, is due to a combination of things. When I’m alone in the woods, or on the water, my mind often wanders. I know I’ve said that plenty of times in my articles, but sometimes I don’t follow up with exactly where my mind goes. And let me tell you, it goes a lot of different directions. Sometimes I think about work stuff and new ideas.
No friends like old friends
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says spending time with a friend, even when the fish aren’t biting, is more than enough. As we get older we tend to lose touch with the people that we grew up with, especially if we move away from the town we grew up in. This is at least true for me and the overall majority of people I hang out with now. I can count on one hand how many people I went to high school with that I still talk to on a regular basis. And it’s not because those people aren’t special to me.
A yearly tradition: Wildlife Extravaganza weekend
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith enjoys the annual Mississippi Wildlife Federation Extravaganza weekend for the memories made with friends old and new. There’s something about sitting on a riverbank that purifies the soul. No lights, aside from a headlamp every now and then. Just sitting in a lawn chair in the dark waiting for that bell to ring. It’s no secret that I’ve had a less than optimal summer. Our family has suffered its share of losses since school let out in the spring.
Homemade biscuits and Mayhew jelly
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith pays homage to his grandmother, reflecting on his fondest memories of childhood. It feels like I’ve written a lot of “tribute” articles over the last couple of years. I know for certain that I’ve written more this year than I wanted to. But this is a column dedicated to my life in the outdoors, and it wouldn’t be completely transparent should I choose not to pay homage to those that provided me with the opportunities that I’ve been afforded.
It’s fawning season in Mississippi
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says keep your eyes peeled for fawns while out and about to protect the future of deer hunting in the Magnolia State. For most deer hunters in Mississippi the absolute best time of the year is the rut. I know guys that will take off of work for two weeks during peak rut times in their hunting areas. After all, the rut is generally your best chance at catching a mature buck slipping after having been so careful during the earlier part of the season.
July is for the opportunistic outdoorsman
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says there’s always the opportunity to take a stab at the greatest delicacy of the swamp during a Mississippi summer – the bullfrog. It’s about this time each year that I start to count the days until I’m able to put an arrow in the pump station of America’s top big game animal. We are a little over halfway there from the end of last season to the beginning of this season.
We ain't just fishing
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith shares memories made while fishing with his daughter. If you’ve been keeping score over the last few months, you know that I sold my boat. Selling your boat when it’s 40 degrees and raining is pretty easy to do. You’re so cold you couldn’t possibly ever imagine going back out on the water. You watch someone pull away with it while having money in your hands to “do so many other things”. Then, winter fades to spring and spring to summer.
Rocky Top on top of college baseball. Tennessee wins 2024 College World Series
FROM THE WINNERS. HEY LAUREN, THE CONFETTI THAT FELL HERE AT CHARLES SCHWAB FIELD THIS YEAR IS ORANGE AND SMOKEY GRAY. ROCKY TOP IS ON TOP OF THE COLLEGE BASEBALL WORLD. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY. AND WHAT A MOMENT FOR OMAHA WEST SIDE GRADUATE DALTON BARCO. HIS FIRST SEASON IN KNOXVILLE WRAPS UP WHERE HE GREW UP AND ENDS WITH A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. IT’S EVERYTHING I’VE EVER WANTED IN LIFE.
Recharging batteries at the river
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith says spending time with friends while mixing in a little hunting or fishing leaves him a better person afterward. After being in the comfort of the truck air conditioning for over two hours, the blast of heat almost knocked me over. Is it supposed to be this hot in mid-June? My face immediately turned red, and I could feel the sweat beginning to bead up on my forehead. There is no breeze to counteract the combination of humidity and sweltering temperature.
The teeth of summer
Outdoor columnist Ben Smith talks sharks and alligators. He says the difference between the two is that alligators are delicious. Summer is here and more and more people are taking vacations and getting outdoors. On the one hand, this is a good thing. On the other hand, it also comes with the presumption that there will be incidents involving wildlife. Most of you have probably seen the recent news regarding the shark attacks in Florida.
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