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  • 2nd annual FCA Motocross Camp teaches driving techniques, builds sense of faith

    2nd annual FCA Motocross Camp teaches driving techniques, builds sense of faith

     

    Families from across Mississippi and 6 other states are at camp

     

    PURVIS, Miss. (WDAM) – Digging up dirt while building faith.

     

    That’s the goal of this year’s motocross camp put on by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

     

    “Teaching these kids how to ride better, but most importantly they are also teaching them how to grow closer to Jesus,” FCA Motocross Camp director Chuck Gagliano said.

     

    Gagliano tells WDAM that more than 50 kids came out for the week-long camp at the Lamar County Multi-Purpose Center.

     

    Families have come in from Mississippi and six other states, even as far as Illinois.

     

    “We teach them certain techniques that’ll help them ride at a very low risk and ride better and faster,” Gagliano said.

     

    When the kids aren’t on the track, they’re inside learning more about the Bible and its teachings.

     

    “Moses walking up to the Sinai Mountain, I didn’t know much about that,” camper Noah Branning said.

     

    Instructor Haley Davenport said she’s seen the program’s impact.

     

    “I’ve seen a lot of kids I was a camper with, and now as a leader for campers, I’ve seen them grow extremely with the Lord,” said Davenport.

     

    The kids also are getting the chance to learn from a pro: freestyle motocross rider Kenny Bartram.

     

    “I only come a day or two, but it’s an amazing thing to know i was a part of that,” Bartram said.

     

    Leaders said they hope to see the kids eventually give their lives to Christ and walk away with a stronger sense of connection.

     

    “It kind of brings it back to where God isn’t like ‘Oh, i don’t wanna,’” Bartram said. “God is cool, and we love him, too.”

     

    Gagliano said God’s at the heart of the camp.

     

    “It’s about showing his glory through our lives and reflecting that glory onto people we meet,” Gagliano said.

     

    Applications for next year’s program camp will open in December.

     

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  • The jam session that made Robert Plant ditch Led Zeppelin

    The jam session that made Robert Plant ditch Led Zeppelin

     

     

    Any band getting back together must have a good reason to get back on that stage. It’s easy to figure out why some people either don’t want to speak to each other or are too past their prime to make the magic happen like they id in the early days, and it’s no surprise why bands like The Police have only done one legitimate reunion before going back to their solo joints. But if there was one band that should have had some more time with their fans during their reunion, it was Led Zeppelin.

     

    But when talking about getting back with his old mates, Robert Plant has been the one hold-out, and it’s not hard to see why, either. It’s impossible to expect him to channel that ‘Percy’ persona every time he takes the stage, so he has far more weight to carry on his shoulders outside of Jimmy Page playing his signature licks and Jason Bonham standing in for his old man behind the drum kit.

     

     

    Then again, that doesn’t mean that Plant has been completely against getting back together. The Page/Plant pseudo-reunion did make for some interesting musical moments when they redid some of their old tunes, and even when he performs with Allison Krauss, hearing him do more folksy versions of tunes like ‘The Battle of Evermore’ is far more interesting than hearing him stretch himself for ‘Rock and Roll’ or ‘Immigrant Song’.

     

    Celebration Day may have been the last time Plant officially got back together with something called Led Zeppelin, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a few one-off shows for fun. But while no band member looks back on Live Aid as their finest hour in the 1980s, they could make something more credible when Tony Thompson was behind the kit.

     

    From the minute they got together in the rehearsal room, it was clear that everyone was unfocused. Everyone had the chops to pull something off, and they even had the luxury of working in Peter Gabriel’s state-of-the-art studio in Bath, but since they had no idea what to play, it was impossible to get them all on the same page, especially when Thompson had to leave halfway through when going out on tour with another band.

     

    And while the nostalgia factor may have helped get the reunion over the line after Live Aid, Plant was much less interested after spending one too many days sitting on his hands, saying, “The whole thing dematerialised. Jimmy had to change the battery on his wah-wah pedal every one and a half songs. And I said, ‘I’m going home.’ [John Paul] Jonesy said ‘Why?’ ‘Because I can’t put up with this.’ ‘But you lived with it before.’ I said ‘Look, man, I don’t need the money. I’m off.’”

     

    When listening to what Plant was doing then, it’s clear that he was also on a new wavelength than he was back in 1973. Now and Zen was a fine record for his solo career, but since he was coming off of his album Shaken ‘n’ Stirred, those influences from bands like Talking Heads were definitely going to clash once Jones broke out the old keyboard lines and Page started cranking out the riff to ‘Whole Lotta Love’.

     

    So, really, the failed Zeppelin reunion in the 1980s had much less to do with the disaster that happened at Live Aid. Everyone in the band could still play, but sometimes it comes down to people being on two separate creative pages that rip them apart. It may dishearten some fans, but you can’t blame Plant for wanting to change up his style.

     

     

     

  • Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon tries to become 1st woman to break 4-minute mile next week in Paris

    Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon tries to become 1st woman to break 4-minute mile next week in Paris

     

    Faith Kipyegon, of Kenya, celebrates after winning the women’s 1500-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.

    Faith Kipyegon, of Kenya, celebrates after winning the women’s 1500-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.

     

    Read MoreFaith Kipyegon, of Kenya, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women’s 1500 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.

    Faith Kipyegon, of Kenya, celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women’s 1500 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France.

     

     

    Faith Kipyegon’s already a three-time Olympic 1,500-meter champion. She’s already the world-record holder in the mile and 1,500.

     

    Next on her to-accomplish list: Become the first woman to break the 4-minute mile barrier.

     

    The 31-year-old Kipyegon is making a run at that hallowed mark in a Nike-sponsored event dubbed “ Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile ” on June 26 at the Stade Charlety in Paris. She set the world record mark of 4:07.64 nearly two years ago during a Diamond League meet in Monaco.

     

    “I think breaking four will really cement my legacy,” Kipyegon said in a Zoom call on Wednesday. “The next generation is looking up to us to show them the way and this is what I’m doing now. … Everything we do, we have to dream big and just believe in ourselves that we could do it.”

     

    It was more than 71 years ago when British runner Roger Bannister became the first man to eclipse 4 minutes when he ran 3:59.4.

     

    For Kipyegon, finding extra speed to trim a little more than 7.64 seconds occupies her thoughts and drives her in training. But really, she and her coach, Patrick Sang, aren’t altering from their routine too much to chase a sub-4 mile time.

     

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    What she’s doing in workouts now has already proven highly successful. She won her third straight 1,500 Olympic title in Paris last August. A month before that, she broke her own 1,500 record on the same track where she will run next Thursday.

     

    “For me, I would say being mentally strong and believing in everything I do,” she said of preparing for big moments. “Believing in the training, believing in waking up to empower the next generation, believing in everything that has been from my younger time when I was running barefoot to where I am now. It has really given me that drive to wake up and go for training and just be strong.”

     

    She will be wearing the latest innovations from Nike, too, from her aerodynamic track suit to her spikes. Should she break the mark, it would be subject to ratification by World Athletics.

     

    Fellow Kenyan runner, longtime friend and training partner Eliud Kipchoge has been providing emotional support. He had an event set up for him in 2019, when he ran a marathon in 1:59:40 to break the 2-hour marathon barrier at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Austria. The mark wasn’t ratified by the sport’s governing body.

     

    “It will be lovely to see Eliud after the finish line,” said Kipyegon, who’s a four-time world champion. “I get positive messages from around the world that I can do it. … It really motivates me a lot going on to this challenge. I know it will not be easy, but I’m going to try my best and we will see what the finish line offers.”

     

    She’s eager for the challenge to show the next generation of female runners that anything is possible. That includes her young daughter, Alyn.

     

    “You have to dream and just be patient for it,” Kipyegon said.

     

    Same with her quest next week, which she will approach in increments.

     

    “You have to dream of how will I cross the 800 mark? How will I cross that 1,200 mark?” Kipyegon explained. “It’s the repetition of, ‘I have to be myself and just think of how will I shed the seven seconds?’

     

    “I will feel so great if I just run after that finish line and see under four minutes. It will be historical.”

     

     

  • West Virginia adds outfielder Brock Wills out of the transfer portal

    West Virginia adds outfielder Brock Wills out of the transfer portal

     

     

     

    West Virginia added Brock Wills, an outfielder from UNCW, he announced on Wednesday.

     

    Wills, an experienced left-handed bat, who played mostly outfield, batted .351 this season with six home runs and 22 RBIs. He was a Second Team All-CAA Selection, while he played in only 36 games on the year.

     

    Wills primarily batted leadoff, as UNCW was 18-7 in games when he hit at the top of the order.

     

    In addition to that, he had a .450 on-base percentage, while he had a .545 slugging percentage, which was the best on his team. Out of his 47 total hits, 13 of them went for extra bases.

     

    He spent three seasons at UNCW and will have one year of eligibility remaining. Wills is originally from Holly Springs, North Carolina.

     

    Wills is the sixth addition out of the transfer portal for the Mountaineers thus far. He is the third to come to WVU from the Division I ranks.

     

     

    • Talk about it with West Virginia fans on The Blue Lot.

     

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  • Wigan Warriors tie down key forward to new long-term deal

    Wigan Warriors tie down key forward to new long-term deal

     

     

    Wigan Warriors have confirmed that Sam Walters has signed a new long-term deal with the club until the end of the 2029 season.

     

    Walters joined Wigan from Leeds Rhinos at the start of last year on a three-year deal that was due to expire at the end of next season.

     

    However, he has become the latest player to lock his future into the Super League champions for a lengthy period after agreeing to a three-year extension.

     

    Walters was a crucial part of the squad that won every domestic trophy on offer last season and though currently sidelined due to injury, is set to return in the coming weeks ahead of the business end of the season.

     

    Wigan coach Matt Peet said: “Sam is very professional and I’ve loved coaching him and of course I’m delighted that we’ve got him for a further four years.

     

    “Everyone will have been impressed by Sam’s form this year. Some of the foundations of it were laid last year with how hard he worked, and he has grasped this opportunity with both hands. I can’t wait to see how we can maximise his potential in the coming years.”

     

    Wigan Warriors chief executive, Kris Radlinski said: “Sam committing to us for a long period is wonderful news as his potential is huge. Whilst the news must be celebrated, there’s always a flip side. Retaining the exceptional talent that will shape our next five years remains a top priority.

     

    “We’re proud of the success this squad has achieved, and it’s a testament to their quality that many are now in high demand. However, in a salary cap sport, keeping a winning group together is never easy.

     

    “Success brings opportunity, and in a short playing career, we fully respect players must make decisions in their best interests.

     

    “While some departures are inevitable, replacing like for like talent is not always possible. We remain committed to building a strong, competitive team—but acknowledge the challenges that come with sustained success.”

     

     

  • Ekene Ogboko Announces Commitment to Georgia Football

    Ekene Ogboko Announces Commitment to Georgia Football

     

    Ekene Ogboko, a 2026 offensive lineman, has announced his commitment to Georgia football.

     

    Ekene Ogboko, a 2026 offensive lineman, has announced his commitment to Georgia football.

     

    The Georgia Bulldogs have started to pick up some momentum on the recruiting trail over the last month and it has only continued to build. Ekene Ogboko has announced his commitment to Georgia. He chose Georgia over Clemson, Notre Dame and Florida.

     

    Ogboko is a rated as a four-star prospect, the 68th-best player in the country, the fourth-best interior offensive lineman in the class and the seventh-best player in the state of North Carolina, according to composite rankings.

     

    The Bulldogs will continue to host athletes on official visits over the next few weeks. Since official visits started, the Bulldogs have had a litany of players commit and now Ogboko has joined the list. He becomes the fourth offensive lineman to commit to Georgia, joining Zachary Lewis, Graham Houston and Zykie Helton.

     

    Georgia has been known to fire off a list of commits during the summer and this year is proving to follow that trend. The class is really starting to take shape as the Bulldogs get deeper into the summer, and with a couple of weeks left, they will likely only continue to add to it.

     

     

  • Lewis Hamilton wows in Dior outfit as Damson Idris boasts Prada for "F1" movie premiere

    Lewis Hamilton wows in Dior outfit as Damson Idris boasts Prada for "F1" movie premiere

     

     

     

     

     

    Lewis Hamilton was on his usual form as he stepped onto the red carpet of the F1 movie world premiere last night as he stood in front of cameras wearing a Dior outfit. He attended the event as a producer of the movie, but as expected, brought his usual flare to the evening.

     

    Wearing a Bar Peak Lapel jacket coloured in a light pink, tailored tightly around his waist, he paired it with a floral broach – a piece that was – interestingly – shaped like a goat, as pointed out by social media. Black trousers sat beneath the jacket and black Dior shoes with bows finished the look. The whole outfit was directly from the Dior Men Fall line of this year.

     

    The seven-time world champion has been an ambassador of Dior since 2024. In fact, he was personally chosen by the creative director at Dior Menswear, Kim Jones.

     

    Jones said the following in a statement released at the time.

     

    “We share a love of nature, a desire to celebrate Africa and an interest in the artisanal process and techniques that unite craftspeople in Africa with the savoir-faire of the Dior ateliers.

     

    “Added to that, this collection also reflects Lewis’ sporting side, his virtuosity and our functionality. All in all, the way things came together happened very organically and enjoyably.”

     

    Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

    Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

     

    Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

     

    The world premiere also welcomed the likes of Brad Pitt, leading the F1 movie alongside Damson Idris who wore a 3-piece pinstripe suit by Prada with no shirt.

     

    “I wanted something that felt modern and sophisticated,” he told Vogue. “It was important to me to wear something that honoured that. It means a lot to celebrate this night and all that I’ve built.”

     

    Pitt wore a navy double-breasted suit with black lapels and a salmon pink shirt, almost identical to George Russell’s as the pair spotted when they bumped into each other while speaking to Craig Slater of Sky Sports.

     

    The F1 movie will be released globally on 25 June and in the United States two days later.

     

     

     

  • Exclusive interview Ipswich Town: Mark Ashton on squad value post relegation

    Exclusive interview Ipswich Town: Mark Ashton on squad value post relegation

     

     

    Omari Hutchinson (left), Dara O’Shea (top right) and Leif Davis (bottom right) could all generate big profits for Ipswich Town in time.

    Mark Ashton insists Ipswich Town’s squad value INCREASED during a Premier League relegation campaign.

     

    After what was a limited spend during back-to-back promotions, the Blues signed 16 players at a cost of £120m+ over two top flight transfer windows.

     

    It wasn’t enough to beat the drop, with Kieran McKenna’s men finishing 19th with just 22 points to their name.

     

    Already, 12-goal talisman Liam Delap, a £15m addition from Man City, has made a £30m switch to Chelsea after a relegation release clause was triggered.

     

    Fellow England Under-21 international Omari Hutchinson, an £18m buy from Chelsea, reportedly has a similar clause set at £35m, while the likes of Leif Davis, Dara O’Shea, Ben Johnson, Sammie Szmodics and George Hirst have all been linked with profit making moves.

     

    Omari Hutchinson, an £18m buy last summer, is said to have a £35m relegation release clause.

    Omari Hutchinson, an £18m buy last summer, is said to have a £35m relegation release clause.

     

    “One hundred per cent, the squad value has gone up,” said Ashton. “The type of player we recruit, the minutes they get, the development they get under Kieran (McKenna) and his staff – it only adds value. It’s a trend that we’ve had.

     

     

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    “One of my owners sent me a link. One of the independent bodies – Transfer Market, I think it was – had done an evaluation of player valuation growth and we were the biggest on the planet. That was an independent valuation, not ours, which did make me smile.

     

    “Moving forward, recruitment into the academy – nine to 21s, and the 23s – that’s got to get better and be more effective. We need to recruit in the underbelly – the players that aren’t quite ready for the first team now, but who are close to the first team.

     

    “And when you look at the first team recruitment, I think we’ve got to make sure it’s balanced. Whilst, primarily, we’re always going to look for your next Leifs (Leif Davis) and your next Omaris etc, there’s got to be a balance between that and experience. Because I think we’ve done very well in the market when we’ve recruited a Massimo (Luongo), for example, or Sam Morsy. It has to be a blend. So we’ll be looking at both areas as we move forward.”

     

    WHAT IPSWICH PAID FOR THEIR PLAYERS

     

    £20m – Jaden Philogene (Aston Villa)

     

    £18m – Omari Hutchinson (Chelsea)

     

    £15m – Jacob Greaves (Hull)

     

    £15m – Jack Clarke (Sunderland)

     

    £12m – Dara O’Shea (Burnley)

     

    £9m – Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn)

     

    £8m – Chiedozie Ogbene (Luton)

     

    £8m – Aro Muric (Burnley)

     

    £2m – Alex Palmer (West Brom)

     

    £1.5m – George Hirst (Leicester)

     

    £1.5m – Nathan Broadhead (Everton)

     

    £1.5m – Jack Taylor

     

    £1.2m – Leif Davis (Leeds)

     

    £1m – Harry Clarke (Arsenal)

     

    £1m – Ali Al-Hamadi (AFC Wimbledon)

     

    £750k – Conor Chaplin (Barnsley)

     

    £500k – Conor Townsend (West Brom)

     

    £150k – Sam Morsy (Middlesbrough)

     

    Nominal fee – Wes Burns (Fleetwood)

     

    Nominal fee – Christian Walton (Brighton)

     

    Nominal fee – Cieran Slicker (Man City)

     

    Free agent – Axel Tuanzebe

     

    Bosman free – Ben Johnson

     

    Homegrown – Luke Woolfenden

     

    Homegrown – Cameron Humphreys

     

    Homegrown – Elkan Baggott

  • Scenes from around Kentucky Basketball practice include Jayden Quaintance in uniform

    Scenes from around Kentucky Basketball practice include Jayden Quaintance in uniform

     

     

     

    Ethan DeWitt serves as an editor with us here at A Sea of Blue.

    Practice is underway for the Kentucky Wildcats this summer, as Mark Pope and his staff are looking to make some more noise in year two of their tenure in Lexington.

     

    With plenty of new faces on the team (and some returners, too), the BBN has been clamoring for some insight into what the team looks like on the court.

     

    Well, we haven’t exactly gotten the video yet, but we have gotten plenty of photos highlighting the team to this point in practice number two.

     

    Probably the best highlight from the early look is that Jayden Quaintance is pictured in full practice gear. While there are no photos of him in action, it seems that the rehab process for the ACL is moving along well.

     

    With over five months before the team plays its first game, the excitement around the fanbase is high.

     

    Let’s take a quick look at some of the scenes from the first few days of practice:

  • Usain Bolt, 38, gets Guinness World Record award in event that doesn’t exist

    Usain Bolt, 38, gets Guinness World Record award in event that doesn’t exist

     

    Usain Bolt named Guinness World Records icon

     

    Jack Otway

    The Jamaican athlete has been recognised for his exploits on the track during his career

     

    Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has been awarded a special Guinness World Records ICON certificate as part of the organisation’s 70th anniversary celebrations.

     

    The 38-year-old athlete received the honour during a surprise presentation in Manchester, where GWR Editor-In-Chief Craig Glenday handed him the certificate.

     

    The ICON award recognises individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to their fields and inspired people worldwide. Bolt joins an exclusive group of recipients who have been honoured with this special recognition.

     

    The presentation marks another milestone for the sprinter, who already holds multiple world and Olympic records in both the 100m and 200m events.

     

     

    Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has been awarded a special Guinness World Records ICON certificate as part of the organisation’s 70th anniversary celebrations

     

     

     

    Bolt’s athletic achievements include the world record for the 100m sprint, which he set at 9.58 seconds in 2009. His Olympic record for the same distance stands at 9.63 seconds, achieved during the London 2012 Games.

     

    The Jamaican athlete also dominates the 200m category with a world record time of 19.19 seconds, established in 2009. His Olympic record in this event is 19.30 seconds, set at the Beijing 2008 Games.

     

    These times remain unbeaten, cementing Bolt’s status as the fastest man in history. His records have stood for over a decade, demonstrating the exceptional nature of his performances on the track.

     

    Usain Bolt has eight Olympic gold medals to his name

     

     

     

    On receiving the special honour, the former sprinted said: “I’m always happy to be recognised by Guinness World Records. I’m honoured to be part of the greats, being an ICON is what I strive for. It shows that the work I put in really matters, I’m happy to be part of it.”

     

    Glenday praised the sprinter’s impact beyond his record-breaking achievements.

     

     

     

    “Usain Bolt is more than just a record-holder, he’s a global ICON who has demonstrated what the human body and spirit are capable of,” he said.

     

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    Pop superstar Taylor Swift received the honour, alongside inspirational athlete Billy Monger, who competes as a double amputee triathlete.

     

     

     

    Other recipients include Polar explorer Preet Chandi, who has broken records for her Antarctic expeditions. The award has also recognised Rumeysa Gelgi and Jyoti Amge, who hold the records as the world’s tallest and shortest women respectively.

     

    Usain Bolt

    Usain Bolt retired back in 2017 affter a glittering career

     

     

     

    These diverse recipients reflect Guinness World Records’ commitment to celebrating extraordinary achievements across different disciplines.

     

    The ICON designation represents the highest form of recognition from the organisation, reserved for those who have truly pushed boundaries in their respective fields.