Monthly Archives: March 2011

Unfortunately I won’t be able to post repeated updates tonight from the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, but I plan to have these technical difficulties fixed by Friday’s second performance.  

The first performance of the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo begins at 7:30 tonight, and I’m excited about being part of this national championship. This is your place for updates and information throughout the weekend, so check back. Not only do I plan to provide regular updates from the competition, but I hope to give  Continue Reading »

From Wayne Brooks, the reigning Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announcer of the year, to the 33 world champions to the dozens of qualifiers to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo features a who’s who list of the top names in ProRodeo. Added in that is the Justin Sportsmedicine Team, which  Continue Reading »

Bobby Mote is a World Champion Bareback Rider who has put together a hall-of-fame career on the backs of bucking beasts. He’s hoping to add a few lines to his resume at the 2011 Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 31-April 3 at Jim Norick Arena at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City,  Continue Reading »

Mark Swingler got started in the rodeo business as a competitor and went from bull rider to bullfighter to entertainer. Dave Arnold got started in rodeo because he had some outstanding border collies that worked well with sheep. When a friend recommended Arnold take his animals to the Dodge City, Kan., a mutton busting stock-contracting  Continue Reading »

If the $1 million prize for winning “The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business” weren’t enough, Jet and Cord McCoy have plenty of motivation for taking part in the CBS-TV reality series. “My family’s making as big a sacrifice for me to be here as I’m making for me to be here,” Jet said during the sixth  Continue Reading »

Bareback rider Matt Bright made his big return to the arena Thursday night at RodeoAustin. It was the first time since he suffered a broken back at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo three and a half months ago. Bright, a Tennessean who now lives in Azle, Texas, scored 73 points on the first of two  Continue Reading »

Like many bullfighters, Mark Swingler got his start in the business after converting himself from being a bull rider. But for the last 17 years, the Texan has focused on entertainment, transitioning yet again. It was quite natural for the greasepaint-wearing bullfighter to transfer his abilities to being a rodeo clown, the barrelman/funnyman. It’s the  Continue Reading »

I visited with third-graders today, and I got to share my passion for rodeo and the stories that come with it. I loved seeing the wide-eyed looks they gave as I shared the stories from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the various pieces I’ve done on the McCoy family. I even showed them how  Continue Reading »

Dusty LaValley is a two-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, having finished ninth in the 2008 bareback riding world standings and 10th last year. He’s doing all the right things early this season to finish even higher when the 2011 season ends. He won more than $7,000 at RodeoHouston, which doesn’t count toward  Continue Reading »

Jody Sheffield is the epitome of a circuit cowgirl, someone who works a full-time job and competes at events closer to home. But she won the Pendleton (Ore.) Roundup last year and earned the right to play at some big events this winter and spring. One of those was RodeoHouston. Her husband, also a rodeo  Continue Reading »

Cort Scheer made a good living during 10 days in Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where he earned a little more than $70,000 But over the last 20 days, the saddle bronc rider topped it. Scheer, of Elsmere, Neb., competed in nine go-rounds at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and earned  Continue Reading »

With the father-daughter team of Gary and Mallory Ervin hot on their tails, brothers Jet and Cord McCoy sprinted to the “pit stop” in first place during the fifth leg of “The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business.” It marked the first time in the 18th season of the CBS reality TV series the cowboys have met  Continue Reading »

In talking to Stran Smith on Friday, we got to talking a little about his friend, 14-time world champion Trevor Brazile. This last year, he won the tie-down roping world title, the heading world title and the all-around world title, the latter a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association record eighth. In winning three gold buckles, Brazile  Continue Reading »

Bobby Welsh won the bull riding at Houston with the only qualified ride in the shootout.

When she won the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up Rodeo last year, Jody Sheffield called it the biggest win of her career. I think she surpassed it Saturday by winning the shootout round at RodeoHouston.

Stockton Graves posted a 4.6-second run in RodeoHouston’s Shootout round Saturday afternoon, then he went straight to the pay window where he collected more than $58,000 for his work Harris County, Texas.

Cort Scheer’s first horse stalled at the gate, so after he secured a qualified ride, the Nebraska cowboy took his re-ride at Houston. Hey, $50,000 was on the line. So Scheer took advantage with a $60,350 finish, $50,000 of it from winning Saturday’s saddle bronc riding shootout.

Cody Doescher and Tommy Edens won team roping at Houston and the $50,000 first-place prize. They qualified for Saturday’s festivities by finishing fourth in the second semifinal.  

Clint Cannon has made a pretty good living at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo over the past three years. He won the bareback riding shootout round two seasons ago. On Saturday afternoon, he won it again. Overall, he won more than $58,000. Three-time world champion Will Lowe finished runner-up.

Shane Hanchey, coming off his first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, won tie-down roping during the RodeoHouston Shootout and the $50,000 first-place prize. Scott Kormos finished second.

He’s not quite sure how long of a break he’ll take, but Stran Smith will not be competing for some time. On Thursday, the 2008 world champion tie-down roper revealed he needs to heal. He had surgery a few weeks ago, then took a shot at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He came back  Continue Reading »

Having a good start to any competition can pay off. That philosophy allowed Kaycee Feild to move on to Saturday night’s championship round of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Feild was one of 12 bareback riders in Friday night’s Wild Card round, where only the top two cowboys advanced. Canadian Luke Creasy won the  Continue Reading »

Dean Gorsuch has experienced almost everything in a career that has earned the Nebraska cowboy two steer wrestling world championships. On Friday night, Gorsuch didn’t make a run on the steer that was selected for him during the random draw at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. There was a problem, so Gorsuch had to  Continue Reading »