Monthly Archives: November 2011

We’re a little more than a week away from opening night at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Have you booked your room? You still have time. http://www.mgmgrand.com/nfr/  

LAS VEGAS – When Tyson Durfey arrives in the Nevada desert next week, he’ll carry a trailer load of athletic talent, his and his horses’. He’ll also have a national championship, a third Canadian title and the dream of driving away from Las Vegas with the most coveted piece of hardware in the world of  Continue Reading »

LAS VEGAS – The 2011 rodeo season was one of redemption for Matt Bright. Bright qualified for the 2010 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and then he struggled with is bareback riding. As the gate opened for his eight-round ride, Carr Pro Rodeo’s Real Deal rared and slammed the Tennessee-born cowboy into the chute’s steel bars.  Continue Reading »

LAS VEGAS – The first time Stockton Graves swung his leg over a horse, his dreams were about those fabulous gold buckles awarded to the season’s world champions. The last time Graves swing his leg over a horse, the dream was the same. That’s just part of the life of a man who makes his  Continue Reading »

In a week, Stockton Graves will venture to Las Vegas to compete in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the seventh time in his career. That’s proof that the cowboy from Newkirk, Okla., is one of the elite steer wrestlers in the sport. But further proof of his greatness came this past week when Graves  Continue Reading »

Today’s our Thanksgiving with my wife’s family, and there are so many things for which I’m thankful. No. 1, of course, is the presence of God in my life, but also I’m quite blessed with my family, from my wife, my girls and all those that are closest to my life. They’re my biggest supporters  Continue Reading »

LAS VEGAS – Much of Las Vegas changes dramatically in early December, when the City of Lights becomes better known as Cowboy Town in honor of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino does more than dabble in the Western lifestyle for two weeks – the resort tackles the immense popularity  Continue Reading »

My heart goes out to the families and friends of Oklahoma State University women’s basketball coach Kurt Budke, assistant coach Miranda Serna and Olin and Paula Branstetter, who died in a plane crash late Thursday afternoon. We’re less than 11 years removed from another airplane crashed on the Plains of eastern Colorado, killing 10 members  Continue Reading »

James Phifer, a PRCA photographer from east Texas, sent me a couple of photos today, and viewing those images got me to thinking about a few things. Over the course of my career covering rodeo, I’ve interviewed Trevor Brazile dozens of times. There are times the questions-answers become redundant because, well, we’ve done this a  Continue Reading »

Keep an eye out for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo‘s website for regular information on the 2012 championship in Oklahoma City. I’ll be posting quick-hitting information until the RNCFR’s four-day run from March 29-April 1 at Jim Norick Arena on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. It’ll be an outstanding event, and we will do everything  Continue Reading »

Trevor Brazile’s final run at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping wasn’t his fastest of the two-day, 10-round championship on Nov. 11-12 at the Lazy E Arena. It wasn’t the prettiest, either. But that 13.7-second sprint to the finish was efficient and accomplished a major goal for Brazile’s 2011 campaign, his third Steer Roping  Continue Reading »

In looking back over the two days of the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, there were tremendous highs and lows throughout the competition. J.P. Wickett was as high as he could be through the first four go-rounds on Friday, winning two rounds and placing in two more, collecting more than $17,000 in the process.  Continue Reading »

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Three times in his career, Trevor Brazile was the No. 1 man heading into the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. When he walked away from the championship, he did so with the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle given to that season’s world champion. The latest episode of this finely tuned act came Nov.  Continue Reading »

Aggregate 1.    Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas, 172.8 seconds on ten head, $15,231 2.    Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 116.5 on nine, $12,231 3.    Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 121.5, $9,231 4.    Kim Ziegelgruber, Edmond, Okla., 123.5, $6,231 5.    Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas, 129.7, $3,231 6.    J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 103.8 on eight 7.    Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla.,  Continue Reading »

1.    Cody Scheck, Kiowa, Kan., 10.4 seconds, $5,077 2.    Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 11.1, $4,077 3.    Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 11.3, $3,077 4.    Bryce Davis, Abilene, Texas, 11.4, $2,077 5.    Will Gasperson, Decatur, Texas, 13.3, $1,077

Two-time world champion Scott Snedecor won the aggregate championship at the 2011 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, the only cowboy to have roped and tied down all 10 steers. He’ll walk away from the Lazy E with $15,231; his only paycheck came with the average win, but I”m sure he’ll take it. It’s his  Continue Reading »

Rocky Patterson is making a move for his third straight gold buckle by winning the ninth round, adding $5,077. It’s getting very, very interesting at the Lazy E Arena. Ninth Round: 1. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 11.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. Bryce Davis, Abilene, Texas, 12.1, $4,077; 3. Chance Kelton, Mayer, Ariz., 12.3, $3,077; 4. Jess  Continue Reading »

Cody Scheck didn’t win a dime Friday night, and in two go-rounds on Saturday, he has pocketed $8,654. He split the round win with Vin Fisher Jr., who earned just his third check of this weekend’s championship. Eight Round: 1. (tie) Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, and Cody Scheck, Kiowa, Kan., 10.0 seconds, $4,577 each;  Continue Reading »

Rocky Patterson was the second cowboy to run in the seventh go-round, and he posted a 10.8. That held the lead through seven runs until Patterson’s traveling partner, Cody Scheck, posted a 9.6-second run. Their other traveling partner, Chet Herren, followed with a 9.5. That’s how they finished in the go-round. Collectively, they won $12,231  Continue Reading »

Chet Herren of Pawhuska, Okla., scored a 10.3-second run to win the sixth go-round. Herren has earned $11,231 so far. Sixth Round: 1. Chet Herren, Pawhuska, Okla., 10.3 seconds, $5,077; 2. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 11.1, $4,077; 3. Will Gasperson, Decatur, Texas, 11.6, $3,077; 4. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 11.9, $2,077; 5. Cody Lee, Gatesville,  Continue Reading »

The big winners from the 2009-2010 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping didn’t fare too well Friday night at the Lazy E Arena. Two-time world champion Rocky Patterson, 2009 average champion Bryce Davis and 2010 average champion Cody Scheck had qualified times on five runs … combined. Patterson and Davis scored twice, while Scheck had  Continue Reading »

Here are some images from behind the scenes at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. Last night, announcer Justin McKee referenced the event as “The Clem McSpadden.” That’s very fitting, I think.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the recap from Friday’s first five rounds of the steer roping finals, which appears on the Lazy E Arena’s website. You can find it HERE, too. It was quite fitting that a couple of Oklahomans shared the spotlight Friday during opening night of the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping at  Continue Reading »

Kim Ziegelgruber posted the third fastest run of the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping to win the fifth go round with a 10.7-second run. After J.P. Wickett missed his steer, Ziegelgruber moved to the lead into the average. Fifth round: 1. Kim Ziegelgruber, Edmond, Okla., 10.7 seconds, $5,077; 2. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla., 11.4,  Continue Reading »