Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series returns almost to its roots this weekend when it embarks on a three-day affair in Oklahoma City. Not too many years ago, central Oklahoma hosted the biggest names in the sport in early February during Bullnanza at the Lazy E Arena in rural Guthrie, just a stone’s throw northeast of Oklahoma City. You see, the PBR wasn’t the first big bull riding. That distinction goes to the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding in Del Rio, Texas; close behind that was Bullnanza, a showcase that introduced the top bull riders in rodeo in a format that was a nice fit for television. In 1988, officials at the Lazy E teamed with some of the biggest stars in the game to come up with the series, then known as Bullmania. The first show took place in February 1989, and 1987 world champion bull rider Lane Frost was the contestant director whose job it was to pit together the best cowboys against the baddest bulls. Frost was killed later that year while competing at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo. Each of the 30 contestants put up a $1,000 entry fee, and the Lazy E obtained a sponsorship purse of $10,000 to give the cowboys the opportunity to ride for an unprecedented $40,000. From those fantastic beginnings, the PBR was born. Today it thrives as the world’s premier stand-alone bull-riding organization. At one time, Bullnanza was the epitome of great PBR competition. It was such a big prize that the Lazy E produced several others across the country, from Reno, Nev., to Nashville. It was a major player in the scheme and growth of the PBR. When the competition takes place this weekend, there will be great familiarity and fantastic nostalgia. I’ll miss seeing Jim Sharp spin his way to his first Bullnanza title, then rave as much as Jim could rave about how cool it was to finally win that championship buckle. I’ll miss seeing a relative unknown named Cory Rasch act like a schoolkid when he won his title. There will be big money available in Oklahoma City this weekend. But it’s not Bullnanza, and I’ll miss it.

Terry Don West owns two Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world titles and had a long, distinguished bull riding career. Now he’s got the important role of cheerleader, rooting on his wife as she takes the next step in her barrel racing career. Michelle West is one of 24 cowgirls who will compete for the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association national championship at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 31-April 3 at the Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Back in the day, Michelle West remained on the sidelines while Terry Don lived out his rodeo dreams, but she was always a driving force. She traveled with her well known husband as he competed for gold buckles. “Terry was making more money than I was at the time,” she said. “It was a lot better for me to go with him.” But Michelle West is a cowgirl who has always worked with horses and competed when possible. Her mom, Gail West, has been a big part of any success Terry Don and Michelle have experienced. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without her,” Michelle said of her mom. “She’s my biggest supporter in this deal.” Michelle West’s trip to Oklahoma City is the biggest qualification of her career, but she wants it to be a springboard for greater things to come. But that’s what chasing rodeo dreams is all about.

I had a nice e-mail exchange with Steven Knowles, who told me about the newly formed Fort Hays State University Rodeo Club Alumni. As a proud alumnus of the university, I want to reach out to those who have been part of the rodeo program. The organization wants to re-establish old relationships with friends and make new ones that have a common purpose, support the current club and team and teams and to financially support promote and contribute to the team and to the clubs scholarships and fund raising efforts. The big push will be to raise enough to endow the newly created Doc Brower scholarship and to raise money for future endowed scholarships so we can make FHSU a major contributor to professional rodeo and a strong alumni association for rodeo and Fort Hays State in general. How cool is that? I applaud Steven and those who are part of the FHSU Rodeo Club Alumni organization, those who want to reach out and make things better, to build a future by reaching into the past. So if you know of anyone who has been associated with the Fort Hays State rodeo club, let them know about this.

Thanks to the fine folks at Cowgirl Imaging for getting the results sent out tonight. Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo Champions Bareback Riding, Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 333 points on four, $9,030 Steer Wrestling, Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 12.7 seconds on three, $16,085 Team Roping, Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif., 16.7 seconds on two, $8,132 per man Saddle Bronc Riding, Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 253 points on three, $12,548 Tie-Down Roping, Matt Shiozawa, Chubbock, Idaho, 24.8 seconds on three, $14,103 Women’s Barrel Race, Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, 33.99 seconds on two, $17,797 Bull Riding, Clayton Savage, Casper, Wyo., 244 points on three, $11,690

Announcer Justin McKee is going to be working with the Professional Bull Riders again, adding his experience and expertise in a little different capacity. In a release issued Friday, the PBR announced that McKee and PBR Now on RFD-TV will both return to the airwaves next Thursday for a special edition. McKee and PBR have also finalized an agreement to include McKee as a media and live event personality in future projects. It doesn’t mention if McKee will be part of the regular TV production of the PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series on the VERSUS network. Based on the tone of the news release, I assume that McKee will not be on the regular “game” broadcasts of the events. The administrator of the Save Justin McKee page on Facebook wrote: “I’m happier than a pig in fresh mud … WE WON!!!!!! Justin McKee is coming back to the PBR!!!! Congratulations McKee and his loyal fans, the PBR finally listened.”

The matinee performance of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is complete, so the field is set for tonight’s championship round, set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Will Rogers Coliseum. I haven’t seen results from this afternoon’s performance to know who has certainly qualified for the championship round. Based on results I received from Susan Kanode’s Cowgirl Imaging, I can tell you there will be plenty of ProRodeo stars fighting for that Fort Worth title. Tonight also marks the final performance of the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D. While it doesn’t have a short go-round, the 2011 champions will be revealed after the 7:30 show concludes. I’ll be waiting.

Of the 24 cowgirls from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association who have qualified for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, six were part of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. A few other ladies have played on ProRodeo’s biggest stage before, so there looks to be plenty of stars competing March 31-April 3 in Oklahoma City. Leading the way is Sherry Cervi, the three-time and reigning world champion from Marana, Ariz. But the DNCFR field is going to be jam-packed with great competition, from the cowgirls to the outstanding animal athletes that have carried them there.

It’s cold. Yes, I realize it’s February, and it’s supposed to be cold, but this is a little extreme. Let me explain: In Los Fresnos, Texas, where the ProRodeo is scheduled to begin Friday, it’s 36 degrees, but it feels more like 26. If you look on your map, you’ll find Los Fresnos just north of Brownville, Texas, which borders Mexico near the Gulf of Mexico. Folks, that’s as close to the equator as you can get and still be in the continental United States. Lake Charles, La., home of the SW District Fat Stock Show & Rodeo, is a blustery 32 degrees, yet the wind chill is 25. San Antonio, which begins its long run with Thursday’s Xtreme Bulls Tour event, is 26 degrees, although it feels like 17. There are a bunch of people hunting down parkas as I write this. In retrospect, I don’t feel so bad about the -8 that registers on the thermometer, because I live in a climate that calls for such. Everybody that entered to compete in Rapid City, S.D., for the Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo knew it might be 3 degrees or even colder. But the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is supposed to be a lot warmer conditions than Rapid City. That kind of chill could affect a lot of things, from attendance to performance. But that’s rodeo, and that’s why it’ll persevere.

Ultimately, rodeo contestants dream of wearing world championship Montana Silversmiths gold buckles. But those rewards earned at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo are pretty special. In fact, I visited with some of the top cowboys in the game this week about their upcoming appearance at the DNCFR in Oklahoma City, and they were all excited — that event is set for March 31-April 3. In fact, most contestants consider the DNCFR just below the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in prestige, and that national championship is something they all want to have on their resumes.

If the Gower family hadn’t already had tough times with the loss of a son to cancer, they took another blow this past weekend when their century-old ranch home was destroyed by fire. The story in The Kansas City Star, written by Donald Bradley and found HERE, eloquently tells of another huge loss for Randy and Toni Gower, who watched 23-year-old Cody Stephens die of cancer just 12 months earlier. I can’t imagine losing my child like Toni Gower did last January. And I struggle with this added hardship to the family. But those who know her say Toni is one of the most remarkable people you might ever meet. I hope I get to find out for myself someday soon. For the time being, work is going on trying to help the family cope with another loss and repair the things that can be fixed. The outpouring is awesome, something I come to expect in the world of rodeo. I hope to share more wonderful stories with you about some of the giving that’s taking place, but I want to make sure all those folks get their due. And I’d like to give you the opportunity to help the Gowers; a fund has been established at People’s State Bank, P.O. Box 406, Cherryvale, KS 67335 in care of Randy and Toni Gower.

Will Lowe is just 28 years old and already owns three bareback riding world championships in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He’s already on his way to a fourth if he can keep up with his hot start to the 2011 season. He’s won a share of three rodeo titles: the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo.; the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa, Texas; and the National Western Stock Show in Denver. In all, he’s earned $21,028 to lead the early world standings, more than $8,000 ahead of the No. 2 bareback rider, Bo Casper of Fort Scott, Kan., with whom Lowe shared the Denver title. He’s also second in the average at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in Texas, an event that will conclude this coming weekend. Yes, it’s way too early to crown world champions, but I think anytime is a great time to recognize excellence. Lowe, of Canyon, Texas, is second only to 14-time world champion Trevor Brazile in season earnings. Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, has earned $28,671 in three events: He’s atop the standings in steer roping with $9,096, third in team roping-heading with $9,892 and fourth in tie down roping with $9,683. By shear quantity, it’s hard to beat Brazile, but Lowe has made a strong mark early this season. After nine straight trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, I suspect Will knows what it takes to be at the top of his game.

Rodeo is about to return to television on a regular basis. At 8:30 p.m. Central nearly every Sunday starting Feb. 13, the Great American Country network will begin showing Xtreme Bulls and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association championship events. You can see the schedule HERE. So for 12 of 13 weeks, you’ll be able to find a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo Sunday nights on GAC, and that doesn’t include the repeats – the lone Sunday night that won’t have rodeo will be April 3, when GAC hosts the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards. I’m excited to see it, but I’ve got GAC. I realize many rodeo fans don’t, and I hope that changes soon. It’ll be nice for us all to enjoy rodeo on TV that’s not preempted by other sports or other happenings producers consider more important at the time.

I’m glad I’m not recording the opening night of the PBR in Indianapolis. The NHL All-Star weekend’s skills test challenge has gone into overtime, pushing the coverage of the Jack Daniels Invitational back about 20 minutes so far. For PBR fans who like hockey, they get a nice double dip. For most of us, though, it’s just a delay. And it’s unfortunate.

I just saw the hat Luke Snyder’s wearing in Indianapolis.  Looks like something Sally Field wore in the late 1960s in the TV show “The Flying Nun.”

Cord McCoy made his first ride on a Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series event Saturday night, and it lasted just a couple of seconds. McCoy, an injury replacement at the Jack Daniels Invitational in Indianapolis, learned he got his shot late Saturday afternoon, so he booked a flight and scrambled to the nearest airport in order to make the early evening performance. “That’s an expensive flight to come fall off about the third jump,” he said behind the chutes after the ride. Before he left the arena, he had a few words for entertainer Flint Rasmussen and the bullfighters. “It’s good to be here, I’m telling you.” “I’ll try to ride longer tomorrow. ” It’s that attitude that’s made Cord a fan favorite.

A good Ben Jones is great for the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series. He shows his excitement and dancing prowess every time he does well. The Australian makes watching bull riding a lot of fun. I understand that it’s difficult to hide emotions, and that with great joy oftentimes comes great sorrow. But throwing a hissy fit in the middle of a rodeo arena isn’t much of a cowboy. Every time Ben throws a fit, he loses credibility.

I’m not sure if NBC was looking to pad today’s coverage of the Jack Daniels Invitational or if there was a computer error, but the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series broadcast had a serious hitch in its get-along during intermission between the third and short go-rounds. That’s the kind of stuff that turns viewers away, something the sports of rodeo and bull riding don’t need.

Talk about last minute: As of 2 p.m. Central time, bull rider and amazing racer Cord McCoy is en route to Indianapolis, where he’s a late replacement in the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series event, the Jack Daniels Invitational. It’s the fourth premier tour event of the season, and McCoy has worked his way up to be an alternate. Hopefully it’ll lead to him staying on the tour, which is a good thing for McCoy, his new bride, Sara, and the PBR. As far as I can tell, Cord was notified late this morning, which meant flying this afternoon and getting to Conseco Fieldhouse in time for the show, which is scheduled to begin at 6:50 p.m. Central. Talk about an amazing race. Maybe this trip is right up Cord’s alley; he’s been in this position a few times before.

Some of the best known legends in bull riding have been the bulls themselves. From Bodacious to Dillinger to Little Yellow Jacket, the bulls have been more than just half of the score of a particular ride; they’ve been superstars in the game. Young Cade Hemphill reminded me that even 3-year-olds have their favorite animal athletes. He liked Chicken On A Chain, a bull that’s been part of the PBR for five years. So what is your favorite bull going down the road now, whether in the PBR, the CBR, the PRCA or any other association? What is your favorite bull of all time?

McKennon Wimberly’s wreck last weekend while trying to ride the bull MoeBandy.com was one of the worst head-to-head collisions I’ve seen behind bull and bull rider. Wimberly, 22, of Cool, Texas, was competing in the short round of the Anaheim (Calif.) Invitational, a Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough series event. The son of five-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Joe Wimberly, McKennon is one of the outstanding young guns in the sport. He also is one of those cowboys that chooses to wear protective headgear. But in Anaheim, the lacrosse-style helmet took the brunt of just one of two blows to McKennon’s head. With the first hit, the headgear flew off; but MoeBandy.com’s bucking motion brought McKennon back down just as the bull’s head came up. The sound of the two skulls smacking was simply scary. McKennon was knocked out. He suffered a concussion and a broken jaw, the latter of which was surgically repaired Thursday at UC-Irvine Medical Center. Teenage stock contractor Mesa Pate reported Thursday on a blog posted on pbr.com that McKennon came through surgery well and that doctors were pleased. “Now it’s just a waiting game,” she wrote. “McKennon suffered serious trauma to his head and isn’t quite ready to wake up yet.” My prayers go out to McKennon, his family and his friends. He’s a great bull rider. But what’s more important, he’s an outstanding young man.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I haven’t seen a report on Leah Garcia leaving the Professional Bull Riders telecasts. In fact, a release issued Dec. 28, 2010, lists Garcia as one of the behind-the-chutes announcers, along with Erin Coscarelli. I’ve read a considerable amount of feedback from PBR fans who are unhappy with the changes on the VERSUS telecasts of events, and many fans miss Garcia and longtime announcer Justin McKee – see this post. In fact, several fans have made reference to Garcia on that link. I’ve received word from the PBR that supports the Dec. 28 news release indicating Garcia and Coscarelli are sharing the “sideline reporter” duties. But that doesn’t mean fans are happy about it. From what I gather, it’s just another straw on the camel’s back for many who aren’t happy with the changes in the TV production. What do you think?

Kindergartners at Graland County Day School got a different kind of education when ProRodeo athletes Chad Van Campen, Jule Hazen and Garrett Nokes visited with them on Jan. 14. The timed-event cowboys were in town to compete at the National Western Stock Show rodeo, and they visited the school to talk about their sport. Nokes and Hazen have qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling, and Van Campen has been one of the elite bulldoggers in the game for a number of years. The students had already prepared some questions, which the cowboys did their best to answer. It’s all great public relations for the sport, something rodeo needs. Nokes is well aware of that, so that’s why he talked his cohorts into going with him to educate the youngsters. I roped Jule and Chad into it because we were all staying at my cousin’s house in Denver,” said Nokes of McCook, Neb. “I also had my son, Parker, with me, so he went, too. “Actually, Parker stole the show. He’s my 2-year-old, and he was all dressed up cowboy and having a ball. He’s my cowboy; he eats it and sleeps it and carries ropes everywhere.” And when the 5- and 6-year-old students posed their questions, their younger counterpart was more than willing to answer. Decked out in his cowboy hat and belt, young Parker also carried his piggin’ string like a well-trained calf roper. “There was no stage fright there,” Nokes said. “He had a ball. The kids just enjoyed it. When he was showing all the kids the piggin’ string, he put it around his head and one arm like all the old men do.” The cowboys answered all sorts of questions, from the names of their horses to how fast they can run to the animals’ colors. It wasn’t the State of the Union Address, but it was a great way to get more young fans involved in rodeo. “The PRCA asked me if I could do it, and, of course, I said yes,” Nokes said. “I think the more of those kinds of deals contestants do during rodeos the better. If you have a chance to bring 100 more people to a rodeo, why wouldn’t you do it?”

I love the power of a people working together, and thousands of Professional Bull Riders fans are uniting in a single effort to get announcer Justin McKee his job back. I’m not sure it’ll work, but I applaud the effort. Justin is a rodeo announcer turned TV commentator who still loves the life on the rodeo trail. He got the job as a play-by-play commentator when the PBR became its own producer a decade ago and hired McKee and Tuff Hedeman to call the shots, replacing Dan Miller and Don Gay. The truth is, Justin and Tuff took their lumps in those early years, but each broadcast showed the two were getting better at being TV stars. McKee used his years of knowing the cowboys and understanding the bull business to continue to progress. When Tuff moved away from the PBR, Justin has teamed with a handful of others. By the time producers promoted Craig Hummer to the role of play-by-play commentator, McKee was handling the role of color analyst. He excelled at the role, even though there were a host of color analysts on set, from Ty Murray to Justin McBride to J.W. Hart. Even though he was the best analyst on each show, he was being weeded out in favor of former bull riders. PBR fans are a little miffed, as you might expect. They say the production is lacking, and they’re probably right. But it’s also the world of change, and most of us don’t like change. I watched Sunday’s final performance from Anaheim, Calif., and I will admit that there are several pieces of the puzzle missing to make a high quality production. But probably the most telling sign that fans are upset with McKee’s absence in the PBR telecasts is the Save Justin McKee page on Facebook, which has more than 1,600 fans already, including Josh Peter, author of Fried Twinkies, Buckle Bunnies, and Bull Riders, a novel about the PBR. The truth is I’d love to see Justin doing what he loves, whether explaining things on a PBR telecast or calling the action at a small rodeo in Kansas. He’s earned the right to be happy.

The cowboys from Season 16 of “The Amazing Race” are back for the 18th edition of the CBS-TV reality TV series. I plan to keep you as up to date as possible concerning the goings-on of Jet and Cord McCoy and their run at $1 million. Based on last year’s experience, I can tell you that the McCoys will be hush-hush about their racing escapades. Through the CBS promotions department, they’ll be able to conduct media interviews until the first show airs, then they won’t be able to speak until their time on the show concludes. It’s CBS’ way of protecting the integrity of the show, so it’s understandable, especially since the show was recorded this past November and December. The series begins Feb. 20. So what do you think of the globetrotting cowboys? Will Season 18 of “The Amazing Race” end with them holding the $1 million check? How do you think Jet and Cord did on this race?