Going old school
I had a wonderful visit with one of bull riding’s greats on Saturday, and I learned many things from Cody Custer in the process. In talking about the importance of fundamentals, Custer revealed a lesson he learned from ProRodeo Hall of Famer Denny Flynn, who prepared for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo by going back […]
Elite ProRodeo contestants eager to return to Guymon
GUYMON, Okla. – Every elite athlete can point to their early development as a starting point to excellence. For six of the qualifiers to last season’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, their foundation was laid in No Man’s Land with their education at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. From world champions like Jeff Willert and Taos Muncy […]
Focused on the tasks at hand
Taos Muncy is an outstanding bronc rider, a three-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo who won the world title in 2007, his first trip to play on ProRodeo’s biggest stage. He was just 20 years old when he first wore that gold buckle. It takes dedication, athleticism and an extreme focus to continually […]
Half a decade goes by fast
It’s strange for me to think it’s been five years since Stockton Graves won the steer wrestling title at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. That’s the reality. He’d already qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo before he qualified for the national circuit championship. But he used his pedigree, a high degree of talent […]
It’ll give you Shivers
In his career, Chris Shivers has had more 90-point rides in Professional Bull Riders events than any other cowboy, and that didn’t stop during the first night of the premier tour event in Oklahoma City. Based on statistics from the PBR’s 90 Point Club, Shivers has 85 scores in the upper echelon of rough-stock scores, […]
Alternative marketing
While checking out the Oklahoma City media market this week, I noticed an advertisement for The Split by WinStar World Casino Invitational presented by Express Employment Professionals, which is Friday-Sunday at the Ford Center. I thought it was a great marketing campaign to have Cord McCoy’s photo in the advertising the event, given he’s an […]
‘We have witnessed a miracle’
It’s been a long few weeks for McKennon Wimberly since the 22-year-old bull rider suffered a serious injury at the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series event in Anaheim, Calif. To see more, go HERE. He had surgery to repair a broken jaw, and he was hospitalized at the University of California-Irvine for several […]
It’s just not Bullnanza
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 […]
Best of the Wests?
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 […]
Calling all alums
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 […]
Fort Worth crowns its champions
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 […]
McKee, PBR together again
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 […]
The field is set
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 […]
Elite status
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 […]
This is a serious cold
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 […]
That national title is special
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 […]
Blaze destroys a home, not spirits
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 […]
Starting a season on a Lowe
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 […]
A welcome return to TV
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 […]
“That’s an expensive flight …”
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 […]
Showing emotion
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 […]
Technical difficulties
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 […]
Oh, hockey pucks
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, […]
The Flying Nun?
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.”