That’s a bunch of bull
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 […]
A perfect fit?
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 […]
Scary collision
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 […]
Let’s talk Leah Garcia
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 […]
The education process
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 […]
This is Justin time
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 […]
They’re Amazing … again
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 […]
Done in Denver
Shane Proctor is a talented bull rider. During his run at the National Western Stock Show rodeo in Denver, he was dominating, winning all three go-rounds and the average championship. It all added up to $17,350 for the Mooresville, N.C., cowboy, who won the 2008 Toughest Cowboy competition. The No. 2 money-earner was Bo Casper […]
One round remains
We’re just a few hours away from the final go-round of the National Western Stock Show’s rodeo. As I write this, I’m still awaiting final word out of Denver about the championship-round qualifiers, the top 12 contestants in each event through the initial two rounds of competition. That news release will include the first- and second-round […]
Cade and the cowboys
My favorite thing about rodeo is the people, and I have hundreds of examples why. The most recent is when I wanted to have 3-year-old Cade Hemphill meet real professional cowboys, so I contacted saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. He was competing at the National Western Stock Show […]
It’s the start of something good
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has a long history as one of the biggest and best indoor events of the ProRodeo season. Competition began Tuesday with two nights of Bulls Night Out, while the rodeo began in earnest with slack Wednesday and Thursday mornings – the first of 30 performances took place Thursday […]
Rodriguez’s ‘Radical’ comedy a hit for bull riding fans
Ryan Rodriguez has two passions: Making people laugh and spending time with his family. Now he’s living the best of both worlds, sharing his entertainment for audiences all over the world while working with his 5-year-old son. Welcome to the world of “Radical” Ryan Rodriguez, a rodeo clown who will be part of the Professional […]
Winning despite the pain
Four-time and reigning bareback riding world champion Bobby Mote was scheduled for surgery Tuesday to repair a sports hernia – a hernia in the abdominal region just above the groin. It’s an ailment Mote has suffered with since last summer, yet he rode through the pain in through the latter half of the season – […]
‘Hollywood’ Yates bringing his ‘Wolf’ persona to PCB events
His name is Don, but he answers to other monikers. That’s the life of an entertainer, which defines Don “Hollywood” Yates, from his Elvis impersonations as a youngster to his over-the-top behavior as “Wolf” on the 2008 season of “American Gladiators.” Don, Hollywood and the Wolf will come together as another piece of the entertainment […]
The Cade of the West
Karla and Kevin Hemphill looked at their youngest child, wondering what 3-year-old Cade had in mind for Halloween. They asked the rodeo-loving youngster if he wanted to be a cowboy, much to Cade’s dismay. “Why?” he asked. “I’m already a cowboy.” The Hemphills and their three children – including daughter Josie and another son, A.J. […]
Top hands in the Sandhills
The Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo is in the books, and the champions included a couple of multiple world champions and some who are still holding tight their gold buckle dreams. Three-time world champion Will Lowe won bareback riding with an 85, while two-time and reigning world champion Cody Wright won saddle bronc riding with […]
To protect and serve
Often hidden directly in the limelight of any rodeo are the men who exchange their cowboy boots for a pair of cleats. Professional bullfighters are oftentimes the most talented athletes in any rodeo arena, and if they do their job well, you might never know about them. Why? Because they’re in the business of battling […]
Bustin’ broncs
Heading into the final two performances of the Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo in Odessa, Texas, a couple of once-young world champions are leading the way in the bucking horse riding events. Both bareback rider Will Lowe and saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy were just 20 years old when they won their first gold buckles, […]
It’s nostalgia to me
It’s been 10 years since I walked into the Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. I was transitioning into the role of rodeo correspondent for The Oklahoman newspaper, shadowing Bryan Painter, whom I was replacing on the rodeo beat. He was showing me around the International Finals Rodeo, the season-ending […]
Headlining in Houston
This week the Houston media released the concerts that will take place during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and it looks to be a terrific showcase of musical talent. Over 20 nights, RodeoHouston will host the top rodeo contestants in the land, and they’ll serve as the opening act for consecutive nights of concerts. […]
A pause for the cause
Both the Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo in Odessa, Texas, and the National Western Stock Show in Denver took a break from their Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association performances. The Odessa rodeo, which features six performances, ran last Friday-Saturday, then resumed Wednesday night for the final four shows. The Denver event used Monday-Wednesday’s show times for […]
Cord on the board
A lot has happened in Cord McCoy’s life in the last couple of years. Since November 2009, he has proposed during the PBR World Finals; videoed the 16th season of “The Amazing Race;” promoted the reality series in which he and brother Jet finished second; chased another qualification to the PBR World Finals in 2010; […]
Fennell ready to get healthy and back on the rodeo trail
The rigors of the rugged 10 nights of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo can take their toll on the athletes involved. From sore muscles and strains to broken bones and torn ligament, folks who walk away from ProRodeo’s championship event without the gold buckles given to world championships tend to feel every ache, every pain. […]
Global contest
The Professional Bull Riders has considered itself a global organization for a long time. There’s good reason. Adriano Moraes, Ednei Caminhas, Guilherme Marchi and Renato Nunes are all Brazilians, and all own the title of PBR world champion. Australian Troy Dunn also carries that prestige. This past weekend, Brazilian Valdiron de Oliveira won the Madison […]