SPECIAL EPISODE: CBS SPORTS

SPECTACULAR: 100 RODEOS IN 100 DAYS WILL AIR ON JULY 2

Americans love their sports. You can turn on the TV pretty much any time of the day or night and find some professional sporting event that appeals to one segment of the population or another.

Football, basketball, and baseball have found consistent, mainstream success on major broadcast networks, served up via satellite, cable or a variety of streaming services in millions of homes and on millions of phones. In addition to our fondness for sports, turns out we’re pretty fond of variety as well and rodeo provides that variety. Along with the unpredictable, rough and tumble nature of it, rodeo is the perfect spectator sport.

The Cowboy Channel and RFD-TV have brought the heartpounding, pulse-racing, coast-to-coast action from rodeo arenas to rodeo fans for the last four years. It’s helped solidify our loyal fan base, further ingraining the generational love for rodeo in fans who’ve cut their teeth on the sport. While our ProRodeo fans are fed a steady diet of rodeo excitement and entertainment, it is a spectacle much of the nation is not privy to. At ProRodeo, we have an eye toward growth, to introduce our slice of Americana to the broader population. ProRodeo will get an assist with that when the rest of the world meets the western world, during a special broadcast, “CBS Sports Spectacular: 100 Rodeos in 100 Days”. The one-hour special will air at 1 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, July 2.

“This 100 Rodeos In 100 Days is intended to be a “coming back” party for the PRCA and all of its summer rodeos, and the NFR,” said Patrick Gottsch, president, and founder of Rural Media Group. “There will be prayer, the national anthem and community pride on display for the world to see. This is our chance to start connecting with a national audience like other sports and create new fans.”

The special will focus on the 100 PRCA rodeos in 100 days, including the Reno Rodeo, which concludes June 24 and will showcase the foundational values of the PRCA to a national audience. Some of the PRCA’s most iconic rodeos will be featured, along with today’s biggest ProRodeo stars like seven-time world champion Stetson Wright. The PRCA’s legendary animal athletes and their impact on ProRodeo will also be highlighted in the hourlong special.

“Rodeo fans are as passionate and loyal as they come, as far as their enthusiasm and appreciation for the sport,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “This CBS Sports Spectacular is a wonderful opportunity to share ProRodeo with a larger section of our country. It’s a chance to connect with people who likely have more in common with those of us who live the rodeo lifestyle, than they may realize.”

More than just an event, rodeo is truly a way of life. For those raised on rodeo, there is a deep affection for it, passed down from generation to generation. The pride in country, faith and family surely resonates with Americans who have yet to experience the rich history and tradition of this iconic, centuries-old sport. This television special provides a window into the world of ProRodeo athletes who spend months traversing our great country in pursuit of their gold buckle dreams, which they hope will ultimately lead them to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas each December.

Cole Reiner Moves Inside Top 15

Cole Reiner knows what it takes to reach the sport of rodeos’ summit. The Buffalo, Wyo., bareback rider, has qualified for three straight Wrangler National Finals Rodeos. After a strong weekend of competition, he finds himself right back in the Top 15 of the PRCA | RAM World Standings.

Reiner was the biggest mover over the past week, jumping up 10 spots in the standings from 18th to eighth. His big weekend was spurred by second-place finishes at the Elizabeth (Colo.) Stampede Rodeo and the Darby (Mont.) Extreme Barebacks.

His 91-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Yipee Kibitz in the finals of the Darby Extreme Bareback earned him $9,116. In total, he earned $11,891 for those three rides.

“It’s been more important than ever for me to stay patient this season,” said Reiner, 24. “I had a good winter, but it was more of a slow spring for me. I made enough in the winter to where I could wait out the good draws and go to where I know I can win. It all came together last week for me.”

One of his major goals during the 2023 season is to do more with less. That includes riding at less rodeos throughout the year and finding a way to capitalize when he draws well.

“My goal this year is to do more at less rodeos, that’s kind of always the goal I think,” Reiner said. “I’m going to go to over 40 rodeos to make sure my Xtreme money counts, but if I can hover around that 50-55 rodeo count that would be perfect in my book. It allows me to have more time at home and more time to recover.”

He believes it will help him be fresher late in the season when it counts.

“I’m looking to be really fresh in the middle of July this year and be at the top of my game when it really counts. There’s a lot of money to be won around then,” he said. “If I can do that, I think I’ll be exactly where I want to be when September rolls around.”

National exposure on a major television network has the potential to create the kind of excitement and interest needed to bring fresh faces to rodeo, creating an entirely new generation of people who appreciate what rodeo and the western way of life have to offer. With your help, we’ll give it an honest try.

Mark your calendars, tell your neighbors, set your DVRs for Sunday, July 2 at 1 p.m. (ET) for the “CBS Sports Spectacular – 100 Rodeos in 100 Days”.

BY LIZZIE IWERSEN COURTESY TETONRIDGEPLUS.COM