contents
Table of contents
4... Greetings 48... Contenders 8... Schedules 16... Season in Review 26... Justin McBride Retires 70... Adriano Moraes Retires 78... 15 Year Retrospective 28... Inside the PBR 100... Cody’s all-stars 112... the Ring of Honor y The Riders Collectible Cards y 50... Guilherme Marchi: Second to None y 52... Scouting Report y 60... Attack of the Killer Bs y 64... Class of 2008
y Gretzky, Elway Cowboy Up y Williams Makes it a Two-fer on the Challenger Tour y It’s in the Blood y McBride Becomes Richest Cowboy in History y Six with Shorty (Gorham on the Bullfighting Life) y Major Improvements at pbrnow.com y On Top of the World y Bulls Team Up y PBR Stars Support our Troops
116... Who’s Who
y The Dickies Durabullfighters y Flint Rasmussen y TV Announcers y Arena Announcers y Medical Team y Judges/Cody Lambert y PBR Staff
130... PBR 101 132... PBR Archives 144 ... Official PBR Sponsors 160... Dedication
Publisher Christopher Burkhardt VP of Publications/FanCorp Editor Susan Bedford PBR Editor-in-Chief Jeff Johnstone Contributing Editors Keith Ryan Cartwright, Ben D’Andrea, Kaelan Hollon, Brett Hoffman Graphics Wrangler Cedric Maniquiz Director of Operations Jeannie Kaiser Marketing Cindy Gotoski 714-717-1548, Jeannie Kaiser 714-434-2579, Darren Epstein 661-263-3200 Photographers Allen Glanville, Andy Watson, Matt Brenneman 4
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5
Greetings
F
ifteen years, and look how far we’ve come. When I think about it, maybe the only constant in the PBR has been change. This year has been no different. By that, I mean it’s been very different. We introduced the draft system, which has proven to be a hit with riders and fans alike. We got the Bull Team challenge underway, offering Randy Bernard a $1.1 million in prize money to our PBR CEO outstanding stock contractors. The Team Shootout was introduced on ESPN, bringing the thrill of bull riding to millions more. In the next two weeks, we will bid a very fond farewell to three-time World Champion Adriano Moraes. Adriano has been a staple of the PBR from the beginning – indeed, he was our very first World Champion. I need not remind any fan of bull riding of what he has meant to the sport. Let me simply say that without him as athlete, mentor, ambassador and champion, we would not be where we are today. Thank you, Adriano.
T
wo of the greatest bull riders in history will be retiring in Las Vegas. We’ve known for most of the season that this would be the last Finals for three-time PBR World Champion Adriano Moraes, but two-time PBR World Champion Justin McBride’s retirement came as a bit of a shock and a surprise. It is hard to believe it was 15 years ago in 1994 that I was first competing against Adriano Moraes. I watched him being crowned the PBR’s first-ever World Champion and winning about $65,000. Flash forward seven years to 2001 and Adriano is beating me for his second world title and taking home $458,798. Justin had been on the scene just a few years by then, but it was already obvious that he had serious talent. Another four years down the road and I’m retired and Justin is winning his first title. That next year Adriano is winning his third PBR crown — an unprecedented record — and $1,362,572 dollars. The following year in 2007 Justin took his second crown. This year Justin eclipsed the $5,000,000 mark in career earnings. Words really do not do justice to what these men have meant to our sport. Perhaps only their titles are an accurate reflection of their amazing athletic ability. One thing that can’t be measured is the legacy they will leave behind and the impact they have had on bull riding. Justin was the leader of a new wave of riders we had enter the PBR in the late 90s. He was part of the new generation who came along and started their professional careers in the PBR. In Justin’s illustrious career he rode only in the PBR. He became one of the sports most dominant champions and after riding bulls for 10 years was able to retire at the age of 29 as a multi-millionaire — in other words, he was able to do exactly what we founding fathers had hoped for when we started the PBR in 1992.
6
2008 PBR World Finals
Of course, Adriano is not our only retiring superstar. We must also bid a fond farewell to two-time World Champion Justin McBride. Compared to Adriano’s, Justin’s career has been short. But in that time, he’s blazed a trail for future generations. Earlier this year, he established the all-time earnings record for Western sports, topping the $5 million mark. It is my hope – and I know it’s Justin’s hope, too – that one day a $5 million career will be commonplace for PBR bull riders. Adriano and Justin, Godspeed. Thank you for all you have done for bull riding. You are both strong allies and close friends, and I look forward to working with you on the next successful chapters of your lives. This year, our sponsors have become more vital than ever before. Their support has not only sustained us, but allowed us take the PBR to new heights. On behalf of our fans, staff, athletes, and the sport of bull riding itself: Thank you, sponsors. In addition, I’d like to recognize my staff for their untiring efforts. They have taken on more and more responsibility as we’ve grown, and they still manage to pull it off. I am proud to call them my team. Finally, and most importantly, thank you, fans. Through all the changes, your devotion has sustained us. We hope that as you enjoy the 15th Built Ford Tough World Finals, you’ll remember that in the end, this is all for you. Wow… 15 years. And the ride has just begun.
Adriano was a trailblazer, paving the way for young guys from Brazil to come to the U.S. to try their hand against the best of the best. That led to Ednei Caminhas becoming the 2002 World Champion and now it looks like another Brazilian, Guilherme Marchi, could be the 2008 PBR World Champion. The talented cowboy has been runner-up to the world champion every year since 2005. I think it is only fitting that as we usher out a great like Adriano, odds are good we will be Ty Murray ushering in another Brazilian who will PBR Co-Founder leave an indelible mark on the sport. 9-Time World Champion This will be a landmark Finals. For me it is somewhat bittersweet to see two of the last greats I competed alongside retiring. There will never be another Adriano or another Justin, but I assure you that alongside the current greats, new legends are already emerging. Bull riding is a brotherhood and the PBR is lucky to have the best from the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Australia and Mexico. Thank you for being a part of our 15th PBR World Finals celebration and I hope you enjoy watching history unfold.
Matt Brenneman
Daily Activity Schedule TIME
ACTIVITY
LOCATION
Friday, October 31
TIME
ACTIVITY
LOCATION
3 PM
ABBI Select Sale
South Point Hotel
RRF Blackjack Tournament
Golden Nugget Hotel
10 AM-5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
6-9 PM
2 PM
First Round RRF Calcutta
South Point Hotel
Thursday, November 6
4-6 PM
Thomas & Mack FanZone
Thomas & Mack Center
10 AM-5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay South Point Hotel
1st Round of Competition
Thomas & Mack Arena
12-2 PM
6-9 PM
Adriano Moraes Retirement Celebration $20 (702-797-8055)
2 PM
Second Round RRF Calcutta
South Point Hotel
Halloween Party
Night Club PBR– South Point
4-6 PM
Thomas & Mack FanZone
Thomas & Mack Center
9 PM
Saturday, November 1 8 AM
Bull Pen’s Vet/Breeder Seminar
South Point Hotel
6-9 PM
4th Round of Competition / ABBI Classic Short Go
9-11AM
Team PBR Meet & Greet
Mandalay Bay / FanZone
10 PM
Bellamy Bros. at After Party
11-5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
Friday, November 7
4-6 PM
Thomas & Mack FanZone
Thomas & Mack Center
10 AM – 5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
10:30 AM
5th Round Draft
Mandalay Bay
6-9 PM
2nd Round of Competition
Thomas & Mack Arena
4-6 PM
Thomas & Mack FanZone
Thomas & Mack Center
9:30 PM
3rd Round Draft & After Party
Night Club PBR– NASCAR Café at Sahara
6-9 PM
5th Round of Competition
Thomas & Mack Arena
10 PM
After Party
Night Club PBR– Moorea Beach At M.Bay
Sunday, November 2
Thomas & Mack Arena South Point Mandalay Bay
8 AM- Noon
Judging Seminar
South Point Hotel
9-10 AM
Outreach Church Service
TBD
Saturday, November 8
10 AM-3 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
Team PBR Meet & Greet
1-3 PM
Thomas & Mack FanZone
Thomas & Mack Center
9-10:30 AM 11 AM - 5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
4-6 PM
Thomas & Mack FanZone
Thomas & Mack Center
6-9 PM
6th Round of Competition
Thomas & Mack Arena
After Party
Night Club PBR– NASCAR Café at Sahara
3-6 PM
3rd Round of Competition
Thomas & Mack Arena
Monday, November 3 Noon-5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
1 PM
ABBI Futurity Long Go
Thomas & Mack Arena
10 PM
7 PM
The Bull Pen Bash
Stoney’s Rockin’ Country – Free Party!
Sunday, November 9
Tuesday, November 4 12-5 PM 1 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
ABBI Classic Long Go
Thomas & Mack Arena
9 AM
Clay Shoot For RRF
Desert Lakes Shooting Club
10 AM
ABBI Futurity Short Go
Thomas & Mack Arena
12-5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
1-3 PM
Stock Contractors Banquet $40 (702-797-8055)
South Point Hotel
10
Schedules
8-9 AM
Outreach Church Service
Cox Pavilion at Thomas & Mack
10 AM-Noon
Thomas & Mack FanZone
Thomas & Mack Center
11:30 AM - 2 PM Final Rounds of Competition
Wednesday, November 5
Mandalay Bay / FanZone
6-8 PM
World Champion Circle Awards & Banquet $70 (702-797-8055)
Thomas & Mack Arena South Point Hotel
2008 Enterprise
Main Stage Schedule The Enterprise Main Stage is located in the PBR FanZone & Marketplace outside Mandalay Bay
DATE/TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
DATE/TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
Thursday, NovEMBER 6
Friday, October 31 10 AM - 5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
Noon - 1 PM
Flint Rasmussen “Outside The Barrel”
Enterprise Main Stage
1:15-2 PM
Live Entertainment Bluefield
Enterprise Main Stage
2-2:45 PM
Live Entertainment Kate And Kacey Coppola
Enterprise Main Stage
3-5 PM
Out Of The Chute Video Game Playoff
Enterprise Main Stage
10 AM - 5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
10:30-11:30 AM
Round 4 Draft With 45 Contestants
Enterprise Main Stage
Noon - 1 PM
Flint Rasmussen “Outside The Barrel”
Enterprise Main Stage
1-1:15 PM
RRF “Shirt Off Your Back” Promotion
Enterprise Main Stage
1:30-2 PM
Live Entertainment Zane Lewis
Enterprise Main Stage
2-2:30 PM
Live Entertainment Emma Jacob
Enterprise Main Stage
Saturday, NovEMBER 1 9 AM - 5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
4-5 PM
Out Of The Chute Video Game Playoff
Enterprise Main Stage
10:30-11:30 AM
Round 2 Draft With 45 Contestants
Enterprise Main Stage
5-9 PM
Exclusive Genetics Rehearsal
Enterprise Main Stage
Flint Rasmussen “Outside The Barrel”
Enterprise Main Stage
1-1:15 PM
RRF “Shirt Off Your Back” Promotion
1:30-2:15 PM
Live EntertainmentKate And Kacey Coppola
2:15-3:30 PM 4-5 PM
Noon - 1 PM
Friday, NovEMBER 7 10 AM - 5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
Enterprise Main Stage
10:30-11:30 AM
Round 5 Draft With 45 Contestants
Enterprise Main Stage
Enterprise Main Stage
Noon - 1 PM
Flint Rasmussen “Outside The Barrel”
Enterprise Main Stage
Live Entertainment - Bluefield Enterprise Main Stage
1-1:15 PM
Enterprise Main Stage
Out Of The Chute Video Game Playoff
RRF “Shirt Off Your Back” Promotion
1:30-2:15 PM
Live Entertainment Emma Jacob
Enterprise Main Stage
Enterprise Main Stage
Sunday, NovEMBER 2 10 AM - 5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
2:15-3 PM
Live Entertainment Zane Lewis
Enterprise Main Stage
11 AM - Noon
Out Of The Chute Video Game Playoff
Enterprise Main Stage
3-5 PM
Exclusive Genetics Draft
Enterprise Main Stage
Live Entertainment James Intveld & Band
Enterprise Main Stage
1-2 PM
Saturday, NovEMBER 8
Monday, NovEMBER 3 Noon - 5 PM
FanZone & Marketplace FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
Wednesday, NovEMBER 5 Noon - 5 PM
12
FanZone & Marketplace
Schedules
FanZone & Marketplace
Mandalay Bay
10:30-11:30 AM
Round 6 Draft With 45 Contestants
Enterprise Main Stage
Noon - 1 PM
Flint Rasmussen “Outside The Barrel”
Enterprise Main Stage
1-1:15 PM
RRF “Shirt Off Your Back” Promotion
Enterprise Main Stage
1:30-2:30 PM
Live Entertainment Zane Lewis
Enterprise Main Stage
2:30-3:30 PM
Live Entertainment Emma Jacob
Enterprise Main Stage
3:30-5 PM
Exclusive Genetics Draft
Enterprise Main Stage
Mandalay Bay
Tuesday, November 4 Noon - 5 PM
9 AM - 5 PM
Mandalay Bay
2009 BUILT FORD TOUGH SERIES Sc h e d u l e Jan. 2-3
Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
Jan. 9-11
New York, NY Madison Square Garden
Jan. 16
Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
Jan. 17-18
Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena
Jan. 24-25
Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Jan. 30-31
Winston-Salem, NC Lawrence Joel Coliseum
Feb. 22
Glendale, AZ Jobing.com Arena
Feb. 27-Mar. 1
St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Mar. 7-8
Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Mar. 14-15
Springfield, MO JQH Arena
Las Vegas, NV WORLD FINALS - Thomas & Mack
Aug. 15-16
**Dates and locations are subject to change.
Mar. 27-29
Nashville, TN Sommet Center
Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
Feb. 13-15
Billings, MT The NILE
Feb. 20-21
Schedules
Aug. 8-9
Sept. 11-12
Apr. 3-5
Minneapolis, MN Target Center
Apr. 17-19
Reno, NV Lawlor Events Center
Apr. 24-25
Omaha, NE Qwest Center
May 1-3
Worcester, MA DCU Center
14
Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Mar. 21-22
Feb. 7-8
Anaheim, CA Honda Center
Aug. 1-2
Oct. 16-18
Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino
San Antonio, TX TBD
Nampa, ID Idaho Center
Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center
July 17-19
Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Oct. 10-11
Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
Birmingham, AL Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex
Feb. 6
Tallahassee, FL Leon County Civic Center
May 16-17
Pueblo, CO TBD
BFTS sched
Albuquerque, NM University of New Mexico ‘The Pit’
Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
May 8-9
Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
Sept. 18-20
Sept. 27-28
Ontario, CA Citizen’s Business Bank Arena
Oct. 3-4
Portland, OR Rose Garden Arena
Las Vegas, NV WORLD FINALS - Thomas & Mack
Nov. 5-8
For a second year in a row, the 2009 PBR World Finals will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center. The first weekend of competition will run from October 30-November 1, 2009 with the second weekend held on November 5-8, 2009. Exclusive to TeamPBR members only, tickets for the 2009 World Finals tickets will be available on Friday, October 17. The general public will have access to tickets on Friday, October 31. Don’t miss your opportunity to watch the world’s best bull riders LIVE as they tour the country week in and week out, all chasing the coveted 2009 World Championship title! For more information on the PBR or the 2009 BFTS schedule, go to www.pbrnow.com.
• Down Home Cookin’ • Live Entertainment 7 Days a Week • Tons of Toby Keith Memorabilia & Merchandise • 11:30am – 2am Sun. – Thurs. • 11:30am – 4am Fri. – Sat.
ON THE SECOND FLOOR PROMENADE NEAR THE MONORAIL ENTRANCE Bring this coupon in for one free drink at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill located on the second floor promenade at Harrah’s Las Vegas. Valid for one drink only. Valid for up to $9.00.
Offer Code: PBR08
Exp. date: 11/10/08
Management reserves all rights. Gratuity not included. No cash value. Any attempt to sell or auction shall nullify this offer. Valid at Harrah’s Las Vegas only. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. ©2008, Harrah’s License Company, LLC. 1600-302-08
Andy Watson
Season in Review
I
t’s one of the great ironies in the sporting world: The toughest, most physically demanding sport on the planet also has the longest season. The past 10 months have seen some of the best rides in bull riding history. They’ve seen kids just out of high school become worldwide celebrities. Legends have set the stage for their final curtain calls. Great athletes have been injured beyond repair. Today, in Las Vegas, history is on the line. Forty-five men have shown the determination, skill, and courage to make it this far. This is how they got here.
PBR Announces New Draft System
PUEBLO, Colo. (December 10, 2007) - The PBR has announced a new draft system that will allow bull riders to choose their bulls at Built Ford Tough Series events. The new format kicks off on January 4-6 at the VERSUS Invitational at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Draft - 2008 Worcester Built Ford Tough Series event.
The system works by allowing the bull rider who wins round one to pick his bull first for the second round. He is followed in succession by the remaining 44 contestants based on scores. After all of the riders who received scores have selected their bulls, the riders will select their bulls based on their buckoff times, with the quickest buckoff time picking last. Date
Atlanta
Dec. 29-30
New York
Jan. 4-6
Event Copenhagen Bull Riding Invitational VERSUS Invitational
Winner
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride Mike Lee on 84.51 Hot Stuff, 90.25 Chris Shivers 44 85.22 on Cat Man Do, 90.75
Best Bull
Mike Lee 54.29
The Game
Valiron de Oliveira
Big Bucks/ Copperhead Slinger
PBR Legend Moraes Announces Retirement
NEW YORK (January 4, 2008) - As he begins his 15th season on the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. circuit, legendary bull rider Adriano Moraes officially announced today that the 2008 Built Ford Tough Series season will be the last of his bull riding career.
18
Season in Review
“I feel that the only way I can go back to my old form is if I make this announcement,” said Moraes. “If I have three more years, I am not going to put the effort out. By announcing this is my last year, I’m not going to waste any time.”
PBR Institutes Drug Testing Policy
NEW YORK (January 6) – The PBR has developed a PBR Bull Testing Committee which is introducing a Steroid Testing Policy for the 2008 season. Under the new policy, the PBR will test the top performing bulls at various events throughout the season. A stock contractor whose bull is found to have yielded a positive test result will be subject to discipline by the Committee.
The PBR on CSI
PUEBLO, Colo. (January 8) - Television’s No. 1 crime drama, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION will feature the PBR in an allnew episode on Jan. 10 on CBS. In the episode, titled “Bull,” the CSI team investigates two murders during the PBR World Finals in Vegas that may be connected to illegal bull breeding.
Andy Watson (Worcester Draft, Adriano Moraes)
City
Adriano Moraes announces his retirement at the New York Built Ford Tough Series event.
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who have chosen a more rugged outdoor life, full of fresh air and hard work. We specialize in making sure your tractor is equal to the passion you bring to the activities that you love. Our goal is to give you the highest quality products at a fair price. Whatever your expectations, we plan to blow them away.
Season in Review (cont.) City
Date
Event
Worcester
Jan. 11-13
Worcester Classic
Fresno
Jan. 18
Table Mountain Casino Invitational
Sacramento Jan. 19-20
Sacramento Classic
Albany
Albany Invitational
Jan. 26-27
Winner
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride Travis Briscoe Travis on 47.65 86.22 Briscoe Copperhead Slinger, 95 Jason Bennett Travis 50 85.68 on Rudolph, Briscoe 90.75 Colby Yates Nick 46.53 84.42 on Hypnotic, Landreneau 91 Paulo Crimber on Travis Livewire/ 37.14 86.98 Briscoe Kasey Hayes on Shane, 90.75
Best Bull Copperhead Slinger Rez Boy Troubadour
Party Time/ Copperhead Slinger
Mike Lee Goes 10 in a Row
WORCESTER, Mass. (January 13) - Despite getting bucked off in Sunday’s short-go, 2004 World Champion Mike Lee made history by starting the season off with the longest streak ever. The Decatur, Texas cowboy rode 10 straight bulls though Atlanta, New York, and Worcester. Covering 10 straight bulls is unusual. Covering 10 in a row to start the season is unheard of.
however, the 27-year-old would have never guessed it would take him seven years to do so. After scoring a 90.5 on All In in the short-go of the Anaheim Invitational, all Crimber could do was patiently wait. “I just need to keep riding ‘em like I am,” he told a nationally televised audience, “and I’ll get one, one of these days.” Once leader Brendon Clark and newcomer Pistol Robinson were unable to cover in the short-go, the wait was finally over for Crimber.
Nunes Sets ’08 Record on Chicken on a Chain
ST. LOUIS (February 24) – No one quite knows what to make of Renato Nunes getting down on all fours and kicking his legs up in the air like a bucking bull. But the 26-year-old fast-rising star on the Built Ford Tough Series has a lot to smile about.
Briscoe Claims Top Spot
Crimber Wins Second Event in 10 Years Anaheim, Calif. (February 10) - Paulo Crimber knew that eventually he would earn himself another Built Ford Tough Series event title; City WinstonSalem
Anaheim
20
Date
Feb. 1-2
Feb. 8-10
Event Winner Salem NationaLease Kasey Invitational Hayes hosted by Jerome Davis
Anaheim Invitational
Paulo Crimber
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride
52.43
52
Season in Review
Best Bull
86.02
Kasey Hayes on Camo, 92
Chicken on a Chain
85.65
Brendon Clark/Soulja Boy, Paulo Crimber/All God’s Gift In, Robson Palermo/ Tighty Whitey, 90.5
Renato Nunes rides Robinson/Tedesco/ Larry the Cable Guy’s Chicken on a Chain for 95.75 points during the championship round of the St. Louis Built Ford Tough Series event.
This weekend he recorded two 90-point rides in St. Louis, including a career-defining 95.75 in the short go of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Invitational on the back of Chicken on a Chain. “That was a ride for the ages,” said VERSUS announcer Craig Hummer about the 11th highest scored ride in the history of the PBR. City
Date
Event
St. Louis
Enterprise Feb. 22-24 Rent-A-Car Invitational
Winner Renato Nunes
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride Best Bull Renato Nunes on Chicken Chicken on a 57.52 86.87 on a Chain, Chain 95.75
Andy Watson (Travis Briscoe on Copperhead Slinger, Renato Nunes on Chicken on a Chain)
WORCESTER, Mass. (January 13) - On Sunday evening in Worcester, Mass., Travis Briscoe put up one of the highest scores in PBR history. Travis Briscoe rides Berger/Ryken/Larson’s Briscoe topped Copperhead Copperhead Slinger for 95 points during the Slinger − Berger, Ryken and championship round of the 2008 Worcester Larson’s notorious bad-boy bull Built Ford Tough Series event. − for an astounding 95 points in the championship round of the Worcester Classic. The effort earned him the event title and $35,414 for the weekend. Not since 2004, when Michael Gaffney rode the famous Little Yellow Jacket to a record-tying 96.5 points, has anyone scored as high as Briscoe. Riding 90 percent of his bulls so far this year, Briscoe finds himself ranked first in the Built Ford Tough Series.
Season in Review (cont.) PBR On Pace to Shatter Record for Most 90-point Rides in One Season
ST. LOUIS (February 25) − For the third time this season, eight or more riders scored 90 or more points throughout the three-day event in St. Louis. There were also eight 90-point rides in Albany and another nine in Worcester, Mass. “We’re on pace for a record-setting year,” said Justin McKee, who first noted the spike a few weeks back during the VERSUS television broadcast. In just nine events, there have already been 45 scores of 90-points or better compared to the 54 from all of last year.
Briscoe Falls From Top of Leader Board
BALTIMORE (March 2) − Two seconds into his first ride of the Baltimore Invitational, Travis Briscoe was already in serious jeopardy of losing his No.1 ranking. It went wrong the moment the gate opened, and it only got worse. City Baltimore
Date March 1-2
Event Baltimore Invitational
Winner Robson Palermo
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride Robson Palermo on 49.52 85.44 Booger Butt, 91.5
Chicken on a Chain
Marchi and Copperhead Slinger Dance Twice in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore. (March 14) −It’s not every day that you get to see a matchup between the top-ranked rider in the world and a bull that has a very real shot at a World Champion title. So the crowd in Portland was excited to see Guilherme Marchi ride Copperhead Slinger in the short go. Date
Event
Cabela’s Kansas City March 8-9 Classic Portland
March 14
Portland Invitational
Winner
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride J.B. Mauney 86.88 on Ricky Bobby, 91.5 Kody Lostroh Guilherme 65 83.56 on TroubaMarchi dour, 93.5
Guilherme 62.5 Marchi
TACOMA, Wash. (March 16) Chris Shivers looked like a relieved man Sunday. Following the 70th 90-point ride of his career, the crowd inside the Tacoma Dome stood and cheered as confetti blew out over the bull riding arena. Shivers’ win at the Tacoma Invitational was his first since he won in Phoenix during the 2006 season. “This weekend I lucked out and drew three good bulls that have thrown me off before,” Shivers said, “and I just got by ‘em.” City
Date
Event
Winner
Tacoma
March 15-16
Tacoma Invitational
Chris Shivers
Best Bull
Briscoe did more than just fall off of Double Deuce; he fell from being the top-ranked bull rider to third in the standings. By the end of the weekend he was 86.25 points behind Robson Palermo and a distant 273.75 points behind No. 1-ranked Guilherme Marchi.
City
Shivers Wins First BFTS Event Since 2006
Best Bull Crooked Face/ Jacob’s Pet/ Bonafide White Magic
March Albuquerque 28-30
Sandia Resort & Casino L.J. presents the Jenkins Ty Murray Invitational
62
87.25
Nampa
April 3-5
Nampa Invitational
Luke Snyder
51.7
86.33
Omaha
April 11-12
Omaha Classic
Brian Canter
66.35
84.92
Avalanche/ Voodoo Child Charlie Bullware Nervous Waters
PUEBLO, Colo. (April 17) – The PBR is 16 events into the 2008 season and already Guilherme Marchi has proven he can ride any bull in any round in any city. His season average – 80.85 percent – is almost 18 percentage points above his career average of 63.33. Robson Palermo and Paulo Crimber are battling injuries, while Valdiron de Oliveira missed the Albuquerque event so that he could return home to Brazil to deal with a family issue. After winning two of the first four events and three of the first six, Travis Briscoe hasn’t even made the short go in the past five events – with a 19th place finish in his home state of New Mexico being his best outing during that stretch of time. In the past week, Luke Snyder has mentioned on more than one occasion that in spite of his win in Nampa, even with Marchi’s lessthan-perfect performance in Omaha, he doesn’t see anyone realistically challenging Marchi – at least not in the foreseeable future. Reese Cates, on the other hand, wrote in his weekly blog that his fellow riders are like a pack wolves and that any one of a trio – Kody Lostroh, L.J. Jenkins and J.B. Mauney – could see Marchi’s nagging ankle as a sign of weakness and seize the moment
Billings
Season in Review
Ross Coleman on God’s Gift, 91.5 Brian Canter on Hot Stuff, 92.5
White Magic
Midway Point of BFTS Results in More Questions Than Answers
City
22
Ross Coleman on Spit Fire, 92
Best Bull
Date April 18-20
Event NILE Invitational presented by Cooper Tires
Winner Zack Brown
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride 55.33
84.87
Helton Barbosa on Spit Fire, 91.5
Best Bull Voodoo Child
Mark Scott (Chris Shivers)
Anticipation turned to disappointment when Chad Berger’s bull bottomed out on the dirt within seconds of trying to unseat Marchi. But the Rose Garden crowd cheered when it was announced that Berger had agreed run his premiere bovine right back out for Marchi’s re-ride. This time, Marchi and Copperhead Slinger got a clean start out of the bucking chute, and 8 seconds later, the Brazilian covered his 13th consecutive bull, with a score of 92.25 – his sixth 90-point ride of 2008.
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride J.B. Mauney on Say I 56.44 86.28 Won’t Gunner, 93.25
Season in Review (cont.) Zack Brown Defeats a Ghost
BILLINGS, Mont. (April 20) − Zack Brown took home the Billings event title…three years after he was almost killed here. Brown had been taken out of MetraPark Arena on a stretcher in 2005, and was forced into temporary retirement. “I’ve never held anything against this arena,” he said. “My past injuries definitely made riding at this weekend’s event a great story and I’m glad I could ride well and pull through for everyone following it.”
Marchi Wins Third Event, Extends Lead for First World Title
DES MOINES, Iowa (May 3) - Guilherme Marchi’s riding percentage of 80.36 this late in the season – 19 of 32 Built Ford Tough Events are already in the record books – is unmatched in the 15-year history of the PBR. City
Date
Des Moines May 2-3
Event
Winner
Des Moines Classic
Guilherme 67.31 Marchi
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride L.J. Jenkins 87.25 on Scaredy Cat, 92
Date April 26-27
San Antonio
May 17
Orlando
June 6-7
Event
Winner
Best Bull
Cooper Tires Invitational
Adriano Moraes/ Dustin Hall
Chicken on a Chain
Ford Best in Texas Shootout Git-R-Done Invitational hosted by Tater Porter & presented by Cooper Tires
Sean Will65.38 ingham
Shivers’ face crushed in chute
83.5
Hot Pistol
J.B. Mauney Chicken on a on Wild Life, Chain 90.75
CHICAGO (April 26) - Chris Shivers suffered a broken left cheekbone and broken eye socket in the short go here when the bull he was riding – Cowboy – slammed him head-first against the metal railing inside the bucking chute. Shivers never lost consciousness, but is out indefinitely while doctors determine the full severity of the injury, and determine if it will require surgery.
24
Season in Review
Crimber Out, Career in Jeopardy
Jacob’s Pet
ORLANDO, Fla. (June 8) - “It’s just a tragedy.” Those were the words from a somber Adriano Moraes earlier this afternoon, following the unfortunate news that fellow Brazilian rider Paulo Crimber had broken his neck for the second time this season. Crimber competed this weekend in Orlando – his first event in more than three months Paula Crimber on Roughneck. 2008 after breaking a vertebra earlier Orlando Built Ford Tough Series PBR event. this season at a Built Ford Tough Series event in St. Louis – but was hurt in the first round of the Git-RDone Invitational. The injury came just 5.4 seconds into his return when he was bucked off the right side of Roughneck onto his head, neck and shoulder region. The injury was likely made worse when the bull stumbled into him. “It is an even worse fracture,” said Moraes, who has been with Crimber and his family around the clock since they returned home to Texas. “It is career-threatening.”
McBride Returns
DALLAS (June 21) - Two-time PBR World Champion Justin McBride has been missing in action for the first half of the 2008 Built Ford Tough Series, but that all will change in Dallas. McBride will get on a bull for the first time in a little more than seven months on Saturday. McBride has been out of competition due to shoulder surgery in November 2007.
Andy Watson (Paulo Crimber on Roughneck); Mark Scott (Zack Brown)
Chicago
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride Adriano Moraes on 72.38 85.63 Say I Won’t Gunner, 90.75 J.B. Mauney Valdiron 73.33 88.17 on Wild de Oliveira Life, 90
CHICAGO (April 27) - The 2008 Built Ford Tough Series has already featured 88 90-point rides – 15 more than all of last season, and there are still 16 events left on the schedule – and the riding averages, to this point, were higher than they’ve ever been this far into the season. That is, until this weekend. In Chicago, 22 cowboys accounted for 29 rides in 105 outs for a meager 27.6 percent riding average, which is by far the lowest of the 2008 season. In fact, until Chicago, the lowest average (33.3 percent) came two weeks ago in Omaha, which could well be an indication that after this weekend’s event in Des Moines, the riders are definitely ready for a break (of some sort). There have been 18 BFTS events to this point in the 2008 season, and 13 times the Top 45 riders in the world have covered 40 percent or better. Of the five events that haven’t seen that level, two have been in the past three weeks, three have come in the past five weeks and all five have been in the past eight weeks, beginning with Kansas City (37.1 percent).
Best Bull
The 25-year-old Brazilian covered all three of his bulls in Des Moines for his third event win of 2008, as he extended his overall lead to 2,846.75 points over Kody Lostroh. L.J. Jenkins, Valdiron de Oliveira and J.B. Mauney round out the Top 5 riders in the world. Marchi has covered 45 of 56 bulls, including one stretch in which he rode 14 straight and 22 of 23 bulls. Even when that particular run of 23 outs ended in the short go at Nampa, he was a mere second away from making the whistle yet again. In that time span he registered seven Top 10 finishes, of which six were Top 5, including back-to-back event wins in Kansas City and Portland. City
Rank Pen Takes Advantage of Beat-up Cowboys
Season in Review (cont.) City
Date
Dallas
June 21-22
Event Dickies American Worker of the Year Invitational presented by Pike Electric
Winner
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride
Mike Lee
66.06
86.67
Brendon Clark on Gnash, 92
Best Bull
Mike White rides Julio Moreno’s Troubadour for 95.75 points during the championship round of the 2008 Tulsa Built Ford Tough event.
Grey Dog
The PBR Showcases the New PBR Team Shootout on ESPN2
PUEBLO, Colo. (June 26) - The PBR will debut the 2008 PBR Team Shootout, a new two-man team competition featuring the greatest bull riders in the world. The five-event original series will occur at select bull riding events across the country and will be shown exclusively on ESPN2. The series marks the PBR’s first bull riding broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks.
The new format will showcase the top 20 bull riders in the elite Built Ford Tough Series world standings, and a teammate of their choice from all eligible PBR card holders. Each team member will ride two bulls at each event, with the highest score on four bulls determining the winning team. In these winner-take-all events, each team will compete to take home individual event purses, and all teams will be competing for points to qualify for the 2008 PBR Team Shootout final event. The team that wins the season title will take home the entire championship purse.
Mike Lee Takes $100K Purse in Calgary
CALGARY, Alberta (July 13) – 2004 PBR World Champion Mike Lee claimed the $100,000 championship title at the 2008 Calgary Stampede held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Lee returns to the United States $114,583 richer. Lee joins a prestigious list of previous Calgary Stampede champions, including Oregon superstar Ross Coleman, three-time PBR World Champion Adriano Moraes, former PBR Rookie of the Year and PBR World Finals Event Winner J.W. Hart, and nine-time World Champion and PBR Co-Founder, Ty Murray.
TULSA, Okla. (July 20) − In a region where the bulls are traditionally tough, the Professional Bull Riders tour stop this weekend featured an unusually tough final round and a compelling victory by the defending World Champion. Fans witnessed one of the best final rounds in a long time, as five riders turned in scores in the elite 90s. Mike White, a DeKalb, Texas, cowboy, who finished second overall, led the charge with an unusually
26
Season in Review
City Tulsa
Date
Event Winner Express Classic presented Justin July 18-20 by Creek Na- McBride tion Casino
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride 60.53
87.13
Mike White on Troubadour, 95.75
Best Bull Troubadour
Defending World Champion Justin McBride, who won the title, came in second in the final with a 94.5 on Voodoo Child. Cord McCoy was third with a 91.25 aboard a bull named Ricky Bobby. Guilherme Marchi was fourth with a 91 on What I Say, and Mike Lee posted a 90.75 atop California Dreaming.
Reigning World Champion Bull out with illness
PUEBLO, Colo. (July 21) - Chicken on a Chain, the defending World Champion Bull, is on the sidelines. The 2007 champion,
Andy Watson (Mike Lee on Troubadour)
Short Go for the Ages
high score of 95.75 atop Troubadour, owned by Julio Moreno Bucking Bulls. White said he thrived on staying in sync with the rapid-fire spinner throughout the 8-second ride.
owned by Jeff Robinson, Mike Tedesco and Larry the Cable Guy, is being treated at the North Carolina-based Mills River Animal Hospital for urolithiasis – the forming of stones in the kidney, bladder and/or urinary tract. The dark brown bull began showing signs of severe abdominal discomfort, dehydration, weight loss and high fever soon after being featured in the June 20 final round of the Built Ford Tough Series tour stop in Tulsa, Okla. Shortly after the Tulsa show, Robinson transported his prize bull to the veterinary medicine clinic, where Chicken on a Chain’s kidney stones were removed. He is continuing to receive treatment for dehydration and infection. City
Edmonton
Glendale
Nashville
Date
Event Montana Tractors Invitational/ July 24-26 Rocky Cup presented by Dickies Built Ford Tough Aug. 1-2 Invitational presented by Cooper Tires
Winner
Aug. 29-30
Jack Daniel’s Invitational
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride
Guilherme 66.35 Marchi
85.35
Mike White Say I Won’t on 7 Seconds, Gunner 91.75
Clayton Williams
63.81
85.64
L.J. Jenkins on Southern Gangster, 90.25
Justin McBride
71.96
86.66
Justin McBride on Bones Billionaire, 93
Gnash
PASO ROBLES, Calif. (August 5) − Brian Canter was injured Sunday evening in the fourth and final round of the PBR Team Shootout in Paso Robles, Calif. Canter, who scored an 88.5 on Hummer, was dismounting when he went off the backside and was kicked in the back of head. The impact left a 6 to 7-inch gash on the back of his head, and the impact with the ground broke his jaw.
Bernard Among Time’s Top Sports Execs
PUEBLO, Colo. (August 7) - Professional Bull Riders CEO Randy Bernard has landed in the Top 10 of Time magazine’s Top Sports Executives of 2008. The list of 35 was compiled by Time’s editorial staff. “[Bernard] built a barnstorming bull-riding circuit into a $100-million brand with mainstream sponsors,” says Time. At present, Bernard holds the No. 10 spot with an average rating of 55, topping such fellow notables as NBA commissioner David Stern and MLB chief Bud Selig.
Mark Scott (L.J. Jenkins, Austin Meier)
McBride Tops $5 million
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (September 12) − Justin McBride became the first cowboy to ever win $5 million in career earnings this weekend. This makes him not only the PBR all-time money earner, but the richest cowboy in history. “I never thought I would win $5 million,” McBride said, “and I owe it all to the PBR.” McBride entered the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational presented by Cooper Tires in Grand Rapids just $1,200 shy of $5 million. He rode Baby Blue to claim $15,000 in prize money, surpassing the milestone. Date
Grand Rapids
Sept. 12-13
Event Winner U.S. Border Patrol J.B. Invitational Mauney presented by Cooper Tires
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride
66.97
85.4
J.B. Mauney on Crosswired, 93
Jenkins, Meier Claim Shootout Title PUEBLO, Colo. (September 22) − A pair of cousins – L.J. Jenkins and Austin Meier – teamed up to win the first-ever PBR Team Shootout. The PBR Team Shootout is a concept that both the riders and the PBR are excited about.
Best Bull
Canter Hurt in Shootout
City
“This is one of the greatest things to happen to the PBR,” Randy Bernard, PBR CEO, commented. “Great cowboys like Larry Mahan, Jim Shoulders, and Ty Murray never had the chance to ride for this money. One guy took advantage of that opportunity to reach this milestone and I hope more will follow.”
Best Bull Say I Won’t Gunner/Ricky Bobby
Austin Meier
L.J. Jenkins
“Our job with the PBR is to continue to try and do things that are innovative for the sport,” Ty Murray said. Event winners: Valdiron de Oliveira and Pim Rosa (Del Mar, Calif.); Kody Lostroh and Matt Austin (Paso Robles, Calif.); Dustin Elliott and Wesley Silcox (Molalla, Ore.); Mike Lee and Wiley Petersen (Guthrie, Okla.). In the end, L.J. Jenkins and Austin Meier (Pueblo, Colo.) won the first ever PBR Team Shootout title.
Marchi Ends Slump
OAKLAND, Calif. (September 30, 2008) - Just when it looked like Guilherme Marchi might fall into a lengthy slump and watch other contenders move within striking distance, he popped up and won the Out of the Chute Invitational in Oakland. City
Date
Sept. Jacksonville 19-20 Oakland
Sept. 26-27
Event Built Ford Tough Shootout Out of the Chute Invitational
Winner
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride Best Bull Dustin Elliott 52.42 94.76 on Red Bull, Bones 90.5 Valdiron de Guilherme 60.36 86.23 Oliveira on All In Marchi Bad Blood, 91
J.B. Mauney
Marchi had failed to qualify for the final round during the past two of three tour stops in Glendale, Ariz., Grand Rapids, Mich, and Jacksonville, Fla. And it looked like J.B. Mauney, who won the titles in both Grand Rapids and Jacksonville, might make a run at him. When the final round was in session in Oakland, Valdiron de Oliveira, who ranks second in the world title race, took the lead for the title after turning in a score of 91. But Marchi fended off Oliveira’s come-from-behind tactics by countering with a final round score of 91 atop the notorious Copperhead Slinger. City
Date
Event
Cincinnati
Oct. 3-4
U.S. Air Force Renato Invitational Nunes
Winner
Columbus
Oct. 10-11
Rocky Boots Invitational
Uncasville
Oct. 17-19
Mohegan Sun Kody Invitational Lostroh
Zack Brown
Buckoff % Avg. Score Best Ride Renato Nunes 60.95 86.06 on Nasty Mike, 91.75 Justin McBride on 64.42 86.11 Bad Action, 91.75 Guilherme Marchi on 51.63 85.4 Bowtech’s I-94, 89.5
Best Bull Spit Fire Bones/ Showtime
Whiplash
Season in Review
27
Justin McBride:
T
Game Over
28
the second of his career — McBride sat out the first seven months of the 2008 Built Ford Tough Series. Competing in just seven regular-season events, the Oklahoma cowboy won two event titles — Tulsa and Nashville — and easily qualified for the PBR World Finals. “He’s going out when he can still ride every single bull in the world,” said longtime friend and fellow competitor Brendon Clark, “and ride the rankest bulls in the world. There will be no doubt in his mind that the day he says he doesn’t want to do it anymore, which will be the last round of the Finals, that he could come back at any time and still be able to do it. But he wants to quit while he’s still the best, and that’s the big thing, I think. It’s the same reason Ty Murray retired.” “Justin is someone who stood out as a rookie because he had a ton of talent, and
he had a lot of heart too,” nine-time World Champion Ty Murray said. “He’s the kind of guy I wanted to put my [gear] bag next to in the locker room because he didn’t whine or make excuses. He did things the cowboy way — being tough and laying it on the line each time. You hate to see those guys leave the sport. Now he’s going out when he’s still at his best. It’s the perfect cap to a great career.” McBride’s retirement comes as a shock to many fans and fellow competitors, but some of the men who rode alongside him saw it coming. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that was going to happen,” said Clark. “I’ve known for a long, long time now that that was going to happen. It was just something that he discussed with all his buddies.” Added Mike White, “Most of the guys knew. It’s not surprising to me.”
Andy Watson
wo-time World Champion Justin McBride has decided to call it a career. In a telephone press conference on Tuesday, Oct. 21 in Las Vegas, the record-setting bull rider announced that the next time he returned to Sin City it would be to ride for the last time. The 2008 Built Ford Tough World Finals will McBride’s finale. “I think I’ve known I wanted to retire since last year after I rode Camo at the PBR World Finals, but I also knew I would have to sit out for seven months with my shoulder surgery,” confided McBride. “I decided to wait to see if I had the urge to come back and keep riding. Now that I have ridden again this season I can say it’s time. I don’t want to keep riding anymore.” After winning last year’s world title —
Justin McBride wins his second PBR World Championship in 2007.
One of the most decorated bull riders in PBR history, the defending World Champ recently crossed the $5 million mark in career earnings in September, making him the richest cowboy in history. In his 10-year career, McBride has set an extensive list of records, including 32 career event wins; the most money earned in a single season ($1,835,321); and eight single season event wins, among many others. “He’s not the kind of person to say I’m retiring and then come back in six months because everyone thinks he can,” Clark said. “When he says he’s finished, he’s finished,
A 12-year-old Reese Cates meets his hero, Justin McBride in 2001. Seven years later, Cates and a new generation must pick up where McBride leaves off.
because that’s the way Justin McBride is. He doesn’t do anything haphazardly. He’s definitely not going to change his mind.” Clark continued, “He knew he wanted to quit and this was the time, so I know you won’t see Justin McBride get on another bull again after the eighth round of the PBR World Finals.” “I have done what I wanted to do — win a PBR World Title,” declared McBride. “Now I am in a position to go out while I’m healthy and still riding well. I mean you can get hurt crossing the street but there are more risks involved with bull riding. Now that I have a family and a child to think about, I want to be able to retire and enjoy my life with them and not be a crippled bull rider.” McBride plans to spend his retirement at his ranch near Elk City, Okla. raising bucking bulls and beef cattle. Additionally, he will work on his music and possible broadcasting careers, as well as sponsor-relations activities.
McBride could have gone on to win another gold buckle, maybe even two. He could have set more records and racked up even more 90-point scores. But he is done and ready to move on. The curtain will close on November 9. There will be no encore.
Gina Cates (McBride and Reese Cates); Andy Watson (McBride champ)
Rider Reactions: Michael Gaffney: “I’m happy for him, but disappointed for the sport. To not have him actively riding is a drag for our fans and, quite frankly, those guys in the locker room. But I’m really happy for him and his family because of the danger that’s involved in this business, and he’s a guy that never says die.” J.B. Mauney: “I mean, you gotta hand it to him. He’s going out on top and he’s still riding good. He’s a really good friend of mine and he’s always good to have around the bull ridings, because you can’t act like a sissy when he’s around. He kind of stays on your butt about being a cowboy, and now he won’t be there to do that.” Kody Lostroh: “He’s definitely made his mark in the world of bull riding. I know he still really likes riding bulls, but he’s got a family going now too, so his priorities have changed a little bit. It’s good that he’s getting to quit on top of his game and not hanging around so long that the sport makes him leave.”
L.J. Jenkins: “Holy cow — I would have never thought that he would do that. I figured with Adriano being a three-time World Champ, that he’d want to do the same. We’ve all seen he can do that any day, and that’s kind of what I was figuring.” Mike White: “I look at it from a family perspective... Justin’s made a really good living in a short period of time and he’s got a family. He wants to retire and enjoy life with his family.” Chris Shivers: “I think that’s a great decision. Bull riding is something that if you have experienced it you’ll know enough is enough. Whenever you feel like your dreams are fulfilled and then you don’t really want to do it anymore, then it’s not worth getting hurt over.” Sean Willingham: “He’s that good that he can retire at a young age because he’s won so much already. I guess he’s going to pursue his country music and go from there. I’m dang sure going to just miss him as a friend. It’s go-
ing to be different, and we’re not going to get to compete against one of the best bull riders of all time.” Reese Cates: “With Adriano and Justin McBride retiring the same year as my rookie season — that’s crazy. It’s something that I’ll always remember, that I came on tour and I got to ride against the legends for one year before they’re gone. I’m just glad I got to come along this year instead of next year. I’m honored to be at their level and I wish McBride would be hanging around a little bit longer so I could have the chance to compete against him some more.” Dustin Elliott: “He’s hit $5 million, he’s won two world titles, he’s rich and he doesn’t have to worry about money — why not? He’s 29 years old and he’s got enough money, so why not save your health? He’s accomplished everything there is to accomplish in bull riding, so what else is there other than save your health and raise your family?”
Justin McBride Retires
29
GretZky, Elway
cowboy up
Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, part-owner of the PBR, jokes with “The Voice of the PBR” – Justin McKee
E
arlier this year the PBR unveiled its newest investors — two of the sporting world’s most renowned athletes. National Football League (NFL) Hall of Famer John Elway and National Hockey League (NHL) Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky are two of the PBR’s newest shareholders through Spire Capital Partners, L.P., the PBR’s partner and private equity firm. Randy Bernard, PBR CEO, shared his excitement, “The PBR is extremely proud to have these two incredible athletes associated with our organization. This is another way the PBR can become more visible in the world of mainstream sports.” Elway, who quarterbacked the Denver Broncos, is still revered as being one of the best signal-callers of all time. He holds many records, including 148 games won as a starting quarterback, as well as holding the record of being a 5-time Super Bowl starting quarterback. “To be associated with a group of people like the Professional Bull Riders, and my good friend Wayne Gretzky, is a win-win situation for me,” Elway said. “I really look forward
30
Inside the PBR
to being involved with this great group and sharing in our successes together.” Gretzky, widely considered the greatest player in the history of the National Hockey League, still remains the most statistically dominant player in the history of North American team sports. He captured 61 NHL scoring records during his 20-year career, and continues to hold or share these records. “The Great One” also won four Stanley Cups, as well as many international competitions. Following his final NHL game on April 18, 1999, Gretzky became the first and only player in NHL history to have his jersey number retired by all member clubs. “Coming on board with the Professional Bull Riders is an exciting and unique opportunity,” said Gretzky. “Their success as an entertainment vehicle has been well documented, and to be a part of such a well-respected and up-and-coming venture is thrilling.” Spire Capital Partners completed its partnership with PBR in April 2007. Spire Capital Partners, L.P., is now the majority investor of PBR, the leading, global professional bull riding organization. -KRC
Williams two-fer
makes it a on the Challenger Tour
W
32
Inside the PBR
Andy Watson (Clayton Williams with Challenger buckle); Mark Scott (Clayton chap shot)
ith $1 million on the line, every cowboy who qualified for the 2008 Copenhagen Bull Riding Challenger Tour Championship knew the competition was going to be extraordinarily tough. The athletes who came to Oklahoma City ranged from green rookies to World Champions with multiple titles, but all were intent on one thing — winning. Fresh in everyone’s mind was the story of Clayton Williams, the Texas man who made it out of the 2007 Challenger qualifying rounds to win the Challenger Tour Championship event. Williams went on to compete at the 2007 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas and was crowned the PBR’s Daisy Rookie of the Year. Despite Williams’ impressive performance in 2007, no one was expecting another fairytale ending from him. “I really don’t think anyone expected me to win. I wasn’t even sure how I was going to do going into the event,” said Williams. The Carthage, Texas cowboy injured his elbow early in the 2008 season and wasn’t even sure he would be able to compete. But Williams decided he would try to defend his title. By the championship round on Sunday evening, it still wasn’t clear who might be going home with the biggest piece of the record-setting million-dollar purse. Eight men had already covered two bulls, and the short-go pen was tough. The championship round was made up of men with some serious credentials and a lot of experience, including J.B. Mauney (reigning 2007 Challenger Tour Champion), Jared Farley, Guilherme Marchi, L.J. Jenkins, Brian Canter, Kasey Hayes, Kody Lostroh, Josh Koschel, Chad Denton, Sean Willingham, Paulo Crimber, Robson Palermo and Williams. Williams had already covered his first two bulls and was thrilled to get Evil Forces in the short go. Despite not winning a round, Williams was the only cowboy who — despite his injury — was able to finish the job by covering all three of his bulls. “Oklahoma City now stands out for two big highlights of my career so far,” said a joyful Williams after his victory. Williams successfully defended his event title, won $525,000 for first, and had enough Challenger money to lay claim to the presClayton Williams wins the Copenhagen Bull Riding tigious title of Challenger Tour Challenger Tour Championship. Champion. -SB
I t ’ s i n th e
BLOOD A
merican Bucking Bull Inc. (ABBI) is a sister organization to the PBR. Started five years ago, the ABBI’s focus is on bucking bull DNA registration (to track bloodlines of bucking cattle) and to hold high-dollar competitive events for 2, 3 and 4-year-old bucking bulls. Just as the PBR crowns a Champion each year, so does the ABBI. The winning Classic bull will earn a purse of $250,000 in Las Vegas this year, while the champion Futurity bull will take home $100,000. Just like the bull riders, the ABBI Classic (3 and 4-year-old) bulls and Futurity (2-year-old) bulls have been competing all season long to earn a spot in Las Vegas. Julio Moreno (second from left) accepts his check for Troubadour’s win after round 3 of the 2007 PBR World Finals. The top Classic bulls will buck against the Top 45 cowboys in the world contractors looking to add more top-notch genetics to their programs. at Thomas & Mack during the fourth round of the PBR World Finals Many of the top bucking bulls in the PBR start their careers in the on Nov. 6. The qualifying round for the Classic bulls is on Nov. 5 at 1 ABBI. Troubadour, contender for 2008 PBR World Champion Bull, p.m. at Thomas & Mack. was the 2007 ABBI Classic Champion. Versus Blackout (formerly
Just as the PBR crowns a Champion each year, so does the ABBI.
34
Inside the PBR
Matt Brenneman
Futurity bulls buck on Nov. 3 (long round, 1 p.m.) and Nov. 4 (championship round, 9 a.m.) at Thomas & Mack. The 2-year-old bulls buck with a dummy on their backs for 6 seconds. All Futurity events are free and open to the public. On Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. at the South Point Hotel, the ABBI will hold its annual sale. Televised around the country, this will feature some of the most exclusive bloodlines in the industry. It is open to the public and will be fantastic for fans interested in the industry and for stock
known as Stray Kitty) was the 2004 ABBI Futurity Champion and 2005 ABBI Classic Champion. Many ABBI Classic bulls are so talented that they have already bucked in the championship round of Built Ford Tough Series events this season. Some were selected as members of the prestigious PBR Bull Team Challenge. The ABBI started the United States Bucking Bull Association (USBBA) for fans of the bulls and the bucking bull industry. The Bull Pen magazine, recently featured on ESPN.com and sent to every USBBA member, is the leading bucking bull industry publication in the world. Visit americanbuckingbull.com or bullpenmagazine.com to learn more and to get involved with the bucking bull industry. -SB
McBride becomes Richest Cowboy in History
R
andy Bernard, the Professional Bull Riders’ chief executive officer, remembers when the thought of a cowboy earning $1 million in one season seemed far-fetched. “I remember sitting in a board of directors meeting around 1996 or 1997 and Jerome Davis asked me: ‘Do you think that we’ll ever see a cowboy make $1 million in a year?’” said Bernard, adding that he advised Davis that he would resign if the goal wasn’t achieved in the near future. The PBR began awarding a $1 million bonus to its World Champion in 2003, and the biggest beneficiary of that coveted sevenfigure prize has been Justin McBride of Elk City, Okla., who snared world titles in 2005 and 2007. The two $1 million checks helped push McBride’s career earnings to over $5 million, by far more than any competitor has ever earned in any type of professional rodeo or bull riding association. After winning the Aug. 29-30 BFTS tour stop in Nashville, Tenn., McBride was just $1,200 shy of crossing the $5 million mark. When McBride earned $41,518 at the Nashville show, that pushed the 10-year pro’s earnings to $4,998,799.54. By the end of the first round of Grand Rapids, McBride was the 5 million dollar man.
“It was always a goal of ours to see a bull rider earn $1 million and it’s been a dream of ours to see them go on and win $5 million,” Bernard said. “I hope Justin can win $10 million, and the way that he’s riding, he can win $10 million in our organization. But I also want to make sure that we see more $1 million and $5 million bull riders in our organization every year. “It’s exciting and it’s the best thing that can happen to our sport right now.” By comparison, the top money winner in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is Joe Beaver of Huntsville, who has earned more than $2.9 million in calf roping, steer roping and team roping. Beaver, 42, has been competing in the PRCA since 1985. McBride, 29, has been competing in the PBR since 1999. The PBR was founded in 1992 by bull riders who had lofty goals of offering top competitors much more prize money than they were earning on the pro rodeo circuits. The PBR conducted its first season two years later and has thrived on matching all-star cowboys against the toughest bulls around with big prizes at stake. Though McBride’s success is a clear testimony of how PBR organizers have achieved their goals, Bernard says that the PBR isn’t content.
“We’re very excited about it,” Bernard said of McBride’s success. “But we have to have many. I don’t think that we should celebrate until we can see, 10 or 12 or 15 cowboys in that area. But at the same time, it’s a great step and we’re very proud that Justin is the first one because of the great cowboy athlete that he is.” Cody Lambert, a PBR founding father and the association’s longtime livestock director who was one of the top PRCA competitors in the late 1980s and early 1990s, said McBride’s earnings show just how far the PBR has advanced during the past 15 seasons. “When I was up there in rodeo in the bull riding and all-around races, I would win about $100,000 in a year,” Lambert said. “But Justin earned almost $100,000 at just four Built Ford Tough Series events this year.” Lambert said McBride’s earnings of almost $5 million was the kind of success that the PBR founders hoped for. “We didn’t know how far we could take it and here we are 15 years later and we still don’t know how far we can take it,” Lambert said. “But we do know what we’re going to try to do.” -KRC Justin McBride (fifth from right) breaks the $5,000,000 mark during the first round of the 2008 Grand Rapids Built Ford Tough Series.
Andy Watson
36
Inside the PBR
S I X
SH
Question: We know what you do in the arena, but what do you do when you’re not in the arena?
Answer:
Outside the arena I’m usually at home on the ranch hunting with some dogs. We got quite a few hound dogs and I enjoy hunting with them and spending as much time as I can with my family.
Q: What made you become a bullfighter?
A:
Gorham on the Bullfighting Life it, and he told me he was moving from California to Texas to become a bullfighter. I was devastated that I was going to lose him, so I told him I wanted to be a bullfighter and I’d go with him – ever since that day that’s all I ever wanted to do.
Q: At what point do you
realize a ride is going bad, a wreck is about to happen and that you’re going to have to step in there and take a hit?
A: Well, I guess you have
to have a good attitude in that the wreck isn’t as bad as it could be until it’s all over. You can read where they’re going to land just by watching their upper body. Most of them bulls you get to know a little bit – know their habits − and you have a pretty good idea before they ever even nod their head there’s a pretty good chance for a wreck. You can’t look for a way out of the wreck until you’re in the middle of it, ‘cause if you’re looking for a way out before you’re in it, then you’re not going to get in it. You get in the middle of it and then figure out how you’re going to escape it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
A:
Oh, they’re very grateful. If you’re at a bar you don’t have to buy a beer. Of course, we don’t ask ‘em to do anything for us because that’s our job. Our love in life is doing our job or we wouldn’t be there. They’re dang sure grateful, and they’d take really good care of us if we’d let ‘em, but we try to hold our own. We’re all in it because everybody’s trying to survive. The camaraderie around the bull riding is second to none.
Q: Speaking of Guilherme,
everyone seems to think it’s a foregone conclusion that he will win the world title, unless, of course, he gets hurt. That said, do the Dickies Durabullfighters feel that much more pressure to get him out of the way after he rides?
A:
No, not at all – not at all. Every one of them guys is a human and they’re our friends, and I could give a dang less about a world title. I want to make sure every one of ‘em walks out of the arena, and if they don’t, then you feel like you hadn’t done your job, but some of the wrecks you
can’t help. But nobody gets special treatment. I mean, everybody gets the same and every one of us will give our all for one of the guys that are nodding their head that night.
Q: It’s a tough job mentally
and physically to be a bullfighter and you’ve obviously established yourself as one of the best bullfighters ever. So how much longer do you want to keep doing this?
A:
I don’t know. If it ended tomorrow I could look back and be completely happy with what I’ve done, but at the same time I’m going to do it until I feel like I’m not doing as good as I expect I could be or should be. When I feel like that myself—and you never know, an injury could take you out tomorrow - but until I feel like I can’t do my job the way it needs to be done I’ll stay in that arena. When that day comes, I have no idea. -KRC
Q: In football, MVP
quarterbacks often take care of their offensive linemen by taking them out to dinner and making sure they buy them nice Christmas presents for protecting them. How about the cowboys? Do they take care of the bullfighters?
38
Inside the PBR
Seth “Shorty” Gorham, shown here making a save in Vegas last year, is working his third PBR World Finals.
Andy Watson (Shorty Gorham saving Tyler Pankewitz) (Gorham saving Steven Shelley); Matt Brenneman (Shorty Gorham candid)
When I was 5 years old, my idol at the time [Wes Birch] – I was scared of heights and I’ll never forget it – we were on the top of a Ferris wheel and they stopped
6 RTY W I T H
Featuring his hit “Show Them to Me”
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Major Improvements @ pbrnow.com
Justin McKee (above), Mike White (left) and Flint Rasmussen (below) are regular contributors to the PBR’s blog.
Screenshot of PBR’s blogs. www.pbrnow.com/blog.
Extra! Extra! Read all about it!
T
White, on the other hand, the 1999 PBR Rookie of the Year, who has qualified for the World Finals every season he’s competed on the BFTS, provided an honest and forthright recollection of the trials and tribulations from the point of view of a cagey veteran bull rider as the 2008 season unfolded. But it was the wit and candor with which 19-yearold Cates shared the ups and downs of being a wide-eyed rookie that captured the hearts and imaginations of bull riding fans from around the world. The Arkansas native shared the joy and frustration of competing against the best in the world – bulls and riders alike – and even took readers along for a wild and wooly trip to Canada.
PBR.TV: All the video that’s fit to watch
B
eginning Oct. 31, you won’t have to wait for the weekend to watch the Toughest Sport on Dirt. PBR.TV, a new broadband network, will allow fans to watch
40
Inside the PBR
hours of high-quality footage online. Tune in for highlight action from previous events. Watch behind-the scenes interviews with your favorite riders. Listen in to podcasts from
Weekly blogs weren’t the only new addition to www.pbrnow.com. The site also became the premiere location on the World Wide Web for daily Web features, the latest injury updates and all the news and notes from inside the Toughest Sport on Dirt. The PBR’s dedication to providing expanded coverage of bull riding also led to an enhanced video player offering the top rides and rankest wrecks of the of year. -KRC
19-year-old Reese Cates captured the hearts and imaginations of bull riding fans around the world with his blog posted on PBR’s web site.
Ty Murray and Cody Lambert. Watch Flint Rasmussen’s “Outside the Barrel” show. It’s all there, it’s all-new, and it’s all free. Visit PBR. TV today.
Matt Brenneman (Justin Mckee), JT Sumner (Mike White) (Reese Cates); Andy Watson (Flint Rasmussen)
he 2008 season was documented by the insights of fan favorites and bull riding experts at www. pbrnow.com/blog. The blogs gave the PBR’s ever-growing fan base – interested newcomers and savvy longtime observers alike – an insider’s perspective from the likes of veteran Mike White and newcomer Reese Cates as well as funnyman Flint Rasmussen and longtime commentator Justin McKee. Rasmussen, an award-winning barrel man, has been a popular fixture on the dirt at every Built Ford Tough Series event for nine-plus years, and offered his weekly insight into the way things really work on the Built Ford Tough Series. McKee, “the Voice of the PBR,” provided a regular journal that gave readers a behindthe-scenes look at all the Versus broadcasts along with his expert insight regarding the new bull team competition.