BULL RIDING:
In about 72 hours, I’ll be standing on hallowed ground in
Del Rio, Texas. I’ll be watching folks
pile through the gates at Val Verde County Fairgrounds for the 35th Annual
George Paul Memorial Bull Riding.
The 35th Annual event will be the same, but
different.
It will be the same, in that third generations of fans will
be there, just like their fathers and grandfathers, who have punched their
ticket at those gates over the years.
Additionally, the pens will be loaded with some of the best bulls in the
country and from those fences will hang the ropes, chaps and gloves of some of
the most talented guys going down the road.
It will be different in that, those bulls in the pens and
their owners will be vying for $120,000 in cash over the course of two
performances – between Saturday’s CBR Bull Games and Sunday’s Palace Station
Million Dollar Bull Team Challenge.
It will also be different in that, my personal list of
heroes might be discussing the draw, but they won't be strapping it on… They’ll
be talking about these “kids” - the new names - that have recently taken bull riding and rodeo by
storm, the kids that are only on the cusp 20 years old, like Trey Benton, Chandler
Bownds and Cody Teel.
It will be different in that, on Saturday night, one man
will have a chance to earn a new RAM Truck, if he can best #78 Poker Face from
Box K Cattle Company – which by the way in 20+ outs - has a 100% Buck Off in
the CBR, PRCA and PBR.
However, the one undeniable factor that will remain the same
- is that Bobby Paul will stand in the arena on Sunday afternoon and hand
another kid a check – for the aggregate on three head – and a Buckle that says
Champion - of the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding… Just like he did 35 years
ago.
BULLS:
Did I mention that over $120,000 in CASH will be paid to
Stock Contractors in Del Rio Texas this weekend?
Man, ain’t it great to be a bull owner? I bet when the Paul’s and the Steiner’s got
together to produce the first George Paul Memorial, it probably didn't pay $120
an out… Now the total purse is 1,000 times that. Think about it…
Additionally, there is a “Bounty” out on #78 Poker Face… He
is unridden in 20+ professional outs – in EVERY Pro Organization… This could get interesting… One man will have a shot at a new RAM Truck,
if he can make the whistle on this bull.
Tuff Hedeman says the 100% buck off rate is misleading,
because the bull can be ridden. Tuff
said, “He’s got no dirty tricks or cheap shots.
He just bucks - and bucks hard”.
A lucky Stock Contractor will need a “Poker Face” to get out
of Val Verde County with all that cash…
And a Bull Rider is going to need a “Poker Face” to get into that brand new
RAM Truck!
RODEO
Why do they always get multiple head in the timed
events? I am great friends with a number
of talented guys in these events, and I think I am going to start asking…
If they get two calves at a rodeo – why can't a guy get two
bareback horses? Two bulls? Two Broncs?
What is “Slack” (by the way... I know exactly what slack is),
but seriously – what is it?
When you go to a baseball game, guys take Batting Practice
early… Nothing wrong with that, however, their professional averages are not
affected by statistics taken from “practice swings”… Practice contributes to their performance in
the game, but it has NO DIRECT affect on the WINNER of the competition.
They get to play the game. The game is what people come and
PAY to watch. The game is nine
innings. There’s no “game, before the
game” and/or “game, after the game”… Just the GAME, NINE INNINGS, in which the
OWNERS generate REVENUE to PAY the players.
The VOLUNTEERS that produce professional rodeos CANNOT
generate revenue from SLACK. SLACK is an
EXPENSE. Ultimately, that EXPENSE in
some way, shape or form SUBTRACTS from the funds available to put into the
PURSE.
Why would Pro Rodeo allow World Champion caliber athletes to
perform, in the middle of the night, with no one watching? With no way to help the OWNERS (volunteers in
most cases) generate revenue.
Mind numbing…
HORSES:
My day has arrived! (ok, not really) But I am going to claim it!
SUBJECT: Bucking Horse Naming.
MASTER: Me.
As many of you know my wife is in the Stock Contracting
business. One day about a year ago, she was sitting on the couch, naming some young horses and she asked for some
input from me (which is amazing).
Discussion turned to a young paint mare that is sired by her
favorite son (and my competition for love and affection) Painted Valley. The mare had been progressing nicely and
really bucked under a dummy. Kirsten had
decided to name her “Pippa”…
Because I am just shy of “socially ignorant” I said, “Who is
Pippa?”
Kirsten: “That’s Kate Middleton’s sister – you know the girl
that married Prince William – her hot sister, that’s been all over the news since the wedding?”
Scott: “Ummm… Oh yeah! She’s totally HOT!”
Kirsten: “You are such a DORK”.
Scott: “Yeah, but see… no one knows who ‘Pippa’ is… BUT
everyone knows who ‘Kate’s Hot Sister’ is!”
And so it was… HV 667
- the pretty little paint mare with a father who is certainly “Royalty” at my
house… became “Kate’s Hot Sister”…
Since then, World Champion Bobby Mote was 84 points on her
at the PRCA Rodeo in Odessa, Texas in January and more importantly, Bill Tutor
earned 86 points on her and picked up the win in Corpus Christi this weekend!
She even got her picture posted at prorodeo.com! http://www.prorodeo.com/Story.aspx?xu=3904
COWBOYS:
George Paul. 79 in a
row.
Seriously, the guy rode 79 bulls in a row.
Rumor has it, Jim Sharp rode 70+ (but not 79) in row, during
a time when he was transitioning from junior/amateur into the pros, and at the professional level,
the closest known is Tuff Hedeman with 49…
Truth is, no one will ever touch George’s record. I know… folks said they would never eclipse
the home run record in Major League Baseball, and it happened… However, I am with the Paul family, “Never
before, Never Again”.
79 in a row – are you kidding? The first thing you are going to say is the
bulls are BETTER and the guys are NOT.
While I won't dispute that entirely, I will say that in my opinion that
is not the leading factor or the only factor.
First of all, records are subject to "eras"... Different "eras" inherently create different circumstances. Circumstances are critical to records.
Secondly, I think guys don't get on enough bulls today to accomplish
this feat. Which as mentioned is a circumstance or the "era". The more you get on, the
better you ride. The better you ride, the more bulls you will successfully ride. In George’s day, guys
might twist 150 or more a year… In this case 79 might be just over half… or
maybe even 60% riding percentage… That makes the record approachable. But when guys are getting on 80 to 100 bulls
a year – or less - that would mean you would need an 80 to 100% riding
percentage…
79 in a row – Never Before, Never Again.
George Paul, rocked it!
MUSIC:
I know I talked about it last week, but I have to reiterate
– Lee Brice is the MAN.
His new album “Hard 2 Love” just confirms his abilities as a
true artist. Get his stuff NOW if you don't
have it.
Trending for me now:
Neon – Chris Young. This
is COUNTRY MUSIC. The song has been out
a while, but I personally just stumbled on it.
My buddy - from CMT’s Texas Women - Cicily Cross, has a true
appreciation for good music… She nailed
it with recommending this one. It has
been on “repeat” all week since the download.
Shut Up and Make it Happen.
Scott Davis
