I for one, wish that rodeo would be accepted in the Olympic games. It is a sport that is played around the world and has a long standing tradition in many countries. In 2002, there was a Cultural Olympiad that included rodeo, and of course, PETA came out of the woodwork's. I found an article that gives another side to the animal rights activists. Since I rodeo, and am a little prejudiced toward animal activists, I have refrained from putting too many articles berating PETA. I have strived to stay objective and give animal rights articles their fair share in this blog. However, I think it is time for a little offense from my side of the field.
One of my favorite quotes from this article is that when rodeo was announced to be a part of the Cultural Olympiad that "the 'Animal Activists' began crawling out of the woodwork and started doing what they do best; whinning and complaining." Another quote that snidely gets back at other sports is "The end result of all this was that the Olympic Command Performance Rodeo was held despite the protests, even with such great atheletes as Scott Hamilton, from the pure sport of Figure Skating, (you know, the one where you write a check to the judges for a good score) coming out against the rodeo."
I love it when rodeo gets the upper hand. We have too long a history and are too much an important part of this country to be berated and slandered as we have been in the past years. It is unfair and hurtful to a community that does far greater things than football and soccer. We are a community that genuinely cares for people and animals and sincerely wants everyone to do good. Can you say that about the opposing football team?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
10th Round of the NFR has many upsets
Well. At least it was entertaining. Watching the finals this week was slightly disappointing as I have earlier stated in another post. But the 10th round sure did make up for it. There were many upsets and great runs. None to duplicate the 3.4 and 3.3 second runs in the team roping the night before (which both broke the world record), but the drama of who was going to win the gold buckle made up for everything else.
The steer wrestling was probably the most dramatic. Going into the tenth round, only $80 separated #1 Lee graves and #2 Luke Branquino. Luke was higher in the average and just needed to make a decent run to clinch the title and take it from Graves. However, a bad call from the flagman resulted in a no time. This left the door right open for Lee. He just did what he had done all year made a decent run, won third in the round, won the average, and won the gold buckle. More drama will commence as there has been talk of instituting instant replay at the bigger rodeos and the finals. This run will probably be a deciding factor in getting that done.
Just to put this tenth run into perspective, a judge's call cost Luke placing in the round, cost him the average, and cost him his 2nd gold buckle. All told, about $70,000 in one 5 second run. How's that for pressure.
The calf roping was also dicey. Trevor Brazile, the reigning champ, had not had a good week and Cody Ohl was hot on his heels, almost breaking his own world record with a 6.6 run. Cody was winning the average and just had to tie one down decently to win the average and put a lot of heat on Trevor. Cody ended being a 7.0, put only put a wrap and a hooey on his calf, and, to everyone's surprise, the calf got up too fast. NO TIME. Yet another run that cost the cowboy about $70,000. I think Cody Ohl will be thinking about that tie all the way up until the tenth round next year. There are times to play it safe, and times to go for the round. Cody has never been a play it safe kinda guy, but it sure did cost him a lot not being safe this year.
Drama. Drama. There is never an end to it in the world of rodeo.
The steer wrestling was probably the most dramatic. Going into the tenth round, only $80 separated #1 Lee graves and #2 Luke Branquino. Luke was higher in the average and just needed to make a decent run to clinch the title and take it from Graves. However, a bad call from the flagman resulted in a no time. This left the door right open for Lee. He just did what he had done all year made a decent run, won third in the round, won the average, and won the gold buckle. More drama will commence as there has been talk of instituting instant replay at the bigger rodeos and the finals. This run will probably be a deciding factor in getting that done.
Just to put this tenth run into perspective, a judge's call cost Luke placing in the round, cost him the average, and cost him his 2nd gold buckle. All told, about $70,000 in one 5 second run. How's that for pressure.
The calf roping was also dicey. Trevor Brazile, the reigning champ, had not had a good week and Cody Ohl was hot on his heels, almost breaking his own world record with a 6.6 run. Cody was winning the average and just had to tie one down decently to win the average and put a lot of heat on Trevor. Cody ended being a 7.0, put only put a wrap and a hooey on his calf, and, to everyone's surprise, the calf got up too fast. NO TIME. Yet another run that cost the cowboy about $70,000. I think Cody Ohl will be thinking about that tie all the way up until the tenth round next year. There are times to play it safe, and times to go for the round. Cody has never been a play it safe kinda guy, but it sure did cost him a lot not being safe this year.
Drama. Drama. There is never an end to it in the world of rodeo.
Pro Rodeo and the older years
In today's professional sports, you don't see many people at the top of their respective 'games' in in their forties, or even in their late thirties. It's just not a concept that many people are used to. It's just a reality 90% of professional sports favor the young. Except for rodeo.
It occurred to me that this is one event, that is still an actual physical sport, that the best aren't necessarily the youngest and fit. It is also possible for the very old (50-70) are still able to compete in rodeo events and win money when most other athletes just get to stare at their trophies from days gone by. Where else can you make a national finals over 20 times, which is how many times calf roper Mike Johnson has made the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Billy Etbauer is probably one of the more well-known older cowboys. He is 46 years old and at his 21st finals this year, won his 51st NFR round. That is unheard of. That is the same as winning every round at the finals for a 5 year period. He is also rodeo's first $3 million dollar cowboy. A Las Vegas article described Etbauer as a Timex, he just keeps on ticking, and ticking, and ticking. Etbauer is a true testament to the toughness of cowboys and how even the older guys can still dominate over the fit and young 20-yr-olds.
It occurred to me that this is one event, that is still an actual physical sport, that the best aren't necessarily the youngest and fit. It is also possible for the very old (50-70) are still able to compete in rodeo events and win money when most other athletes just get to stare at their trophies from days gone by. Where else can you make a national finals over 20 times, which is how many times calf roper Mike Johnson has made the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Billy Etbauer is probably one of the more well-known older cowboys. He is 46 years old and at his 21st finals this year, won his 51st NFR round. That is unheard of. That is the same as winning every round at the finals for a 5 year period. He is also rodeo's first $3 million dollar cowboy. A Las Vegas article described Etbauer as a Timex, he just keeps on ticking, and ticking, and ticking. Etbauer is a true testament to the toughness of cowboys and how even the older guys can still dominate over the fit and young 20-yr-olds.
Rodeo loses a great man
Rodeo fans were shocked this week to learn about the untimely demise of the team roping and barrel racing entrepreneur, Booger Barter. There has been an outpouring of support for his family in these troubled times. However, not one of the emails I have received have mentioned how he died. After talking with many people who were close to his family, I discovered that Booger Barter shot himself.
Booger was known in recent years for putting on huge team ropings, giving away millions in prizes and cash. Then a few years back he moved this concept to barrel racing, giving away 5 Dodge dually trucks at his finals every year. However, the economy took a harsh toll on these events, and there have been rumors that his company was going bankrupt as a result.
Whatever the real reason for his death, Booger Barter will forever be remembered as a great fan of rodeo who pioneered a new way to put on team ropings and barrel races. I for one will miss the big barrel races, and I am sad that I was never able to compete for a truck in one of the team ropings. To find more information, go to the WorldTeamRoping website.
Booger was known in recent years for putting on huge team ropings, giving away millions in prizes and cash. Then a few years back he moved this concept to barrel racing, giving away 5 Dodge dually trucks at his finals every year. However, the economy took a harsh toll on these events, and there have been rumors that his company was going bankrupt as a result.
Whatever the real reason for his death, Booger Barter will forever be remembered as a great fan of rodeo who pioneered a new way to put on team ropings and barrel races. I for one will miss the big barrel races, and I am sad that I was never able to compete for a truck in one of the team ropings. To find more information, go to the WorldTeamRoping website.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Disappointing NFR
I have been watching the last few nights of the NFR, and let me tell you, it's been a little disappointing. In the bullriding only 2 men have rode in the last two nights. I know that the stock at this rodeo are some of the best in the world, but so are the cowboys (supposedly). The calf roping and team roping has been going the same way. Taking away one of the loops in the team roping has seemed to mess with most of the team's heads. There are still very fast times that win each round, but not as many each night as there has been in the past. The steer wrestling and barrel racing have been extremely good, coming close to breaking records every night. I give kuddos to those contestants for upping their game when it's needed most. THIS IS THE FINALS PEOPLE! ACT LIKE IT!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
High School Rodeo is not going back to Farmington, NM
The National High School Rodeo Association has had a few of their national finals at Farmington, NM. I have heard from many participants that they liked going there, and that it was a good rodeo. But a report from Shark.com says that Farmington turned down a bid to have the finals there again in 2014. The committee claims that the national association has shown a lack of concern over losses incurred in the community hosting the event. Farmington Mayor Bill Standley says that "In good conscious, I just don't think I see that benefit versus the loss that we incurred. I think they're thumbing their nose at the communities." Finalized financial statements reviewed Tuesday indicated more than $124,000 in taxpayer money was lost by hosting the 2009 National High School Rodeo Finals, as well as a $186,000 loss in 2008. In this article, National High School Rodeo Association Executive Director Kent Sturman said he was surprised to hear Farmington would not seek the 2014 rodeo. "They've not brought anything to our attention. We're not aware that they've lost money on that event. We have not had any communication on that matter," Sturman said. "Last we were told is that they were very interested in bidding to bring the event back." Tres Rios Executive Director Beth Utley disputed the statement, saying concerns regarding the taxpayer shortfall were clearly expressed after the 2008 high school finals rodeo.
I always take the information I found on Shark.com with a grain of salt, as they are always looking for scandalous news regarding rodeo in general, especially since the other side of the story (high school rodeo) has only gotten a few lines of text in this article for defending itself. However, I can see how putting on a rodeo can cost a lot of money for taxpayers. But I have been involved in large finals that go over a week, and the surrounding businesses do make a lot of money when you think about the hundreds of people coming in. They are buying hotel rooms, going out to eat 3x a day, shopping around town, and buying a lot of gas and diesel to make it to the next rodeo.
Read the article yourself and decided if there is bias inherent in the way Shark.com releases information.
I always take the information I found on Shark.com with a grain of salt, as they are always looking for scandalous news regarding rodeo in general, especially since the other side of the story (high school rodeo) has only gotten a few lines of text in this article for defending itself. However, I can see how putting on a rodeo can cost a lot of money for taxpayers. But I have been involved in large finals that go over a week, and the surrounding businesses do make a lot of money when you think about the hundreds of people coming in. They are buying hotel rooms, going out to eat 3x a day, shopping around town, and buying a lot of gas and diesel to make it to the next rodeo.
Read the article yourself and decided if there is bias inherent in the way Shark.com releases information.
Friday, November 27, 2009
People are crying for Diversity at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
In a news article published by Richard Connelly, he reports that there has been an outcry over the lack of diversity in the staff of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLSR). The leader of this outcry is Ben Mendez, a political activist and spokesperson for the National Hispanic Professional Organization. He claims that that there are only 7 minorites represented in the 320 member board. Of the 42 executives, there is only 1 minority. He also claims that the HLSR is a money-making business, and not non profit as they claim. The HLSR released a repsonse to these accusation, saying that Mendez has "presented a list of inaccurate statements and facts accusing the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's volunteer leadership and salaried management of deception and non-compliance with state and federal requirements for non-profit organizations".
I know many people that have participated in, and have worked for this organization. I have never heard of it being in any way exclusive of participants, employees, or spectators. I think that this Mendez should look closer at the actual facts, and not jump to conclusions just to have his name bandied about in the press. For the full story please see Diversity.
I know many people that have participated in, and have worked for this organization. I have never heard of it being in any way exclusive of participants, employees, or spectators. I think that this Mendez should look closer at the actual facts, and not jump to conclusions just to have his name bandied about in the press. For the full story please see Diversity.
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