Hot Bovine Fun at the Mohegan Sun! Part 1

The Handsome King Lopez, K-C Bucking Bulls

My PBR experience began with the bulls!  It was the highlight of the entire weekend.  K-C (K bar C) Bucking Bulls owner/stock contractor Kenny McElroy was kind enough to take me to bull housing to meet his bulls, up close and personal.  We were greeted by his royal highness, King Lopez, who quite frankly couldn't be bothered!  He is the king and he knows it!  His half brother, Hell's Bells, was a little more excited that we were there.  In fact, he was downright agitated the whole time.  He was fussin' in his pen, and his poor penmate, Stinger, had to deal with the pacing, fidgeting and noise!  Every time Kenny turned around, Hell's Bells would charge him, stopping just shy of hitting his head on the rail.  It actually got to be quite comical.  We decided to leave Hell's Bells and went on to meet Where's the Whiskey, Lucky 7, Who Dat, South Point, Colored by Arctic and Alternator.  The K-C bulls are big and healthy looking, rested and ready to buck!

We wandered a bit further and greeted Deja Blue Emu, Hank aka After the Pain, Moon aka BigTex Trailers.com, Rango, Jack Daniel's After Party, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Shepherd Hills Trapper and Asteroid, to name a few.

The only time Asteroid got fussy was when I stopped scratching him!

Shepherd Hills Trapper resting up for the 15/15 Bucking Battle later that night.

Rango was taking a nap.

After seeing the bulls up close, hearing them breathe and bellow, watching them sleep and playing in their pens,  I discovered that this was a special moment that I needed to enjoy and remember always.  These animals are magnificent creatures, loved and well cared for by their owners.  Without knowing it, these mighty beasts touched my heart so sweetly.

Before the event Friday night, my friend and I took at behind the scenes tour, and visited the bulls up on the chutes.  It is always interesting to see how things work and what goes into the PBR production (more on that in part 2).  While on the chutes, a fan club representative answered questions and explained how the event is run.  I just wanted to take in being with the bulls again, and snap as many pictures as I could.

15/15 Bulls (l-r) Motown Magic, Quiet Riot, Git-R-Done, Hwy 12, Tenn. Honey and King Lopez

 The event opens with the usual cowboy introductions and fireworks.  I find it a blessing to hear an opening prayer before these events.  Safety is needed for both cowboys and bulls!  Once the action gets underway, Flint entertains the crowd and the bulls start running loose, it is one exciting sporting event to be a spectator at!  Personally, I find the bulls running loose to be the best part of the show.  I know I am in the minority in saying that.  I'd pay good money to sit and watch the bulls run around, but I suspect the PBR could not stay in business that way!

Mike Miller's Disco Stick enjoyed his time in the spotlight!

Disco Stick was just that bull, to put on quite a show!  He ran the arena, charging the barrels and sending them flying around the dirt.  Jerome Robinson can be seen in my picture at the opposite end of the arena from where he usually is, as he tried to get away.  All 3 bull fighters, Flint and safety man James DeBord had their hands full to get Disco Stick collected, lasso'd and off the arena floor.  I was laughing throughout the entire "performance"!  Disco Stick was just being a bull, and happy to be running around.  The crowd sure seemed to enjoy it.

When I attend a live event, I tend to care less about scoring and I take no notes like I do when I watch on TV.  I just try to soak up the energy and fun of being there with fellow fans.  The first round had some great rides and a few nasty wrecks....but that is part of the sport.

Doug Duncan rode Rusty Waters for 84.75 pts and bull fighter Frank Newsome took the bull by the horns to protect Doug.

Cowboy Introductions for the 15/15 Bucking Battle

Harve Stewart had a terrific ride on King Lopez for 89 points

Larry the Cable Guy's Git-R-Done bucked off Ty Pozzobon, then went on to entertain the crowd.

Asteroid explodes out of the chute!  Flint almost got in the way! LOL

Friday night was another 15/15 Bucking Battle, and the crowd was excited to see the big boys come out to play!  There were 6 rides in that round, and the bulls were fantastic!  But somehow the excitement increased when Asteroid's name was announced.  No one wanted to miss that out!  Asteroid was outstanding, once again, as he bucked off Renato Nunes.  He posted a high bull score of 46.5 points.

Reese Cates won Round 1 with a 88.25 pt score on Circle T's Bad Moon.  Austin Meier won the 15/15 Bucking Battle on Jeff Robinson's Delco with a 90.25 pt score.  Afterwards, as a fan club member, I went down on to the dirt and met some of the cowboys.  Got a few photographs and autographs to end the night.  It was a great way to kick-off the Mohegan Sun Invitational!







Photographs by Susan Hanrahan