Last (?) Cowboy Standing

I've been really struggling this week on how to approach this blog.  I don't like to complain, but I can't help it....I'm not happy!

There was a lot of hype around the PBR's "Last Cowboy Standing" event in Las Vegas, Friday and Saturday past.  Really...there was!  But after watching the event on TV, I felt it was flat, not entertaining and I was completely disgusted with the format changes and the outcome.  This is the first year, since I've been a fan of the PBR, that I am not minding the summer break.  Maybe I need it to get my head back in the game, the bulls need to rest, the cowboys need to heal and the PBR needs to figure out how to bring the excitement back and fill arenas again.  I'm not really sure what needs to happen...

So I guess I should just focus on the bulls, because they are what it's ALL about!

In Round 1, Circle T Ranch's CYBER CAT was in great form, throwing Agnaldo Cardozo to the ground.  Cyber Cat was awarded 42.25 points.

In Round 1, all 50 cowboys attempted to ride, and with the first rule change, 25 would advance, whether they rode or not.  There were 15 successful rides, so the other 10 places were filled in by World Standings placement.  That, right there, ruined it for me, because then the event is not the Last Cowboy Standing.  A cowboy could win, who had not ridden all of his bulls.

Another thing that bothered me was the dirt.  It was apparent on TV that many of the bulls were having footing problems, lots of slipping on loose, dry dirt.  It seems to me that Las Vegas is one place that the dirt should always be perfect.  The PBR owns the dirt that is used in Vegas for the PBR World Finals, and that's the same dirt used at this event.  These bulls are too valuable to be injured because of bad dirt.

One TV spot I really enjoyed was Ty Murray doing a comparison of the great REINDEER DIPPIN' and his son, champion bull, BUSHWACKER.  Ty show side by side photos of the two bulls and it was amazing how similar they looked.  He talked about how both bulls have the ability to get their front end off the ground before their hind legs hit the ground; how both bulls go vertical once the hind legs touch the ground; and how both are able to jump high with all four feet off the ground.  But that was where the comparison ended.  Bushwacker is known for standing so calmly in the chute, almost never moves, and just leaves the arena after his buck off.  Sometimes it seems he can't get out of there quick enough!  But then Ty pointed out that Reindeer was MEAN!  "Psychotically mean"!  He would purposely go after a cowboy, once on the ground.  Interesting similarities and differences between father and son.

SPECKLED IVORY was once of the stars of Round 2.  He was fiesty Saturday night!  His 43.75 point score was a tad low for this big Hawaiian bull, who has been around for a while.

 

 

At the beginning of the broadcast Sunday, bull fighter Shorty Gorham addressed the dirt and commented that it was in much better condition for Rounds 2-5.  He said it was just hard enough that the bulls could really plant their feet, which was not good news for the cowboys.  Bulls like JACK DANIEL'S WINTER JACK, SHOWBOAT, MUD WASP, WHISKEY'S REBEL, SASQUATCH, WESTERN HAULER, DELCO, and BUCK OFF all took advantage of the good footing to buck off their riders, for respectable bulls scores. 

One rule change that I immensely disliked was the required reride.  If the orange flags flew, the reride bull had to be taken.  This worked against Guilherme Marchi in Round 2.  Marchi rode DETAILER, who did not have his best out, but Guilherme made the 8 seconds, and received a score.  He should advance, right? NO...because the reride flags were thrown.  Guilherme's reride bull is KISS PHYSCO CIRCUS and Guilherme bucked off, with a BAD hang up.  I'm not sure how he walked out of the arena!  I think it's wrong to take away a qualified ride in this sort of format, when it is supposed to be a "ride and advance" formatted event.

JACK DANIEL'S TENNESSEE HONEY led the rank pen to a shut out!  Tennessee Honey recorded his 17th straight buck off!  He was awarded 45.5 points.  Ty Murray described him as "long and lanky, not much to look at, but a bull who gets better as the ride goes on".

The rank pen was simply too much for the seven cowboys who advanced from Round two.   I'M A GANGSTER TOO was spectacular, recording his 11th straight buck off, 45.5 points.  MICK E MOUSE is a young bull who is improving with age.  He is dangerous and mean, recording his 13th straight buck off for 45.75 points.  DAVID'S DREAM quickly outsmarted Alves and his use of a big belly roll sent Alves flying, 46.25 points for the bull.  ASTEROID had a great trip with huge kicks and jumps.  His buck off was the 15th in a row and his bull score was 46.75 points.

BUSHWACKER did it again!  Top bull score of the event with 47.25 points.  But Bushwacker was about as "rider friendly" as I've ever seen him...which scared the living daylights out of me!  In the end, his sheer will and strength put Valdiron on the ground, and Bushwacker's buck off streak continues.

Quite honestly, I thought LIGHTMAKER'S RANGO had the best out of all the bulls.  He was stunning!  Rango kicks hard with a lot of forward movement and when he bucked LJ Jenkins off, LJ was easily launched 15 feet in the air!  Rango was scored 47 points.

Since none of the Cowboys rode in rank Round 3, all seven advanced to Round 4.  Only one cowboy rode, and he was the event winner.  The bulls is Round 4 were also Championship Round caliber bulls.  CHOCOLATE THUNDER scored his 9th straight buck off, a super quick spinner, 44.5 points.  GREAT WHITE had an outstanding trip with several pattern changes, 14th straight buck off, 45.5 points.  HANG TIME, who is new to the BFTS and is now 2-0, was impressive, 44.75 points.  LUCKY YOU was difficult in the chute and in the arena, 45.25 points.  SHEPHERD HILLS TRAPPER bucked off his rider and stumbled in the back end, but was scored a 44.5 points. 

BUCK DYNASTY tallied his 14th straight buck off, with big belly rolls.  This bull is a handful for sure, 44 points.

SMACKDOWN did not have his usual trip, and I understand he acted up in the chute, which is something he never does!  Hmm....curious....no one else has trouble getting out on Smackdown, why does Alves?   In the end, Smackdown was awarded 45.25 points, as he produced the winning ride.

So, the PBR is on break until August.  I hope all of these incredible bulls enjoy their "vacation" and get busy producing future bucking bulls.  The second half of the PBR season will be exciting as we see which bulls come forward to challenge Bushwacker and Asteroid for that World Champion Title.

Was it really "The Last Cowboy Standing"?  I don't know.  I just know that it's four days after the event and I'm still disgusted.



All photographs by Susan Hanrahan