California: Bulls & Sunshine

As I was watching the PBR broadcast from Sacramento, California this past weekend, it dawned on me that there were bulls bucking there who had bucked in New York City, and have already been coast to coast!  Wow! Too bad the bulls don't get "frequent rider miles" aboard Jeff Robinson's truck! 

Robinson's KISS ANIMALIZE is one such bull who has been coast to coast already in 2014.  He and JB Mauney combined for 88.75 points and the Round 2 win in Sacramento!

Having the PBR on the West Coast enables us fans to see some bulls we normally don't get to see.  With all the talk about Bushwacker's retirement, and the fact THE bull, himself, made an appearance over the weekend, has overshadowed some of Bushwacker's half-brothers and relatives out of his great sire, Reindeer Dippin'.  MR. FEIGER is one such bull, who even looks a little bit like Bushwacker.  Commentator Justin McBride noted that Mr. Feiger bucks so hard, he often stumbles, in the same way his daddy used to.  MR. BULL is a 1/2 brother to Bushwacker and is 34-1 over his career.  Mr. Bull is a descendant of the great WHITEWATER.   Mr. Bull's 44.5 point score for his buck-off in the Championship Round was impressive and could have even been a bit higher.  No wonder Shorty Gorham made Mr. Bull the "Pick of the Pen" in Sacramento!  Another Julio Moreno bull that is young but an up and coming bull is ROY.  He's put on some weight and is getting stronger.  He bucks so hard that he looses his feet.  Hopefully as Roy matures, he'll not stumble and have all that energy for turfing riders.   Both Mr. Bull and Roy bucked in the Championship Round Saturday night.  Both left the arena victorious!

For something a little different this week, I enlisted the help of two friends, who attended the event in Sacramento.  Here are the summaries of their experiences:

Vince said, "The bulls in Sacramento were awesome !!! An awesome event began with a special appearance from Bushwacker during the opening ceremonies. He was in true Bushwacker form, after making a lap around the arena in the spotlight, he went directly for the gate, put his butt to the arena and paced back and forth with his tail swishing waiting for the gate to open.
The "Chute Clock" was working, and a few times hit zero with the rider/bull still in the chute, especially with Claudio Crisostomo, but he got bucked off very rapidly.
All the bulls in the championship round were in true form, Mickey Mouse, Chocolate Thunder, Shepherd Hills Tested along the rest were totally awesome. Palm Springs even managed to provide Guilherme Marchi a 90 point ride, and score 44.75 even after slipping and falling down, but he looked like he was fine after getting back up and back into the hunt quickly.
All in all it was an excellent night in Sacramento in front of a sold out, VERY noisy crowd !!!"

Leslie sent me this assessment:  "We went to Arco on Saturday night, and as usual the capacity crowd was rocking.  There were two stand-out events of the night, [the first] as the lights dimmed after the riders were announced, they played the Bushwacker video.  The spotlight lit the center gate, and as it opened out came the man himself, Bushwacker.  He strolled out and gave a look, as if to say, "what on earth am I doing here?"  And then in true Reindeer fashion, turned his back, as the crowd gave him a loud ovation, recognizing him as one of our own, a No Cal native and our best athlete!  It was cool!  My second favorite moment came courtesy of Angola Slim.  After he bucked off Claudio [Crisostomo], he seemed content to head out the gate.  But Flint had other plans and nailed him with his hat.  Angola Slim looked back and said "OK funny man, game on!"  He ran around the arena, chased Julio, checked out the fans, chased Julio some more, ran after Flint and anyone else in the arena and had them jumping for the fences.  After ten minutes of his antics, which I loved, he departed behind Julio and his horse!  It's moments like this that make going to the events in person so much fun.  The TV coverage should show what goes on in the arena after the ride.  Looking forward to Fresno, where Bushwacker will be more at home in the chutes, not in front of them.  Thanks to Kindra and Julio for bringing him home for one last hurrah before he retires.  Loved it!"

I may have said this before, but I love the fact that the Championship Round is back to 15 bulls, every week.  I love to see these big boys get a chance to go up against the guys who are riding the best for the weekend.  In Sacramento, only two bulls allowed scored rides.  The bulls were magnificent!

JACK DANIEL'S TENNESSEE HONEY was rank, bucking off Robson Palermo.  Honey was scored 45 points.

JACK DANIEL'S WINTER JACK was one of the two bulls who were ridden for 8.  Winter Jack helped Fabiano Vieira to an 89.75 point score and the event win!

Vince mentioned CHOCOLATE THUNDER.  This bull was quite impressive bucking off Ryan Dirteater.  Thunder was scored 44.75 points and gave Ryan a scary dismount.

Championship Round bulls, DAVID'S DREAM (45.25 pts), STONE SOBER (45.75 pts), SHEPHERD HILLS TESTED (45.25 pts) and long round bull, LONG JOHN (45 pts) were outstanding.  Long John is a young bull from D&H Cattle, who had HUGE buck and kick.  Guilherme Marchi said, "once he learns to turn, he'll be one of the rankest in the PBR."  Can't wait to see more from Long John! 

But the bull of the event, with an outstanding buck off, was MICK E MOUSE and his 46.75 point score!  Mick had a huge jump, lunge in the air and turn.  I'm not sure Jordan Hupp knew what hit him...so to speak.  But as a TV viewer, we almost didn't see the buck off because of an interview.  Here we have commentator Justin McBride hinting at Mick E Mouse moving up to replace Bushwacker, and the bull score is not given until later in the broadcast when Craig Hummer is discussing next week's 15/15 match-ups.  Thank goodness for replay's and video on the PBR website.  Mick E Mouse was terrific!

Congratulations to Marlene Henry, for raising and caring for this outstanding bull, Mick E Mouse!  Congratulations to Fabiano Vieira for winning the event in Sacramento.  A BIG Thank You to Leslie and Vince, for sharing their thoughts and experiences with us! 

Can't wait for the next go round for these big, beautiful bovines!





Photographs by Susan Hanrahan