"Iron" Cowboy 5

I was all excited, last Saturday, in anticipation of the Iron Cowboy 5, one of the PBR's premiere events.  I printed off the bracket so I could follow each and every ride....well, buck-off mostly.  I had my iPad running on the Live Event Center for Fan Club members, as well as my TV tuned in to CBS-Sports Network.  The BS flag was ready, and the introductions began.  Of course, the best introduction of the night was BUSHWACKER.  He never disappoints!  The handlers have him run in to the arena, the crowd cheering wildly, and he promptly turns around and wants out!  Such snotitude!

But before I get into details, I want to take a moment and pay my respects to Kent Cox, Bushwacker's handler, who passed away last week.  The "Bull world" was severely shaken by this and many devastated.  From the many posts and tributes I've read, Kent was loved by many.  I met him on one or two occasions, and he was as nice and friendly and polite as he could be.  He also helped with a blog some months back.  I really didn't know him but had great respect for him, and how he could work with bulls.  Rest in peace, Kent.

I snapped this photo in Thackerville, OK last August.  WHISKEY'S REBEL was trying his usual trick of climbing out of the chutes, and Kent jumped in and tied up a rope to keep the bull from rearing up again.  Kent doing what he did best.

The bull power for the Iron Cowboy was outstanding!  I remember looking at the initial bracket and thinking, "this is like 5 rounds of short go bulls"!  Round 1 had a possible 16 rides but the bulls only allowed 5.  The top bull score went to POUND THE ALARM with a 44.75 point score.
Round 2 also had a possible 16 rides and the bulls allowed 7.  Bulls in Round 2 included the likes of COWTOWN SLINGER, THE ROCKER, JACK DANIEL'S AFTER PARTY, MEAT HOOK and CHOCOLATE THUNDER...outstanding bulls! But the high marked bull of that round was DRACULA, with a 45.5 point score. (Congratulations to my friend Josie McElroy on her great young bull!)
Round 3 had a possible 8 rides, but the bulls allowed only 1.  The top bull score went to STONE SOBER who was scored a 46.75 points.  This bull was incredible!  He bucked his rider off in a mere 1.25 seconds, with about as much explosion and power as a bull could have!
Round 4 offered a mere 4 possible rides, and Gage Gay stole the show by putting a 90.5 point ride on JACK DANIEL'S TENNESSEE HONEY.  The bull bucked great and Gage rode great!  The other three bulls in that round were RANGO (44), DAVID'S DREAM (43.75) and MISSISSIPPI HIPPY (44.75).
Round 5...and then there were two.

ASTEROID was out first with Gage Gay.  Gage lasted a mere 1.45 seconds and Asteroid was scored 45.25 points

MICK E MOUSE was out second, and JR Vieira lasted 2.42 seconds.  Mick was scored 46 points.  Sadly, we learned later that Mick E hipped himself badly on the way out of the chute and now has a broken bone in his hip.  Prayers that this incredible bull will heal up quickly and the break cleanly.

Round 6 had a million things at stake....well, actually it was $1 million at stake!  Yikes!  I can't even imagine being a part of something, that if I completed the task, I'd win a million dollars!!  But since JR Vieira outlasted all the other cowboys, he had a shot at the $1 million prize.  The only thing that stood in his way, was World Champion Bucking Bull, BUSHWACKER.

BUSHWACKER stood like a champ and only allowed JR 2.17 seconds on his back!  Another victim...Bushwacked!

YAY BUSHWACKER!!  BUSHWACKER was scored 46.75 points, which tied him with STONE SOBER for High Bull Score of the event.  I say this, with all due respect, but I think all of us bull fans held our breath for a moment, waiting to see how Bushwacker would react and perform.  I believe that animals feel loss.  I believe Bushwacker is smart enough to know someone is missing.  There was great relief that he bucked great and looked completely like the champion he is.  I pray for him, too.

The event, however, was not without it's BS moments, and the flag was flying at my house!  Six flags hit the ground:
1. FIRE & SMOKE'S 42.75 point score in Round 1.  Too low.
2. Alves taking too long - again - in the chute on HONEY HUSH
3. RANGO's 44 point bull score...way too low!
4. MISSISSIPPI HIPPY's 44.75 point score...way too low!
5. JR Vieira winning the Iron Cowboy with NO qualified rides!
6. BUSHWACKER being tied in the back pens with an all TOO tight bull rope, and having it shown on the big screen in Cowboy's Stadium.  Yes, JR, we saw you soaking Bushwacker.  (I also had a friend who was there, who was close enough, in the back pens, to see it.  Cheating trying to win?)  I say again....YAY BUSHWACKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really do like the bracket concept for this event, and I hope one day I can get down to Dallas and experience it in person.  But I really do think the PBR needs to change the rules just a tad.  To be called the Iron Cowboy, you should have to have at least one qualified ride under your belt to win the buckle.  Joao got on 5 bulls and rode for a total of 16.05 seconds without a qualified ride.  I'm sorry, but that is not Iron Cowboy Champion material to me!

The real champions are the great bucking bovine athletes!  Too bad the million dollars wasn't given to them.




Photographs by Susan Hanrahan