Rank Pen & Bull Housing - Vegas Part 2

The Fan Club Production Tour was held Thursday morning at Thomas & Mack.  We were broken up in to groups and led around to different stations within the arena.  One stop was the arena sound equipment and sound board.  Here is a peek at the wireless mics and headsets worn by crew and TV commentators Leah Garcia and Shorty Gorham.

The out gate at one end of Thomas & Mack.  There is a maze of pens and loading chutes that goes all the way back out the building, where bulls are loaded in and out.  At most arenas, the bull pens are in sight of the audience but not at T&M.  Staging is built for TV people and bull riders to climb over to get to the opposite chutes.  Personally, I miss seeing the bulls in the arena.

This is a picture of the TV Producer's notes.  Always an interesting stop on the tour is the TV truck.  Amazing amounts of data, film, scores and live pictures come thru this truck and must be processed in seconds.  Brian Douglas, who is the Producer, is interesting to listen to, but always makes the point about trying to attract new TV viewers, that much of the broadcast is aimed at potential new fans.  I've been thinking about that.  I completely understand the need for new fans and growth of the sport, both in the US and around the world.  However, I started to feel like the seasoned fan is not that important.  After all, why cater to the fans who travel the country following the sport? Write blogs about the sport and give the PBR LOTS of free advertising?  Fans who have followed the PBR from it's infancy?  Fans who buy the merchandise, programs and even pay for Day Sheets in Vegas?  Let's NOT forget these people...who pay the dollars...fill arenas....and have been passionate for years and years!!!

A quick stop to visit the mini bulls at the Fan Zone.  It was mighty hot and this gal was not pounding the pavement too long but I had to see the mini's.  I do regret not staying and watching the mini's buck.  Sure wish they'd move this event to South Point, where we fans could enjoy seeing these little guys buck indoors.

Another stop at the Fan Zone was the Legends Bulls tent.  GREAT WHITE was the only bull there.  CHICKEN ON A CHAIN, who was also in attendance, was off doing an "interview".  I'm sorry I didn't get to see Chicken!

Round 2 of the Finals Thursday night brought out the RANK pen of bulls.  The big boys came out to play, and only 13 rides were given up.  Here, Stetson Lawrence comes off of WICKED after riding him for 88.75 points (43.75 pt bull score).

One award given out Thursday, was the Glen Keeley Award, for the top Canadian Bull Rider.  This year the award went to Tanner Byrne.  Well done Tanner!

JB Mauney had his hands full with DEERANGO.  JB had a lot of trouble in the chutes, as Deerango kept rearing up.  JB, who is usually so quick getting out on his bull, really struggled.  JB bucked off and the bull received a 42.5 point bull score.  I'm thinking this bull takes after his daddy, Reindeer Dippin'.

Josh Faircloth drew DAVID'S DREAM, which is no easy draw!  David's Dream easily got Josh off his back and was awarded a low 42.5 points.  Much booing from this fan over bull scores!  Many scores were way too low!

Kody Lostroh, along with his broken ankle, made a terrific ride aboard THE ROCKER, 2013's ABBI Champion bull.  Kody and The Rocker combined for 89.25 points, and a third place finish in the round.  Bull score was 44 points.

The B-I-G bull, MISSISSIPPI HIPPY sent Billy Robinson flying.  Hippy was one of those bulls who deserved a lot more than his 44.75 point score.  I would have scored him at least a full point higher.  Does it cost the judges money to give bulls higher scores, I wonder??? Grrr.....

ASTEROID took an early lead in the 2014 Bucking Bull of the Year race with his 46.5 point score.  He was fantastic bucking off Chase Outlaw and enjoyed his victory lap afterwards!

Jared Allen's Pro Bull Team's AIR TIME was so exciting to watch.  This bull does not like being in the chute, and I was worried when Renato was taking a lot of time in the chute.  Didn't want Air Time disqualified!  Thankfully, Renato got out of the chute on Air Time and the bull jumped so high in the air!  It's fun to watch him.  Renato bucked off and the bull was scored 44.5 points.

2014 Stock Contractor of the Year, Chad Berger, during the retirement ceremony for Smackdown.  Nothing against Bushwacker or Smackdown, but there were other bulls retiring that were not even mentioned during the Finals, and I have a HUGE problem with that.  K-C Bucking Bull's KING LOPEZ, WHO DAT and ROCK & ROLL were also retired this year.  They have been GREAT bulls for a long time, and the PBR didn't even give them a  mention.  That is a slap in the face to the stock contractors, owners and fans of these bulls.  Would it really have been such a big deal to bring the K-C gang up on the stage and honor their bulls too?  So I say....Congratulations to K-C on the retirement of these bulls! Thank you for all of your hard work, in caring for them and hauling them to events.  This fan will miss these bulls tremendously, as I'm sure a lot of fans will also.  Hope these bulls have long, healthy, happy retirements!

MICK E MOUSE easily got Eduardo Aparecido off his back and scored 46 points.  After night 1 of competition, Mick E sat second behind Asteroid for BBOTY.

 Friday morning was the Fan Club Bull Housing Tour.  The absolute highlight of the entire week for me!    I am grateful that this is included for us bull fans, so please don't take my comments wrongly.  We are asked to be in line at 7:30 in the morning, and we wait in line to be checked in, broken in to groups, then have to stand and listen to Cody Lambert talk for close to 45 minutes.  Mind you, half of what Cody says, we fans can't hear.  And, the Q&A is a complete fail because the group is too big.  But the main thing is....we fans didn't get up early to listen to Cody...JUST LET US SEE THE BULLS!!   It was sheer torture to be so close, yet so far.  I tried to wander over to Mick E Mouse and get pictures but was scolded back to the group.  Maybe I am overtired and cranky, but I hope next year, it will be organized a bit better and we fans have more time with the bulls...all the bulls!

BRUISER from D&H Cattle popped his head up when I greeted him.  He, like lots of the bulls, was still lounging in the cool morning air.

Here are some of the Back Seat Buckers.  #9 is BLACK JACK and #22 is CAM'S BAD BULL.  Couldn't quite get the number from the cutie on the left.  These little guys were penned off at the end of Bull Housing.  I wish the Fan Club could have visited these little guys too.

Thanks to Alisha & Thor of Sneakin' W Cattle, I was able to meet and love on DOUBLE CROSS 2.  What a sweetheart!  We were having a grand time until my hubby tried to pet on him and  Double Cross was having none of that!  Guess he's a real ladies bull!  ;)

The great BUSHWACKER and I had a moment.  I was trying not to cry at his pen.  I was telling him how wonderful he is, how much I will miss him and that he needs to buck hard and win BBOTY on Sunday.  He snorted at me and walked away.  At least we had a moment......

Sweet SMACKDOWN relaxing Friday morning.  He has been such a great bull!  I believe it must have been so hard for Chad Berger to retire him.  Smackdown has produced high scoring rides but mostly exciting buck-offs!

AIR TIME was pretty calm with all his adoring fans around him.  He is a handsome bull but a bit touchy, from what I understand.  I haven't gotten to see these bulls in person too much, so I was excited to greet him.

SHEPHERD HILLS TRAPPER showing Momma Sue his teeth. LOL!  This bull had two fantastic outs in Vegas.  His ability to cut corners, down low is amazing.  The bull riders seemed to stare in disbelief as they get up off the dirt.  For a long time, this bull has been amazingly athletic and difficult to ride!

Friday night Round 3 was a solid pen of bulls, just below the rank pen.  Ryan Dirteater got things going with an 86.75 point ride on JACK DANIEL'S WINTER JACK.  The bull scored 43.25 points.

SMACKDOWN'S final out.  He bucked off Crisostomo and was scored 42.5 points.  BS flag thrown at Crisostomo for taking way toooooo long in the chute.  Happy that Smackdown won the battle!

JW Harris had a great ride aboard HOKEY POKEY for 88.5 points, bull score 43.25 points.  JW Harris had a good Finals, and won the 2014 Rookie of the Year award, by edging out Gage Gay.

WHO DEY from K-C/Josie McElroy Bucking Bulls/Spark-Lin Acres was obviously not happy he was relegated to a reride bull.  Here, Who Dey roughs up Lachlan Richardson, after being awarded a 44.25 point bull score.

Friday night was also the finals for the Back Seat Buckers at Thomas & Mack.  The top 5 bulls were brought over to buck at the big show.  Here, BOOGER COUNTY BOOGIE does his best, complete with snotitude!  But overall, HIGH NOON won the 2014 crown.

Part 3 of the blog will finish the 2014 Finals and my adventure in Vegas.  It's been a rough few weeks and time has gotten away from me!  I've also had a difficult time deciding how much of my personal opinions I want to share on here.  I guess I'm still asking myself that question, and by the end of part 3 I might just let the "fur fly", so to speak.  But that will be for another day.

Hoping Snotitude fans are finding things to fill their time while the PBR is on it's break until January.
On the home front, the gang at Let R Buck Bull Riding School is working hard to move an indoor arena to the property, and get it set up for winter.  It is a HUGE job but it will be worth it when the school can operate year round!

This is the arena that is being dismantled, moved and will be reassembled at the school.  We are all excited for this and it will be a great asset to the school!

Photographs by Susan Hanrahan, unless noted