Howdy, I am James Phillips, also known as world biggest rodeo fan. Rodeo Attitude had asked me to share my thoughts with you about the first three go rounds of the PBR finals in Vegas that has already been posted and I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed sharing my thoughts with you. Rodeo Attitude as also invited me to share my final thoughts on the PBR World Finals as a whole. The PBR finals would be filled with everything that we would expect and more. There were some great rides and some wild wrecks. As well as plenty of controversy involving the new instant replay system. In the end this system played become a major factor in the world championship race as well as the rookie of the year race.
The PBR would also pay tribute to the following members of the bull riding and rodeo industry: Shane Drury and Michael Marino who both lose their battles with cancer this year. We would also say goodbye to three legends of the bull riding industry who would retire at this year’s finals: the one horn wonder Western Wishes and the newly crowned bucking bull of the year, Mossy Oak Mudslinger, of Page and Teague Bucking Bulls, who would receive the highest honor a stock contractor can receive, Stock Contractor of the Year. The last retiree we would no longer see in the arena was the greatest bull fighter that ever lived, in my opinion, Rob Smets. It was an honor for me to say that I have seen him fight his last bull even if it was just on the TV.
Among the awards given out every year at the PBR Finals one of my favorites has to be the memorial awards given in honor of those who have fallen doing what they love. The Lane Frost and Brent Thurman Award would be given to the cowboy that posts the highest score during the eight rounds of competition at the PBR Finals each year. This year the award would be shared by two very deserving cowboys, the newly crowned PBR World Champion, Adriano Moraes and Dustin Hall. Ironically, the two would not only share the same score of 93 points but they would both do it on the same bull, Here's Your Sign. In my opinion this says a lot for this bull’s heart and desire to buck. Most of us know the stories behind the tragic loss of these two great cowboy's but for those who are new to rodeo and for those that need a reminder Lane Frost was the 1987 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider, who was tragically killed in the final go round at Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in 1989. In 1994, Brent Thurman was among the top 15 PRCA bull riders in the world when he was tragically killed in the 10th and final go round at the National Finals Rodeo. And just when we least expected tragedy would strike, once again to one of the most talented Canadian bull riders that I have seen in many years. Glen Keely, was among the top 10 riders in the PBR in the year 2000. He was competing at the Ty Murray Invitational touring pro event in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the first round he was match up against the great bull, Promiseland. He was injured during the ride and would later die from his injuries. Therefore, the PBR and his family honor him and his memory by giving the Glen Keely Award to the Canadian bull rider who earns the most money during regular PBR season. This year this award would go to Jesse Torkelson. In my opinion, what makes these awards so special is that they represent the memories of great cowboy's that paid the ultimate price for something they believed in. Not only do these awards honor their passing, but it is a way to let them and their families know that we will never forget them. There is a saying in bull riding that it is not if you are going to get hurt it is simply a matter of when and how bad. Every bull rider knows that each and every time they get on a bull, they could be taking their last ride . God Bless all of those who have fallen and congratulations to this year's award winners on receiving such an honor.
Now on to the event itself. We would see the young guys step it up. As well as the oldest guy still riding at this level, Adriano Moraes, who would jump out to an early lead riding his first 4 bulls in a row only to experience some back pain and buck off his next two bulls in a row. I was beginning to wonder if he would make a comeback, however I was not surprised to see him make a huge comeback and win the next two go rounds in a row, which would give him enough points to go from number four in the world to becoming the only three-time PBR World Champion in history. He would get a $1 million bonus for doing so and plus let us not forget about the Ford Super Duty Challenger pickup which he earned by being the rider who had won a regular-season event and who placed the highest in the average at the finals.
Now on to the biggest surprise of the whole finals and that was the struggle of now the Reserve World Champion, Guilherme Marchi, who had a huge lead in the championship race coming in to the finals. No one expected him to only ride three of his eight bulls. He would have not made the short round but two other riders were injured in round 7 and could not compete in the Short Go. Those riders were Paulo Crimber and Brendon Clark. Guilherme Marchi would take advantage, or so we thought, of this. This is where the new replay rule could have affected the championship race. Remember Adriano had not yet rode his final bull when the ride was contested by the judges and at first it looked like had the qualified ride stood and Guilherme Marchi would not have been disqualified for slapping his bull he could have been the new world champion, when the finals were over and the math was done even if the ride had not been disqualified he still would have lost by a heartbreaking FOUR points. The race this year was that close!
The same thing could be said for the rookie of the year race as well Austin Meier had regained the lead for rookie of the year for a short time because of his three rides instead of two which J.B. Mauney had. J. B. would regain the lead in the rookie race because of his second-place finish in the seventh round on Shane bit J. B. would not make the short round and Austin would. Once again the replay system would decide the outcome of this race for rookie of the year. In a phone conversation by Cindy Meyers, CEO, of Rodeo Attitude, Cody Custer told her there was no doubt on the film that Austin touched the bull with his free hand. I did feel because the bull stumbled that Austin should have received a reride and that is why I think that was a bad call, but nevertheless that was the call made even after the judges watched the replay so that is the call we will live with . Therefore, Rodeo Attitude member, J.B. Mauney, is your 2006 PBR Rookie of the Year.
I got to say that I am very pleased to see the young guys do so well. The Colorado Kid, Kody Lostroh, who would win three go rounds at this year's finals and finish third overall in this event. And become the first man to ride the reserve bucking bull of the year, Dr. Proctor. In my opinion, Dr. Proctor had a bad day and Kody was still able to ride him for a 91.5. Kody would not be the only man at this year’s finals to ride Dr. Proctor, to my surprise; Dr. Proctor had an even worse day in the seventh round when bull rider, Leandro Mattos was successful on him for a modest 87.5 points. Another young rider, L. J. Jenkins of New Mexico would step up and have great finals and ride six out of eight Bulls and become the overall event winner of the average at the PBR World Finals. Someone who we all expected to do well and did not on the other hand was Chris shivers of Louisiana. The two-time PBR World Champion would only ride one out of seven bulls at this year’s finals. What a surprise! As we close the books on yet another PBR World Finals I would like to congratulate this year’s champions as well as J, W. Hart, the Ironman, on becoming the only man in PBR history to qualify for all 13 PBR World Finals consecutively. Now that the 2006 season is over the 2007 season begins in just two weeks from Hawaii. Who will be the next PBR World Champion 2007? Only time will tell, but it will be fun watching!
