There's no arguing about Brazile's talents

Posted Sunday, December 16, 2007

Arguable is a horrible word.

Let’s face it, anything can be argued. Anything. I understand the theory behind debate. An issue is presented, then combatants take a side. You don’t have to even agree with your argument as long as you present your case in the debate.

I can argue about the color of my own eyes if you want, so everything is arguable.

And the truth is, the word doesn’t really apply when it comes to eight-time world champion Trevor Brazile. Why argue these facts concerning the greatest roper in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association history:

– This year, he became the first cowboy in 24 years to win ProRodeo’s Triple Crown by winning three world titles in the same year: the all-around, steer roping and tie down roping. Only two ProRodeo Hall of Famers Roy Cooper, a timed-event hand, and Jim Shoulders, a roughstock cowboy, have accomplished the feat before.

– Has won five times the Timed Event Championship of the World, an iron man competition in which each of the 20 contestants compete in five rounds, with a run in each timed event making up one round – each cowboy must head, heel, rope a calf, rope a steer and wrestle a steer to make up the time in one go-round, and Brazile has done it better than anyone in the 22-year history of the event.

– Is the only contestant in ProRodeo history to have qualified for the championship – the National Finals Rodeo and the National Steer Roping Finals – in each roping event, having finished among the top 15 in heading, heeling, calf roping and steer roping.

The late Jim Shoulders wasn’t too fond of ropers being honored as the all-around cowboy, the most prestigious honor in the sport. He told me more than once that real cowboys rode bucking animals, just like he did and like Ty Murray did. He especially didn’t appreciate that a steer roper, Guy Allen, surpassed his overall world championships record.

But I reckon Shoulders would have a different opinion of Brazile, especially after the Texan’s run in 2007, especially at the NFR. Over 10 days, he won more than $186,000, and placed in the average in both team roping and tie down roping. He and Patrick Smith won the fourth and fifth go-rounds and placed three other nights.

In calf roping, Brazile not only placed five times, he also had the fastest run of the rodeo with his first-place, 6.7-second run in the seventh-go.

He did all that with a herniated disk in his back, meaning he had to overcome sharp, unwavering pain every time he dismounted.

That’s cowboy. There’s no arguing that.