PUEBLO, Colo. (February 2, 2010) -
To the PBR:
It seems like only yesterday when, in a Guthrie, Okla., hotel room, the PBR’s board of directors took a chance on hiring me. Half of them didn’t even know I had been hired. At our next meeting there was an argument, and a chair went flying across the room to explode against the wall.
Here we are, 15 years later, having watched our sport evolve into a mainstream phenomenon, seeing the fundamental and perfect simplicity of our sport take on complex new life, looking back on all the ideas and decisions that brought us here.
I truly have lived a blessed life.
I would be embarrassed, and inaccurate, to take credit for what the PBR has done these past 15 years. The PBR is and always has been about our cowboys, our stock contractors, our sponsors, our staff, and most importantly, our fans.
The credit for our success lies with many people, and I have only begun to thank them all. But I want to take this opportunity to recognize some who have been especially vital.
First, Ty and Cody. My father always said if you hang out with champs, you become a champ. I couldn’t have asked for better supporters, and better friends, than these two men. For the past decade and a half, I have never had to look behind me … I always knew they had my back, and that allowed me to look straight ahead. They are the rocks of the PBR, and will always be my heroes.
The next is Tom Teague. Tom was an angel to the PBR. When we needed help, he was there. He didn’t flinch when I asked for millions to buy back our television rights in order to take the PBR to the next level. When we partnered with Spire Capital, he could have held us hostage and demanded a huge payback; but he was more concerned to see our cowboys receive the money they deserved, and he told me to take care of them. Most people will never realize what Tom has done for the PBR, but I will never forget. The PBR is where it is today because of Tom.
I would like to thank all the past board members: Michael Gaffney, Adriano Moraes, Aaron Semas, David Fournier, Jerome Davis, J.W. Hart, Cody Custer, Clint Branger, Troy Dunn, Ted Nuce and so many more…I have so many fond memories of these great men.
I would also like to thank Spire Capital. They share our vision, and have been a stellar partner to the PBR. They are not “suits” – they are genuine folks who care about the sport and its heritage. Since 2007, I have worked every single day with Rick Patterson, Andy Armstrong and David Schaible, and believe me, they love this sport and want to see it grow. For example, through the worst recession since the 1940s, they were adamant: We would not cut prize money like other sports were doing.
And we haven’t. At some point in the very near future, the PBR will pass a milestone of which I’m fiercely proud: We will have awarded over $100 million to our athletes.
The PBR’s success is directly attributable to the great partnerships we enjoy with our corporate sponsors. We’ve been fortunate to always have their support, and I’d like to personally thank each and every one of them for their contributions. I would be remiss not to extend a special thanks to Ford, Jack Daniel’s, Wrangler, Las Vegas, Dickies, Copenhagen, Enterprise and Cripple Creek for being with us for so long. Jack Daniel’s, Wrangler, Las Vegas and Cripple Creek have been with us from the very beginning … the PBR actually was the first sponsorship Jack Daniel’s ever pursued. They have all become a foundation for our sport, and I am grateful.
I would also like to thank my wife and children for their support, and for allowing me to travel and work very difficult hours.
The hardest part of this decision is its emotional side. I am leaving a sport I love … leaving a huge part of my life and myself. All I can say is that 15 years is a long time, and it’s time to explore new challenges. I am confident I can make a difference with the IRL, and I know it has tremendous potential. I have visited with team owners, sponsors and staff, and see the same passion we have here at the PBR.
Change is good. Things can get stagnant without fresh ideas. History will show that this whole experience has never been about the CEO, but about a board who created the strategy, the management with the vision, and a motivated, passionate staff.
I have learned what a great team can do. I have been honored to work with every member of our staff. The PBR is poised for enormous success because of them. I leave this sport in great hands.
I would like this transition to be fun. I want the last 30 days of my PBR career to meaningful. To that end, we will produce largest bull riding event and single-day payout in history at Cowboys Stadium on February 20. I want to go out with a bang.
For 15 years, I have lived a dream. I have been involved the fastest growing sport in the world, and I have met unbelievable people along the way. I have learned the PBR is more than a sport. It’s competition, danger, entertainment, athletes. It’s a culture, a lifestyle, a tradition.
I hope that I gave back to that tradition, and to the Western lifestyle that has been so good to me, leaving it stronger and more vital than ever before.
Thank you for the memories!
Sincerely,
Randy W. Bernard
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