SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (September 16, 2010) - This weekend’s Built Ford Tough Series event is also an ABBI Super Classic that will feature 3- and 4-year-old bulls in the first two long rounds on Friday and Saturday night.
According to PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert, the two rounds will be highlighted by Bushwacker – a top contender for World Champion Bull – and Moon. However, two bulls to keep an eye on Sunday are Black Pearl and Loafers Glory.
Also on Friday, the second of the Final Five Showdowns will feature the likes of Paycheck and Big Iron, along with Chester and Mission Accomplished.
But in his weekly Podcast, Lambert addressed last week’s drama that unfolded in Greenville, S.C., when Renato Nunes challenged Ryan McConnel’s qualified ride in the bonus round.
“Renato did the right thing,” said Lambert, who didn’t understand the backlash Nunes received. He especially didn’t understand anyone questioning Nunes’ integrity, or the idea that his decision went against the cowboy code.
“To me, the cowboy way is if you see an injustice and you’re able to do something about it, you try to help and you try to fix it,” Lambert explained. “Some people might not see it that way…but those people are just wrong.”
Lambert said that it was obvious that McConnel had slapped Real Moody on the second jump out of the chute – “slapped him so hard it almost knocked the bull down” – and that everyone in the Bi Lo Center saw the infraction. Everyone, that is, except the four judges.
“Renato was a little upset with the judges for not getting the job done, and he pushed the challenge button like we’ve encouraged the riders to do any time they see a call wrong,” Lambert said. “It’s their responsibility to call out the judges if they get a call wrong, so he did, and it was obvious on the replay.”
Ultimately the right call was made.
“That’s what the instant replay is there for,” Lambert said, “to get the call right. Some people want to put more into it than that.”
Earlier this week, it was announced that all four judges from the Greenville Invitational will be suspended for the remainder of the 2010 season.
In a press release, Senior Vice President of Competition Jay Daugherty said, “We’re going to explore ways to improve our judging process, including the implementation of a new training program for all judges.”
Lambert’s entire interview can be heard here.
NEWS and NOTES
PBR Now on RFD-TV: J.W. Hart and his co-host Justin McBride will be back on RFD-TV this Thursday, beginning at 10 p.m. ET. The show is also streamed live at PBR.TV. Fans are encouraged to call 877-731-6733, or send questions by emailing pbrnowshow@pbr.com.
Live Event Center: Follow all the action from this week’s BFTS event in Springfield, including the second of five bonus rounds for the Top 10 riders, by logging on to the Event Center at www.pbr.com/live. The multimedia center provides live scoring, live blogging and event-related interviews.
