‘The first cut is always the deepest and this is a deep one’
PUEBLO, Colo. (January 26, 2009) - “The first cut is always the deepest and this is a deep one,” said Clint Adkins, in-arena announcer, about this afternoon’s rider cuts from the Top 45. “In fact, it’s probably the biggest, deepest cut the PBR has ever had, going to 40 guys.”
After five Built Ford Tough Events, a dozen riders – Harve Stewart, Reese Cates, Pistol Robinson, Clayton Williams, L.J. Jenkins, Vince Northrop, Clayton Foltyn, Dustin Hall, Aaron Roy, Colby Yates, D.J. Domangue, and Ednei Caminhas – were cut from the roster of what is now the Top 40 riders in the world.
Caminhas will remain eligible for the next five events based on an exemption for being a former World Champion. Canter made it back as well, as he is among the Top 5 earners of Challenger money along with Pete Farley, Jock Connelly, Skeeter Kingsolver and McKennon Wimberley.
Williams, Jenkins and Roy are listed as the Top 3 alternates; however, Williams is only the top alternate through Glendale.
“The pressure was intense on them,” Adkins said. “You could just see how disappointed they were when they got off. It was like the whole world had fallen in on them. It was tough to watch.”
Williams will be the No. 1 alternate for the next five weeks based upon the $500,000 he won last February in Oklahoma City. At the next cut – following the event in Anaheim – the alternate positions will only take 2009 money into account. That would all but eliminate Williams, who currently has $2,251 earned this year.
The future is equally bleak for Caminhas.
The 2002 World Champion is only 1 for 10 this year and hasn’t won any money in 2009, nor has he attended a single lower-level event. In fact, he hasn’t earned a qualified ride in a short go at a Built Ford Tough Series event since August 2 of 2008 in Glendale.
Coincidentally, he may well face being cut – with no alternatives – following this year’s Glendale event.
“They just had their heads in their hands because it was that big of a ride at that big of a moment for them,” Adkins said. “They know how tough it is to get back on because it’s not easy to make it.
“It was painful to watch and you couldn’t help but feel for these guys, because you know how long it took for them to get up here and what they’re going to have to go through. … You’ve got to work your way back up and that takes time.”
Two riders – Ryan McConnel and Cody Ford – did manage to save themselves from the cut. McConnel was 3-for-3 this weekend, including a valiant effort on Nasty Mike in the short go, for a third place finish in the event.
That moved the New Mexico native from 31st to 17th in the world, and saved him from being cut. Cody Ford was 2-for-3 and finished ninth in the event to move from 34th to 28th—two places above the cut line.
Yates, a hometown favorite who earned a score in Round 1, had a chance in Round 2 by drawing Silver Wings, but couldn’t make the draw work in his favor.
“Colby Yates had a lot of people pulling for him because of being from just right down the road,” Adkins said. “That just kind of took the air out of the American Airlines Center when he got bucked off.”
For all the hard luck emotions this weekend, another emotional storyline in Dallas – and one with a positive outcome – was that of Ryan Dirteater.
The 19-year-old won his first Built Ford Tough Series event title, and it was the second weekend in a row in which the sophomore rider led going into the short go.
The difference this week was that along with his parents, his best friends and even former high school teachers made the 263-mile journey to watch him ride in Dallas.
“I think the whole town of Hulbert, Okla., came to watch Ryan Dirteater this weekend,” joked Adkins, before getting more serious. “The crowd knew how big of a moment this was for Ryan Dirteater, and for him to come through… the whole building was ecstatic.”
As he does each and every event, Adkins selected five matchups.
Ryan Dirteater versus The Geetus: He is separating himself from the rest of the pack of these young kids, who for one reason or another are struggling, and this guy is separating himself from the rest of the sophomore class. It was his moment to say, “I’ve finally arrived. If last weekend didn’t do it for you I’m going to prove it to you this weekend.” He’s here, and Ryan Dirteater is going to become a household name. It was great to see and I almost got choked up. It was intense. Everybody was on the edge of their seat. It was that big of a moment.
J.B. Mauney versus Super Duty: This weekend, I have to say, J.B. was very businesslike. J.B. continues to amaze everybody, and this guy is not going to stop until he’s got a World Championship buckle and $1 million in his pocket. Just like we expect, he gets these bulls ridden week in and week out.
Ryan McConnel versus Nasty Mike: He was determined to not let this bull buck him off. He made the right moves when he need to get it done. He was one of those scores that wasn’t really high – we only had one 90-point ride all weekend – but he was another young bull rider determined to get a qualified score.
Austin Meier versus Pandora’s Box: He stepped up there on top of the shark cage and took Pandora’s Box – the score is not going to blow you away – and the effort that he put out, one of our U.S. Border Patrol riders, by the way, and he was not going to let go until his head hit the ground. The judges got the score right – he was hanging off the side of him – but effort was truly there.
Brian Herman versus Scaredy Cat: Watching Brian ride in the championship round and to see him doing what he’s doing right now at the age that he’s at, you have to watch this. It’s a great matchup.
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