LAS VEGAS (October 18, 2010) - Calling the Times Square event last Friday “another brick” in the continuous building of the PBR as a mainstream sport, Ty Murray recorded what will be the first of eight consecutive Podcasts analyzing the 2010 PBR World Finals.
Murray, who is already in Las Vegas, spoke about the last of the Final Five Showdowns and J.B. Mauney’s trimming of Austin Meier’s lead in the world standings to only 241.25 points.
“That’s really, really close to starting dead even,” Murray said. “These guys know it’s going to come down to who’s able to dominate at the World Finals, and that’s a tall order.”
The top two riders are so close in points that either one of them could be in the No. 1 spot after the opening round Wednesday night.
This year’s Finals is a six-round competition that concludes Sunday afternoon with the fifth and final long round and a short round that could determine the 2010 PBR World Champion.
While neither Meier nor Mauney has a textbook riding style, both have the intangibles that can put them in a position to win.
Murray insisted it’s not a criticism, but pointed out that Meier is not a fundamentally sound rider. He added that he’s a “big fan” of Meier and loves the effort and grit that the 23-year-old has shown throughout the year.
Meier has won five Built Ford Tough Series events, compared to Mauney’s two.
But over the next six rounds – assuming they both qualify for the short round – they’ll have their work cut out for them as they face the rankest bulls of the year.
“This feels like the two-minute drill in the Super Bowl,” said Murray. “It’s crunch time, and the weight of the world can be on your shoulders, especially when it’s a dream that you’ve had your whole life.
“Everything just gets more amplified.”
Murray’s entire Podcast can be heard here.
LOS DE SONORA, an up-and-coming Mexican band and YouTube sensation, will perform on the Cooper Tires stage in the Fan Zone outside the Thomas & Mack Center immediately following Round 1 of the World Finals on Wednesday, Oct. 20.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS continues at the Finals. The pink jerseys previously worn by Renato Nunes, Robson Palermo, Skeeter Kingsolver and Zack Brown of the Cooper Tires team will be available at the silent auction hosted by the Rider Relief Fund. The riders wore pink shirts and pink chaps in Columbus, Ohio, and again in Times Square. Proceeds from the sale of the uniforms will be split between the Rider Relief Found and the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.
PBR Fan Club members were so taken by the riders who participated, including all those who wore pink ribbons in Columbus, that they have organized an unofficial “pink” night on Wednesday. Through comments on www.pbr.com and social networking sites, it appears there are a growing number of fans planning to wear pink to the opening round of the Finals.
RIDING HIGH MINISTRIES will host Faith & Family Night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, immediately following Round 2 of the 2010 Built Ford Tough World Finals on Thursday, Oct. 21. The event will feature Christian artist Jeremy Riddle, PBR Champions sharing stories of faith, and a unique horse-breaking demonstration by PBR Chaplain Todd Pierce. Everyone with a ticket for Round 2 is invited to attend.
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