It might have been the second event on the tour, but The Big Apple was the site of the initial event of 2008, and it brought out some other firsts as well. Valdiron de Oliveira proved once again that consistency is the name of the game. While he did not win a round, by riding all four of his bulls, de Oliveira captured his first ever BFTS win. Putting the more than $31,000 in his pocket was not the only thing on his mind. “This win means everything to me,” he said. “I came to the U.S. to be (PBR) World Champion.” This was certainly not a bad start, particularly since this is only Valdiron’s second year on the tour.
Round one went to Kasey Hayes, who rode Frontier Rodeo Company’s Showdown to an 88.50. Canada’s young gun Tyler Pankewitz was second. He was able to cover Bad Action for 87.25. Chad Berger/Dibbett hauls Bad Action. Everybody’s favorite son Chris Shivers was third. He was just behind Pankewitz with an 87 on Mataska, owned by Frontier/Teague Bucking Bulls. Eventual winner Valdiron was fourth.
The second round proved to be quite interesting, and this is where another first took place. At all three-day events, the riders will have the ability to choose the bulls they will ride for both round two and the Championship Round. The winner picks first, and they go right down the line. This puts a bit more pressure on PBR’s Livestock Director, Cody Lambert, as he must make sure there is a pen of bulls that, from first pick to last, the cowboys could win the round on. It’s put up or shut up time, so to speak.
Shivers did not back away from the challenge. He picked Cat Man Do, a bull from #10 Bucking Bulls. He grabbed round two with a 90.75 score. That also proved to be the highest-scored ride of the event. Behind him was de Oliveira with an 89. He opted for Scardey Cat, who is owned by Chad Berger/Ryken/Hawks. Close on his heels was Dustin Hall, with an 88.75. His draft pick was a favorite bull of mine, Texas. Texas is hauled by Chad Berger/Dibbett.
Back to the original format for round three and we saw the youngsters come to the party, grabbing the top three spots. Texas came back in this round and showed everyone that his nick-name should be “Money Maker.” Brian Canter won the round on him with a big 90.25. Austin Meier and J.B. Mauney tied for second when they scored an 89. Meier rode McClintock, owned by Berger Bucking Bulls, and Mauney covered Chad Berger/Roger Ward’s Blue Boy.
It was time for the Built Ford Tough Championship Round, and what super bulls the men got to pick from. Eight cowboys covered their short-go bulls in an exciting Championship Round. Brendon Clark elected to try and ride California Dreaming, who is owned by Frontier/Teague Bucking Bulls. He felt that he could ride him, and he was right. He was given a 90.50 for his efforts, winning the short round.
Second in this round was J.B. Mauney. He decided on Cat Man Do, who took Shivers to the pay window in the second round. He did the same for Mauney, as he also broke that 90 plane with a 90.25. But his ride was not without some tense seconds, as his spur hung in the bull rope, dragging him around after his ride. Bullfighters Shorty Gorham and Frank Newsome both pulled their knives to cut the rope, and it was Newsome who beat Gorham to the punch. A good idea, those knives.
Third was our eventual event winner Valdiron. He picked Outsider, a bull that had only bucked seven times with no qualified rides. Well, that was until de Oliveira gave him a try. He covered this Davis/Mayo/Hooker bull to a score of 89.
L.J. Jenkins provided the most disappointing moment during this event. He picked Big Bucks for this Championship Round. This great bull, owned by Frontier/Teague Bucking Bulls, continues to impress. He will be eight years old this year, and has only been ridden one out of 48 attempts. This past Sunday Jenkins made it two, although it won’t go into the books. After three of four judges had already posted their scores it was determined that L.J.’s hand touched the bulls’ shoulder at the end of the ride, giving him a very unfortunate no score. His score would have been…92.25! Big Bucks was marked the high score bull, garnering a score of 46 by the judges. What heartbreak for Jenkins.
For the overall event we had de Oliveira on top, followed by Mauney and Guilherme Marchi, with Wiley Petersen and Sean Willingham tied for fourth.
As for the standings early in the 2008 season, Mike Lee is in the lead, with Valdiron second. Shivers is third, Mauney fourth, Petersen fifth, Marchi sixth, Canter seventh and Willingham eighth. It is very premature in the year of course, but so many of those in the top eight were knocking on the door for the World Finals last year, it looks like it is already shaping up to be a thrilling race.
Time to mention another thing that the PBR changed this year, and that is how they run the top five bull riders in the short round. Last year they would bring the leader to a podium in the center of the arena, and if he was knocked out of the top spot he would leave and the new leader would take his place. This was just fine. But then they would run the top five backwards – instead of going from fifth to first, they would start with the leader and work down.
I really didn’t like this format from the get-go. If the leader rode his bull, and if it was clear that he could not be caught, all the suspense was gone for the next four riders. You already knew who would win the event. This year, they still bring up the top guys, but run the order from 15th to first. Much better, in my own humble opinion.
And finally, as I stated in another column, Adriano Moraes announced his retirement and this will be his farewell season. I can only pray that he stays healthy during the year and is able to go out with the tribute that he deserves. And oh yeah, he is in 11th place in the standings.
Andy Watson photo.
Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.
