The unrideable stays unridden

By Mary Rudloff
Posted Saturday, January 31, 2009

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. – Tom Teague can tuck his $20,000 back in his wallet.

Bones made sure his owner’s money was safe.

At the conclusion of round one of the 6th stop on the PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series, in Winston-Salem, N.C., Teague’s 2008 PBR Bucking Bull of the Year faced off against the 2008 PBR world champion Guilherme Marchi.

At stake: A $20,000 bounty Teague would pay out, if Marchi could take away Bones’ status of being unridden.

And at the 4.3 second mark, Bones closed Teague’s wallet, sending Marchi to the dirt.

The match up has stirred headlines, since Teague – who calls Winston-Salem home – put up the challenge last week, during the PBR’s stop in Dallas, Texas.

If Marchi rode the unride-able Bones, $20,000 was his.

If not, Bones gets the bragging rights.

In two previous match-ups, Marchi couldn’t make the 8 second mark.

Friday night in Winston-Salem was no different.

Granted, Marchi did last longer than the average ride on Bones, which is 3.99 seconds.

But still, he didn’t last long enough to claim the jackpot.

The ride was a bonus match-up, separate from the round of competition. In the first ride of the night, Marchi posted a score of 86.25 points on Booger Butt.

Maybe next, Teague should put up the same offer to the current PBR year-end points average leader, and fellow North Carolina resident J.B. Mauney… As his pattern of choices during the bull drafts at the PBR Finals and this season has shown, there’s little chance J.B. would turn down the chance a shot at the best.