Pick a bull, any bull

By Mary Rudloff
Posted Saturday, January 12, 2008

WORCESTER, Mass. – Pick a bull, any bull.

That’s what the riders in the PBR did Saturday morning at the Crowne Plaza Hotel here in Worcester.

In part of an event change for three day events, the powers that be in the Professional Bull Riders have instituted a change for round two. Based on scores or buck off times in round one, the 45 riders get to pick their bulls for round two.

Do they pick a rideable bull? A tough bull that, if covered for the full eight seconds, can give them a round-winning score? Or a bull that, in a previous match up, got the better of the rider and the bull rider wants revenge.

As the bull-picking turned out Saturday morning, it’s a little bit of everything.

Several hundred fans got to watch the process Saturday morning. The process also gives fans a chance to see a little bit different side of the top riders in the world. And, with some of the antics, explanations and interactions of the riders, it’s just fun.

Each rider has precisely one minute to ask any questions and make their choice. PBR announcer Brandon Bates served as emcee and timekeeper, and announcer Randy Schmutz handled interviewing the riders with any of the 60 seconds remaining. Rider JW Hart, who has taken the 2008 season off to heal up, offered riders information about a specific bull if asked, and was called upon several times to provide input before a rider chose his ride.

“I wasn’t really high on getting on bulls anymore, but this bull draft makes me want to come back sooner,” Hart said. “Just to be able to pick those bulls I never get a chance to get one.”

Hart said he believed that the most desirable bulls in the draft would depend on whether a right or left handed rider was picking. The riders and fans attending are provided with a stat sheet that includes average rider skill, buck off rates of left handed riders and right handed riders, and the “power rating” of the bull.

Picking first was Mike White, who won Friday’s round one. White chose Cowboy Cut, a bull whose average score is 83.5 points and buck off rate is 80 percent (left) and 60 percent (right). The bull, at least on paper, is one of the more rider-friendly bulls in round two.

“Last weekend (New York City), I was 16th or 17th, and it was easier to pick because there were less bulls left,” White said. “Last week, I was wishing I could be first, so I could pick whatever bull I wanted. Now I am first, and it’s a lot harder to pick.”

Second in line to choose was Travis Briscoe, who took Bad Medicine, a bull with the second highest average rider score at 89.18 points. Briscoe has never been matched with the bull, and said his game plan was “just let him buck and do my job.” Third was Greg Potter, who split 2nd and 3rd place with Briscoe. “I’m going to play it safe, and pick Texas,” Potter said. “That bull has been around a while, and it’s a good solid draw.”

The rest of Friday night’s top ten, and their choices, are:

Colby Yates on Cat Man Do, the bull with the highest average score on paper. Chris Shivers won a round on that bull last week.

Brian Canter on Nervous Waters, another high scoring bull last weekend.

Guilherme Marchi on Scaredy Cat. “I’ve never been on him before but he bucks good and has lots of kick,” Marchi said of his choice.

Sean Willingham on Palace Station Deuces Wild. “I’ve been wanting a rematch on that bull, so this is a perfect opportunity,” Willingham said. “Most of my other first choices were already picked.” Palace Station Deuces Wild has one of the highest average rider scores in the draw.

Harve Stewart on Mataska. “I don’t really get along with any of the bulls,” Stewart said, drawing laughs. “But I think he’s a good ride to get on.”

McKennon Wimberly on Bad Action. “Last week, it was easier, because I was picking 41st. I only had five to pick from,” Wimberly said. “I don’t know Bad Action, but I heard Justin McBride was 90 points on him at the finals (PBR World Finals).”

Renato Nunes on Wintwister, whose average rider score is 87.11 points. The bull has a low, 37 percent buck off rate on left handed riders and half of the right handed riders cover the bull.

Kasey Hayes, who won a round last weekend in New York, was challenged by Schmutz after picking high ranked Live Wire. All in fun, Schmutz bet Hayes $1 that he would get bucked off.

Many of the riders chose bulls they haven’t faced before. Others made their choices based on looking for revenge for previous buck-offs.

“I have wanted a rematch with Rockin’ Robin,” Dustin Hall said after his pick. “I wanted him last week, but the rider right before me took him.”

Clayton Williams, who scored 84 points Friday night, said he was surprised to find that score putting him down in a 19th and 20th place tie in the event. Both last weekend, and Friday night, more than half of the riders have covered their bulls, with 26 riders putting up scores Friday night. Williams chose Smiley, with an average score of 85.25 points and a buck off rate of 68% (left) and 75% (right). “This is something I’m not used to – 84 points being so far down the list. It’s almost like a no-score as far as where it put me last night,” Williams said.

Luke Snyder, who chose high scoring Chain Reaction, said the high riding percentage is because so many of the riders “bringing their A-game.”

PBR Finals winner Wiley Petersen drew some of the loudest cheers when he went onstage to make his pick, 23rd in the round. “These are my peeps,” Petersen joked of the crowd’s response. He then proceeded to drag out his choice to just about the final seconds, purposely taking away any chance, all in fun, for either Bates or Schmutz to ask questions. He chose another high scoring bull, Dirty Dozen.

Having been introduced as one of the tallest riders in the PBR, Beau Hill said the moniker was getting old. “It’s not that I’m so tall,” he joked. “The other guys are just really, really short.” Hill chose Cooter, a bull with a more than 80 percent buck off rate.

Before making his pick for Saturday night, Kody Lostroh explained why he turned down his re-ride option Friday night, instead keeping his 74.5 point ride. “It wasn’t injury related. It was bull related,” Lostroh said. “I didn’t care for the reride bull, so I decided to keep the score and get a better pick today. We’ll see if that works out.” The bull Lostroh turned down riding Friday night was Dirty Harry. His pick for Saturday is Red Jacket.

Brazilian Paulo Crimber, who had a heart-breaking 7.8 second buck off Friday night, said he was not taking his first choice, Buffalo Bob. “I wanted Buffalo Bob, but Adriano wants that bull so bad, I’ll take Red Light.” Red Light, with one of the highest average scores, was a surprise, being available with less than 20 riders still to pick.

Proving Crimber right, Adriano Moraes was the next to pick, and took Buffalo Bob. “He bucked me off twice. I can’t retire knowing I can’t ride him,” Moraes said. “I will pick that sucker every time I can, until I ride him… hopefully tonight.”

Aussie Jared Farley, picking 35th, chose Fine Wine, bringing a painful groan from countryman Brendon Clark, who was waiting to pick. “That sound is Brendon Clark is giving birth in the front row,” Bates joked with the crowd. When Clark’s turn to choose came, he took Speck Jet, who has bucked off 100% of left-handers and 92% of right-handers and the highest bull power rating in the round.

Some of those picking last in the round said they needed as strong a bull as possible. “I have a lot of ground to make up, so let’s take Dirty Harry,” LJ Jenkins said. Asked by Bates if it is better to pick in the middle of the round, rather than near the end, Tyler Smith said “I don’t know … I’ve always been at the bottom.” Picking 42nd, Smith chose BuckerstoBuck.com.

“When you ride as bad as I did last night, you have to take what’s left,” Canadian Scott Schiffner explained, picking 43rd. He took Outcast, with an average 85 point score. “I need a good bull to stay on the tour, or I’ll get cut,” Schiffner said.

After Billy Robinson took Strong Heart, surprisingly available in the 44th pick, Silvanei Dias came onstage and announced that he was picking Mufasa (the only bull remaining).

“There are just some bulls nobody likes and Mufasa is one of them,” JW Hart said. Schmutz said Mufasa had been his choice of which bull would be the last one remaining. Schmutz said that, based on their picks, he thinks Clayton Williams or Brian Canter have the top picks for round two.

“If Brian (Canter) kicks his feet loose, and spurs like he like to, I pick him and Guilherme (Marchi) to take the round,” JW Hart said. A few hours from now, the riders and fans will see how well the 45 riders did with their picks.