COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – If sports has taught the world anything, it’s that you should never say never. There have been too many buzzer-beaters, too many ninth-inning rallies, too many come-from-behind victories to cement that mantra firmly in our brains.
After all, who can forget Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie’s last-second Hail Mary to beat the University of Miami in 1984, Team USA’s immortal hockey win over the seemingly unbeatable Soviet Union team in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games or Bobby Thompson’s home run off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca to give the New York Giants the 1951 National League Pennant?
Rodeo has been no different, as cowboys have done amazing things at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to claim gold buckles and the title of world champion. The bottom line is that no lead, however great, is insurmountable.
Four-time and reigning World Champion All-Around Cowboy Trevor Brazile will test that theory, however, this year as he enters the Wrangler NFR, Dec. 6-15, with an impressive $140,198 lead over Josh Peek in the all-around Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings. He enters this year’s event not only on the inside track to claim yet another all-around crown, but with a fiery desire to also hold onto his lead in the tie-down roping standings and therefore complete the coveted Triple Crown.
Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, is looking to become the first PRCA cowboy to win a Triple Crown since Roy “Super Looper” Cooper in 1983. A second consecutive steer roping world title won at the National Finals Steer Roping in early November set Brazile on the path toward history.
Now, all he has to do is finish what he started.
“It’s not going to be easy,” said Brazile, who has earned $285,412 this season. “Everything’s just got to be so perfect, and it’s hard enough to win one (world title). So, to try and win three in one year, everything’s got to work just right, but I believe that it’s going to this year. I’m taking no prisoners, and we’ll see what happens.”
A tie-down roping world title would be Brazile’s first in the event, and he also enters this year’s Wrangler NFR ranked 10th in the team roping heading ranks as well. If he gets “tapped off” in the team roping, an unprecedented four world titles could be his for the taking.
Also at stake is Brazile’s own single-season earnings record from a year ago. He bested Matt Austin’s 2005 mark of $320,766 by earning $329,924 last season and needs $44,513 in two events at this year’s Wrangler NFR to up the ante yet again.
More world titles for the 31-year-old Brazile – and there could be many in the coming years – no doubt will further his legacy and grow his legend in the sport. The record-setting world champions and ProRodeo Hall of Famers who have come before him have set the marks, and the talented timed-event cowboy is more motivated than ever to chase them down.
“The one great thing about rodeo is that you’ve got some great measuring sticks who have come before you,” Brazile said. “So many things change in rodeo, so it’s hard to compare yourself to those guys except for accomplishments. I’m just thankful for the guys who have come before me, because they’re what motivates me to keep going and to try to get to where they got and even further.”
Peek, of Pueblo, Colo., closed the gap a bit on Brazile at the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Championship in Dallas and qualified for the Wrangler NFR in steer wrestling and tie-down roping. With Brazile also in two events – team roping and tie-down roping – Peek would need a complete collapse from Brazile, coupled with a huge 10 days in Las Vegas to unseat the reigning champion.
Three world champions will not have the opportunity to add to their trophy cases and defend their gold buckle triumphs from a year ago. World Champion Steer Wrestler Dean Gorsuch suffered a torn pectoral muscle in early July and will miss this year’s festivities, as will World Champion Team Roping Header Matt Sherwood, who finished 17th in the Crusher Rentals PRCA World Standings. World Champion Barrel Racer Mary Burger, who was hampered by injuries to her lead horse, Fred, as well as her backup horse this year.
Peek leads a group of 36 Wrangler NFR rookies into this year’s event, and they will battle against a host of veterans who are also hungry for gold buckles. One of those veterans, five-time world champion saddle bronc rider Billy Etbauer, qualified for this year’s Wrangler NFR in the 11th hour in Dallas to earn his 19th straight trip to Las Vegas.
Bobby Mote, the 2002 World Champion Bareback Rider, comes into Las Vegas with the largest lead, and barrel racer Brittany Pozzi-Pharr and reigning World Champion Bull Rider B.J. Schumacher also have double-digit leads, but they will have their work cut out for them if they want to remain No. 1. The races in steer wrestling, team roping and saddle bronc riding will likely go down to Round 10, and who will come away with gold buckles is anybody’s guess.
Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Contestants
The following is the contestant list for the 49th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, which runs Dec. 6-15. The list is current as of Nov. 19, 2007:
Bareback riding
1. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore.
2. Justin McDaniel, Porum, Okla.
3. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash.
4. Jess Davis, Payson, Utah
5. Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore.
6. Royce Ford, Briggsdale, Colo.
7. Tom McFarland, Wickenburg, Ariz.
8. Kelly Timberman, Mills, Wyo.
9. Jason Jeter, Mansfield, Texas
*10. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas
11. Chris Harris, Itasca, Texas
12. Cimmaron Gerke, Brighton, Colo.
13. Scott Montague, Rapid City, S.D.
14. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb.
15. Heath Ford, Greeley, Colo.
Steer wrestling
1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif.
2. Shawn Greenfield, Lakeview, Ore.
3. Stockton Graves, Newkirk, Okla.
4. Lee Graves, Calgary, Alberta
5. Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo.
6. Jule Hazen, Protection, Kan.
7. Todd Suhn, North Platte, Neb.
8. Casey McMillen, Craig, Colo.
9. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo.
10. Joey Bell Jr., Malakoff, Texas
11. Trevor Knowles, Mount Vernon, Ore.
12. Matt Reeves, Pampa, Texas
13. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo.
14. Sean Mulligan, Coleman, Okla.
15. Jake Rinehart, Highmore, S.D.
Team roping (Heading)
1. Chad Masters, Clarksville, Tenn.
2. Speed Williams, Deleon, Texas
3. Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Ore.
4. Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont.
5. Travis Tryan, Billings, Mont.
6. David Key, Caldwell, Texas
7. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn.
8. Colter Todd, Marana, Ariz.
9. Jake Barnes, Scottsdale, Ariz.
10. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas
11. Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M.
12. Tee Woolman, Llano, Texas
13. Tommy Edens, Gatesville, Texas
14. Jimmy Edens, Gatesville, Texas
15. Charly Crawford, Prineville, Ore.
Team roping (Heeling)
1. Dean Tuftin, Prineville, Ore.
2. Michael Jones, Stephenville, Texas
3. Walt Woodard, Stockton, Calif.
4. Mike Beers, Post, Ore.
*5. Allen Bach, Weatherford, Texas
6. Kory Koontz, Sudan, Texas
7. Clay O'Brien Cooper, Morgan Mill, Texas
8. Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz.
9. Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas
10. Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo.
11. Jimmie Cooper, Monument, N.M.
12. Cory Petska, Lexington, Okla.
13. Britt Bockius, Claremore, Okla.
14. Coby Jones, Gatesville, Texas
15. Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas
Saddle bronc riding
1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah
2. Rusty Allen, Lehi, Utah
3. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La.
4. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M.
*5. Chad Ferley, Oelrichs, S.D.
6. Anthony Bello, Oakley, Utah
7. Isaac Diaz, Stephenville, Texas
8. Rod Hay, Wildwood, Alberta
9. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, S.D.
10. Jesse Bail, Camp Crook, S.D.
11. Heith DeMoss, Crowville, La.
12. Justin Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif.
13. Chet Johnson, Gillette, Wyo.
14. Billy Etbauer, Edmond, Okla.
15. Ryan Mapston, Belt, Mont.
Tie-down roping
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas
2. Houston Hutto, Del Rio, Texas
3. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla.
4. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla.
5. Jake Hannum, Ogden, Utah
6. Mike Johnson, Henryetta, Okla.
*7. Cody Ohl, Hico, Texas
8. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo.
9. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho
10. Stran Smith, Childress, Texas
11. Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho
12. Tyson Durfey, Colbert, Wash.
13. Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas
14. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas
15. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla.
Barrel racing
1. Brittany Pozzi-Pharr, Victoria, Texas
2. Lindsay Sears, Nanton, Alberta
3. Codi Baucom, Carthage, N.C.
4. Jill Moody, Letcher, S.D.
5. Vickie Solmonsen, Riverton, Utah
6. Sherrylynn Johnson, Henryetta, Okla.
7. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore.
8. Terra Bynum, Colorado City, Texas
9. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D.
10. Brandie Halls, Carpenter, Wyo.
11. Maegan Reichert, Mt. Pleasant, Texas
12. Molly Powell, Stephenville, Texas
13. Deb Renger, Okotoks, Alberta
14. Brittany Hofstetter, Portales, N.M.
15. Tana Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla.
Bull riding
*1. B.J. Schumacher, Hillsboro, Wis.
2. Kanin Asay, Powell, Wyo.
3. Wesley Silcox, Payson, Utah
4. Chance Smart, Philadelphia, Miss.
5. J.W. Harris, May, Texas
6. Ted Bert, Modesto, Calif.
7. Dave Samsel, Haslet, Texas
8. Cody Hancock, Taylor, Ariz.
9. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo.
10. Jarrod Craig, Hillsboro, Texas
11. Howdy Cloud, Kountze, Texas
12. Clint Craig, Mena, Ark.
13. Colin McTaggart, Las Vegas, Nev.
14. Logan Knibbe, Rockdale, Texas
15. Marcus Michaelis, Caldwell, Idaho
*-Defending world champion
