The PBR returned to Nashville, TN at the Sommet Center on Friday, August 29th in a big way. Outside the Center on its Plaza they had live country music entertainment brought by Big Music, the label that Jewel is on. Big Music is also one of the Bull Team Competition owners. In the arena we did not really get the information on the teams as to which bull was on which team and what the team scores were last night .I hope they do update that tonight. Aside from that the action was fast and furious, Flint Rasmussen was great as usual and the PBR gave the fans a great time.
Prior to the event behind the chutes the PBR played host to the Believe In Tomorrow National Children’s Foundation and had several of the children in the program paint their handprints on several of the riders’ chaps. The critically ill children got to meet one –on-one with some of the superstars of the PBR as World Champion Mike Lee and Wiley Petersen and others One boy that we met had been included because he recently survived a terrible car wreck which was life threatening to his family and himself His parents are still hospitalized at Vanderbilt in critical condition. Phillip Orange, his cousin Mary Nell Sparks and Mike Lee posed for a picture for us It was great seeing the PBR play host to these children and their families.
The PBR provided media with a great place to view the event and get great action shots. We had front row seats right by the chutes and we were just a few seats down from Tater Porter.
Prior to the start we were treated to the US Air force swearing in ceremony of 14 recruits. After that we were introduced to four airmen who had just recently returned from duty in Iraq. The Coppolla sisters from Big Music did a great rendition of The National Anthem and the pyrotechnics still made me jump even though I expected the blast!
The riders were introduced and I was surprised to see PRCA/CBR World Champion Matt Austin. Matt has been brought up on tour as an alternate and is determined to get back to the riding style he exhibited when he won the PRCA World Championship, their Xtreme Bull Championship, the College World Championship and the CBR World Championship all in one season. If he is allowed the time to chase all the titles I certainly can see Matt taking the PBR World Championship, the PRCA World and Xtreme Bulls Championships and the CBR World Title all in one season. He’s phenomenal.
It was great to see Brandon Gaspar here .I was happy they finally had him bring G-Unit to an event. I watched that bull in the ABA and he was always thrilling. Brandon is one of our local stock contractors and on Sept. 6th he and Chris Ashby are putting on a Bulls and barrels event in Paris, TN.The Bull Riding will be ABA sanctioned.
Vince Northrop was the first rider out aboard Bad Blood who was around to the right twice before tossing Vince off. Kolt Donaldson aboard Billionaire followed him and hit the dirt at 4.6 when the bull who was around to the right into Kolt’s hand got Kolt leaned back and off to the outside.
Jack Daniel’s invited several riders to participate after they had done well in one of the lower tier events. Cody Byars was one of those riders and he just might earn his way on tour. He was the first qualified ride scoring 86.50 aboard David Bailey’s Krispy Kreme who took two leaps out of the chute beforegoing around to the right into Cody’s hand. Cody remained centered, up on his rope and did some nice spurring. The bull scored 42.75.
Kasey Hayes returned after being out severalmonths due to a broken neck. He drew the Berger /Struve bull Live Wire who took one leap out then went around to the left into Kasey’s hand and Kasey showed he had returned in style as he spurred Live Wire while maintaining complete control. Kasey scored 86.50 to tie for the lead in the first section and the bull tied with Krispy Kreme at 82.75.
Lights Out was not enough bull for Cherokee rider Ryan Dirteater as Ryan scored 82 when the bull went around to the right away from his hand earning a low bull score of 40.50
Reese Cates looked good aboard John and Lacey Berger’s Chug-A-Lug as the bull went around to the right into Reese’s hand. Reese made a good, solid ride while the bull only scored 42.75.
I have always liked the bull Scaredy Cat and he earned 44.50 points as he dusted Dustin Hall quickly with wild leap around to the right.
In section two Red Rum faked right and left along the chutes just loping. Austin Meier was given a reride. Scott Schiffner is questionable for tonight as Gold Bell Wine knocked the Canadian out as the bull went around to the right into Scott’s hand and helicoptered Scott off. At one point his head made contact with the bull’s head and he also got stepped on. The report from Dr.Tandy Freeman was of a concussion with loss of conciousness. Scott was taken out on a backboard with a neck brace. Gold Bell Wine scored 44.25.
I was surprised that Ned Cross didn’t get a reride or lower score when Liquid Kitty had a bad trip. The bull went around to the right alternating kick with no kick at all. Ned was in control and scored 81.25 while the bull score was 39.50.
Clayton Williams looked like he had a ride in the books but the judges agreed that Clay was down at 7.9. Bond James Bond didn’t have his normal trip and only scored 32.75 as he faked left and right in a gentle lope.
The bulls had there way in section two and they sure were strong in section three. PRCA/CBRWorld Champion Matt Austin made his BFTS debut aboard Jeff Robinson/Anchor Bull Company’s Bugs Bunny. The bull took two leaps out and went around to the right pulling Matt forward that caused a slap at 4.4. Bugs scored 43.
Bryan Richardson scored 87 aboard Robinson/Larry The Cable Guy’s Gappy Joe who took one leap out then stumbled before going around to the left into Bryan’s hand with good kicking action in a really fast spin. Bryan was out of shape at the end of the ride and one of the judges called for a review but there was no slap.
Maybe some of the bulls didn’t like our TN dirt or water because there were a number of good bulls having bad trips and several re-rides. Hebert/Wilfong’s Misfit didn’t have much kick as he jumped forward then went around to the left into Beau Hill’s hand in a loping buck. Beau scored 81 but unlike Ned Beau was given a re-ride option.
The section ended with a strong 87.25 point ride from Pistol Robinson aboard Hebert/Fournier’s Cowboy Splash who took one leap out then went into a fast spin around to the right away from Pistol’s hand. Pistol stayed up on his rope, in complete control.
Wiley Petersen was given a reride when Hebert’s Start Me Up went around to the right really slow and actually stopped before continuing in a slow spin away from Wiley’s hand.
Justin McBride looked good aboard Hebert’s Handsome Jack who took two out then went around to the left away from Justin’s hand alternating kick and no kick. I was surprised that the bull scored 43.25 as I wouldnot have scored him over 41 but I am not an official judge. Justin scored 88 and took the lead.
The bulls took over again until Beau Hill got his re-ride aboard Bad Medicine, scoring 86 as the bull took two leaps out and went around to the left into Beau’s hand with lots of action whole Beau spurred him.
Colby Yates won his Enterprise Ride With The Best Challenge next as he scored 86.25 aboard Jerry Nelson’s Frontier Rodeo’s Three Alarm. Got to love Jerry’s deep pink flank ropes. Wish I could find some. Three Alarm took one leap out then was around to the right away from Colby’s hand then reversed left into it but bucked and spun slow to earn a bull score of 41.75.
After intermission Wiley Petersen rocked the Sommet Center with a great 91-point ride aboard Berger/Struve’s Say I Won’t Gunner. Wiley stayed up on his rope in perfect position with textbook free arm movement and good spur action with his outside foot as the bull went around to the left into Wiley’s hand with lots of kick and action. I really thought it was going to be a 92 or 93 but again I am not a judge.
Medicine Man had a bad trip with a 39.50 bull score as he took four leaps straight out before turning back left in a loping buck and flattened out still Robson Palermo did not get a re-ride and scored 75.
The crowd was hoping it would be a great night for retiring three time World Champion Adriano Moraes but it was not to be so as Harbinger took two powerful leaps out to the left with a belly Rolland caused Adriano to slap him. Our other retiring World Champion Ednei Caminhas was given a re-ride when The Iceman faked right and left sending Ednei out the back door. He must have fouled Ednei in the gate.
Sean Willingham looked great aboard Encore who took two long leaps out then went around to the left away from Sean’s hand with lots of action. Sean scored 88.25 and was second in the round. Renato Nunes scored 86.75 aboard Catie Done It who spun to the left into Renato’s hand after two long leaps forward. Kody Lostroh challenged the clock when his ride aboard The Breeze was called at 7.9 as the bull was around to the left into Kody’s hand then took a leap forward and reversed right with lots of high kicks. Kody’s score was 87.25 and I sure thought it would have been about an 89.
I had waited all night for the next ride, as I sure know the bull G-Unit.Yes, that’s his name not Gun It as was listed. Brandon Gaspar carried him to lots of ABA events last year, including our Finals and I just love watching this bull. Its about time he was brought up on the BFTS.Valderon de Oliveira rode G-Unit for 87.75 points as G went around to the left in a fast spin. I have to admit I am used to this bull getting his riders off early but we are dealing with PBR’s number 2 rider.
My Shoshone-Bannock friend Wiley Petersen won the round while Sean Willingham was second, Justin McBride was third, Valdiron de Oliveira was fourth and Kody Lostroh and Pistol Robinson tied for 5/6.
The Zantrex Grudge match followed the round. L J Jenkins was aboard Lucky Strike and Clayton Williams attempted to ride Mr.Zantrex. Both riders bucked off quickly.
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