Bushwacker poses for a photo
Gig ‘Em!
Spent Thursday enjoying a three-hour drive to Earl Warren Fairgrounds to watch the PBR Touring Division. The PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series (do I get paid for mentioning title sponsors?) version of Single A league. For those that never been or seen a PBR sanctioned event, it is the best bull power against the best bull riders in the world.
Last night, was no different as the bulls completely dominated the bull riders 43-2. That isn’t a typo. The bull power in the long-go, the preliminary where all 30 to 40 bull riders take a shot at a score, could have matched up in the PBR big leagues and given the Top 35 bull riders problems. In this instance the bulls for the possibly the first time ever in a PBR sanctioned event blanked the cowboys. For baseball terms, the bulls heading into the Championship round, 10 bull riders vs 10 bulls, were pitching a perfect game. The closest any rider got was PBR World Champ JB Mauney at 7-seconds.
The Championship Round brought back the 10 best times. Mauney elected not get on a bull as JB was part of the “Main Event” pitting Bushwacker, 2-time PBR Bull of the Year, Baddest body in sports. It wasn’t until Nicolas Sarter rode Wish This for 89 points that the bull riders final broke through and spoiled the bulls perfect game. Strider Leverton rode Gameface for 85 on the final bull to give the fans that came for the riders something to cheer about.
The “Main Event” lasted about three-seconds as Bushwacker, apparently upset that Mike Lee two weeks earlier stayed on for five-seconds, dispatched Mauney to the ground. The fans weren’t there so much to see the “Main Event” as to say goodbye to a living legend. Bushwacker is making his retirement tour a “must-see” for many who slightly follow or just want to say they were there. The folks next to me had never been to a bull riding event, but wanted to see the son of Reindeer Dippin’ before he goes off into the sunset.
Bushwacker bucking after dispatching JB Mauney
How dominant is Bushwacker? Consider the fact his debut event in 2009 took place in Santa Barbara and scored 48 points. Bull scores are tabulated by four scores divided by two with the best score being 25 from each judge. After being ridden two out of his first six times, he has gone out and bucked off 73 of 74 bull riders and is considered the greatest PBR bull ever. In 11 outs this season, Bushwacker is perfect.
There is still time to see as ESPN called, “The baddest body in sports” a few more times on the west coast as Bushwacker will take his talents to Laughlin, NV September 19-20, Oakland September 26-27 and possibly two appearances at the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas beginning on October 22-26.
Next week, I will finish up remembering my Texas tour of stadiums and Texas A&M.
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