Key Match-Ups for 2010 Jack Daniel’s Invitational

August 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Jan. 10, 2010 - New ork, New ork, United States - Professional Bull Riders at Madison Square Garden, NC.Januar 10, 2010.Photos b , Photos Inc 2010.K63959SMO. © Red Carpet Pictures

The PBR Built Ford Tough Series resumes this weekend in Nashville, and the event should have plenty of intrigue. The title races are heating up, and it looks like there will be a very strong pen of bulls as well. I’ve put together eight key first-round match-ups to keep an eye on. If you have any others you want to talk about, please list them below or email me at: [email protected]. Thanks for reading and supporting Rant Sports Bull Riding!

Aaron Roy vs. The Game
Aaron Roy has had a pretty decent 2010 so far, and he is currently in 16th in the standings. He rode one out of three in San Antonio a couple weeks ago. He has drawn The Game in round one this weekend. This bull is owned by Brandon Gasper Bucking Bulls, and he is making his 2010 BFTS debut in Nashville. He was very strong at the end of 2009, and he is a bull that can get a rider close to 90 points. Roy is a bigger cowboy, and these kind of bulls fit him pretty well. This should be good watching.
My Pick: Aaron Roy

Brendon Clark vs. Outa Da Red
Brendon Clark has had a resurgence the last couple months, and he is riding as well as he has in years. He is coming off a two-for-three performance in San Antonio. He has drawn Circle T’s Outa Da Red in round one. This bull isn’t as rider-friendly as his running mate Outa Da Blue, but he is still one the guys like to draw. He has been ridden three times in 10 outs on the BFTS in 2010, and the average ride score is 87 points. This won’t be a gimmie for Clark, but it’s one he should take care of.
My Pick: Brendon Clark

Guilherme Marchi vs. Commotion
Guilherme Marchi is once again in the middle of a title race, but he has fought injuries much more this season than any in the past. He is still fifth in the world, however. His first-round bull is Commotion, a bull owned by D&H Cattle Co./Tom Luthy. This bull has been ridden two times in 13 BFTS outs this season, and his average bull score is 43.62 points. He has been a short-go bull on numerous occasions, and he isn’t one the riders necessarily want to have. Marchi still isn’t feeling 100%, and this bull is all over the place and won’t help things.
My Pick: Commotion

J.B. Mauney vs. Outa Da Blue
J.B. Mauney’s recent struggles have been well-documented, but he has shown positive signs the last two events. Regardless of how poorly he has ridden the last handful of BFTS events, he is still seventh in the standings. He has drawn the pick of the litter in round one in Outa Da Blue. This bull is owned by Circle T, and he has been ridden 11 times in 14 outs this season. On top of that, the average ride score is close to 88 points. If Mauney bucks off this one, it’s panic time. He won’t though, and he will be on his way to a possible event win.
My Pick: J.B. Mauney

McKennon Wimberly vs. Shortcut
McKennon Wimberly has had a great 2010 season, but he has struggled a little on the BFTS as of late. In fact, he has bucked off his last six bulls at the big time. His first-round bull is Shortcut, a bull owned by Circle T Ranch and Rodeo. This bull has been out twice on the BFTS this year, and he has been ridden one time for a ride score of 86.75 points. Fans who follow multiple associations will know this bull is definitely better than he has been his first two outs. Wimberly has struggled recently on the BFTS, and this bull is going to keep getting better and better under the bright lights.
My Pick: Shortcut

Robson Palermo vs. Chance
Robson Palermo has battled injuries the past couple months, and from what I read on the PBR website earlier this week, he was going miss significant time because of hand problems. He missed the Tulsa event before going 0-for-2 in San Antonio. His first-round bull is Chance who is owned by Teague Bucking Bulls, LLC. This bull is often in the short-go, and so far in 2010, he has been ridden three times in nine outs for an average ride score of 89.25 points. This is normally a great draw, but similar to Marchi’s situation, this isn’t a great bull to get on if the rider isn’t 100%. It could be the round win or a quick buckoff.
My Pick: Chance

Shane Proctor vs. Comet’s Gold
Shane Proctor has cooled off considerably since starting off the season on a hot streak. He didn’t cover a bull in Tulsa or San Antonio, and he will have to get hot if he wants to make it into the top 10 before the Final Five Chase. He has drawn the bull Comet’s Gold in the first round this weekend. This bull, owned by Box K Cattle, is pretty new to the BFTS. For those who watch the CBR, however, this bull has been one of the best this season. He is capable of taking a guy close to or above 90 points, and this could be a contender for the round win. That being said, Proctor hasn’t shown us much as of late, and he will have to have his ducks in a row to get a score.
My Pick: Comet’s Gold

Travis Briscoe vs. Cajun Blast
Travis Briscoe has been hard to figure out. He is fourth in the standings, but he has also cooled off quite a bit since the early part of the season. That being said, he is coming off a 10th-place finish in San Antonio. His first-round bull is Cajun Blast, another bull owned by Circle T Ranch and Rodeo. In 10 BFTS outs in 2010, he has been ridden five times for an average ride score of 86.45 points. This is another one the riders love to draw, and even though Briscoe has been a little inconsistent lately, this is one he should handle. It should put him in the top 10 in the round.
My Pick: Travis Briscoe

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2010 Jack Daniel’s Invitational Preview

August 10, 2010 By 2 Comments
March 7, 2010: J.B. Mauney of Mooresville, North Carolina reacts after scoring a 90.5 for his ride on Big Tex during the championship round at the PBR ''Built Ford Tough Invitational'' Bull Riders event at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri.

After a weekend off, the PBR riders and bulls resume in Nashville for the Jack Daniel’s Invitational. The stop is the first of two consecutive weeks the Built Ford Tour Series will be in Tennessee. Both world title races are heating up, and every ride will literally make a difference moving forward. Renato Nunes increased his lead in the standings last weekend, and he will be looking to move ahead even more at this event. On the bull side of things, Code Blue will be making his return from injury. Here are five questions I have heading into this weekend’s event. If you have anything to add, please comment below or email me at: [email protected]. Enjoy!

1. Who Will be Number Two After This Event?
I mentioned above Renato Nunes increased his lead in the world standings last weekend, and regardless of what happens this week, he will still be at the top. The more intriguing question centers around who will be in second after Nashville. Austin Meier has bucked off his last five bulls and now sits 1,700 points behind Nunes. Valdiron de Oliveira, on the other hand, has moved from eighth to third over the last two events and looks to be nearly unstoppable. Meanwhile, Travis Briscoe can also move to second with a great event.

Meier’s struggles have been well-documented, but it’s time for him to break out of his mini-slump. If anyone thinks he will bow out of this title race, they are kidding themselves. He is as gritty as they come in this sport, and he will get things together. He may not win in Nashville, but he will be a factor before the weekend is over. Valdiron may also ride well again, but Meier will do enough to hold him off for at least another week. Briscoe probably won’t be on my radar until he shows he is healthy.

2. How Will Code Blue Look After Returning From Injury?
Code Blue has been fighting the injury bug a little in recent months, but he will be making his much-anticipated return in Nashville. People seem to forget how dominant he was last year, and other than his one bad out in Dallas (on a back-to-back trip), he has been pretty darn impressive this year as well. His trip with Austin Meier in Oklahoma City earlier this year is the rankest I’ve seen in 2010.

Even with his bad out, he still has an average bull score of 45.48 points. That’s extremely impressive! As for his performance this upcoming weekend, I expect nothing but the best. If he has been cleared, that means he is ready for action. I expect something 45 or above.

3. Will Anyone Make a Move Into the Top 10?
There are three events until the Final Five Chase begins, so the riders on the outside-looking-in will be trying their hardest to make a move into the top 10. Dustin Elliott had a solid weekend in San Antonio, and he moved up to 13th in the process. Elliott and Shane Proctor (12th) have the most realistic shot at making a move towards the top 10, but they will have to win or come pretty close to make that happen.

McKennon Wimberly still sits in 10th in the standings, and his lead is a little over 400 over Proctor and 500 over Elliott. Wimberly has been struggling lately, but he should still be in that last spot after Nashville. Whether or not he stays there until the Final Five Chase begins is another question. This will be another intriguing race to watch as the Greenville event approaches in a few weeks.

4. How Will Uncle Buck Look in his Debut Under Jeff Robinson?
The biggest bull news announced in recent weeks was the news Uncle Buck along with Buffalo Hump and Real Moody had been purchased by Jeff Robinson and partners. Fans won’t have to wait long to see Uncle Buck, as he will be debuting under Robinson this weekend in Nashville. The bull is undoubtedly one of the top-10 animal athletes in the PBR, and his appearance this weekend and next can only be a good thing for everyone involved.

Uncle Buck has been great this season, and as long as he has his fair trip, he will be tough to beat down the stretch. I’m excited to see how he looks after not seeing him for a few months. Also keep an eye on the other two Robinson purchased. Buffalo Hump was one of the best bulls in San Antonio a couple weeks ago, and Real Moody has been absolutely rank at times this season.

5. Will the Real J.B. Mauney Please Stand Up?
J.B. Mauney is one of the most popular PBR riders by far, and he is also one of the best when he is on his game. It’s been a weird year for him so far. He was one of the definite favorites to win a World Title this year, and he started off the season looking like the man to beat. A few months into the season, however, he started struggling pretty bad. Since then, he has been fighting his head and a number of injuries.

Mauney has showed signs the past couple BFTS events, and he has ridden some bulls at the Touring Pro Division as well. It’s clear he is fighting his head more than anything, but as we all know, it will only take one for him to turn it on. And if he does, he will move up the standings extremely fast. I could see him making a small run towards the end of the year, but he just hasn’t shown me much lately to believe he will be a serious threat down the stretch. Like him or hate him, however, we can probably all agree the sport is better when Mauney is near the top of the leaderboard.

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Interview With Bullz N Buzzerz Creator Kelly Hinman

August 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

There aren’t many bull riding games of any kind on the market, but Kelly Hinman is here to change that. Along with his daughter, he has created a bull riding board game for kids and adults. Mr. Hinman has been kind enough to do an interview with Rant Sports Bull Riding, and he is going to fill us in on everything we need to know about his new game Bullz N Buzzerz. I asked him some standard questions, but if you have any other ones, please ask them in the comments section below or email me at: [email protected]. I’ll get with him, and we will get you an answer as soon as possible. Enjoy!

Cody: First off, thanks for taking time to do this interview. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Kelly: I’m a 33-year-old farmhand from Kansas, and I’m also a dad and husband. I’ve been a fan of rodeo and bull riding for years, and I hope to one day be more directly involved with producing bucking stock. It would be great to someday tour the herds of the great contactors like Berger, Andrews, and Herrington.

Cody: How did you come up with the idea for your bull riding game?

Kelly: I had been kicking the idea of a bull riding board game around for three or four years. I have always thought a game like this would be fun and a much-needed break from those being offered in department stores. The challenge was making a game that is fun, challenging, and affordable. With the help of my daughter, Kara, I think we have done this.

Cody: Tell me as much about the game as you can, including format, etc.

Kelly: The game is called Bullz N Buzzerz. It will be from 2-5 players ages 8-adult. Players will select a rider card and pickup token. The token will be moved around the game map to mark a players’ progress. There will be 20 spaces on the map, 19 qualifying stops and one Championship space. There will be separate rules included for two, three, and five-player games. Also, there will be 25 bull cards with different quality of buckers in them.

In addition, the game will come with a rider score chart, a bull score chart, and an injury chart all on one convenient sheet. The use of re-ride cards and bullfighter/clown cards will also add another strategic element to gameplay. Rolling a six-sided dice determines movement, rider score, and half of the bull score. Rider and bull score will be added together to find the final score just like in real life.

The game will be a print-and-play game, and it will be available as an electronic download. You can then print it off in your own home. The game sheets will require legal-size sheets of paper. We recommend card stock sheets of paper for the map, cards, and tokens. Standard paper is fine for the rules and charts.

Cody: Kelly, that sounds like it could be a good time for a family or small group of friends. When is the release date, and how much will the game cost?

Kelly: As of now, the game should be available September 12th which also happens to be my youngest girl’s first birthday! The game will cost $12.00. That’s pretty affordable compared to the $20-$50 you will spend on most games in stores.

Cody: Is there anything else you want to add? If so, this is your time.

Kelly: We have launched a website for this game which you can visit at http://bullznbuzzerz.com. The website also features original rodeo and western poetry I have written. Our first poem called Hometown Bullrider is available now for a small fee, and to find it, you can just go to our links page and click on the title. A sample of the poem can be viewed on our rodeo and western poems tab. I will be adding more poems from time-to-time.

We invite everyone to become a member for free and share pics, videos, and comments with us in our forums section. It can be about any rodeo event at any level or ranching in general. We look forward to hearing from you! If you like the poetry, please leave a comment on it as well! Thank you Cody for giving me and my family this opportunity to highlight our products. And thanks to all who take the time to read this interview. We really appreciate it!

Cody: Kelly, thanks again for doing the interview, and I’m looking forward to trying out your bull riding game. And to all the readers, please feel free to ask any and all questions and leave some comments below. Have a good week!

Filed Under: Featured, General PBR, Other Tagged With: , , ,

PBR Riders Missing In Action

August 7, 2010 By 4 Comments
NEW YORK - JANUARY 07: Brian Canter gets thrown from his bull during the Versus Invitational Professional Bull Riding (PBR) Tournament on January 7, 2007 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

To say injuries are a part of the sport of bull riding is an understatement. They happen year-round, and both riders and bulls are affected. With all the talk of Code Blue returning next week in Nashville, it made me start thinking of some key riders who have also been missing in action. Some of the injuries have been worse than others, but each rider has missed a significant amount of time in the process. Here are four PBR riders I can’t wait to see back in action on a week-to-week basis.

Kody Lostroh
Kody Lostroh is the reigning PBR World Champion, yet fans have only seen him ride at nine BFTS events in 2010. He battled injuries in 2009, but he gutted it out and won the title. He had surgery late in the year, and he returned early this season. After fighting more pain, he decided to get everything fixed. While we saw him at nine events, it seems longer than that because the last one was Glendale in March.

As far as I know, Lostroh is scheduled to return to action in Uncasville the first weekend of October. That will give him two BFTS events before the World Finals. If he is fully recovered and healthy, he is going to be pretty tough to beat in Vegas. I figured it would be tough for him to back up his great 2009 season, but injuries derailed that anyway. That being said, it will be a pretty big shock if he isn’t in the thick of the 2011 World Title race.

Brian Canter
Brian Canter is another member of Team Enterprise, and he has been fighting the injury bug for the last year or so. He has been to 11 events in 2010, and he actually just rode in Tulsa a few weeks back. However, he hasn’t been himself since early 2009. He won three events early last season, and he was a top-10 guy in the standings because of it. He hurt himself shortly thereafter, and when he was getting ready to return at the 2009 PBR World Finals, he messed his knee up riding dirt bikes. He still competed, but he probably shoudn’t have.

Fast forward to the 2010 season, and the injury problems have been the same. Canter competed the first couple months before undergoing surgery to repair his meniscus, ACL, and hip. He returned to compete in Tulsa, but his hip wasn’t quite ready yet. I don’t have any update on when Canter will return to BFTS action, but it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to start fresh in 2011. This guy has as much talent as anyone in the sport, and bull riding is better when he is making the whistle.

Ryan Dirteater
Ryan Dirteater debuted in late-2008, but he really burst onto the scene in early-2009. He immediately accumulated a huge following after winning in Dallas and staying near the top of the world standings in the process. That’s when things took a turn for the worst. He broke his femur in Tacoma, but he made a quick return late in the year. After dislocating his left knee in Uncasville in October, however, he was forced to miss significant time.

J.W. Hart stated on PBR Now the other night that Dirteater is competing again, but he isn’t planning on coming to the BFTS until 2011. He still has injury exemptions, so that will give him a fresh start on the new season. It’s hard to remember someone so talented have this hard of luck within his first year at the BFTS level. People are constantly asking about him, so he is definitely an important piece in the organization. Hopefully he will return and pick up where he left off in early-2009.

Paulo Crimber
Paulo Crimber has been a BFTS regular for over a decade, and he was a part of the World Title race in 2008 before going down with a series of serious injuries. He fractured a neck vertebrae in March of 2008, and upon returning he reaggravated the neck injury. That injury has kept him out of action for over two years, and his his return is still up in the air. It’s a shame because he was always a joy to watch.

Crimber has stayed optimistic about a possible return in the future, and I’ve even heard rumblings about 2011 being a possibility. He just turned 30, so he will have a little time left if he indeed gets cleared to return to competition. His story definitely has the makings for one of the most inspirational in PBR history if he ever returns to action. It will be a little scary if it ever happens, but it will be one of the most anticipated for sure.

The Final Say
It’s pretty certain we will see both Lostroh and Canter back on a consistent basis in the near future, but there is more uncertainty with Dirteater and Crimber. Dirteater’s injury was career-threatening, and while he is already riding again, it will be interesting to see if he will ever be the same as he was prior to the setback. Crimber’s injury, on the other hand, was supposedly career-ending. It remains to be seen if he returns, and if it’s in his best interest to retire, I won’t hold it against him one bit.

It’s your turn to tell me what you think about these four riders. Do you think Crimber should ever return to competition? Also, which other riders would you like to see return from injury in the near future? If you have anything to add, please comment below or email me at: [email protected]. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!

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2010 ABBI Classic Breakdown

August 5, 2010 By 5 Comments

Keeping up with the best PBR riders and bulls is fun, but my favorite part is following the three and four-year-old ABBI Classic bulls. These animal athletes are the future of the sport, and they keep getting better every year. The PBR gave the Classic bulls two rounds at the Tulsa BFTS event a few weeks ago, and it’s clear they are starting to give these young guys more attention. Still, it’s a very underrated part of the sport. For those who haven’t kept up with this in the past, do yourself a favor and visit the ABBI website.

The top-40 ABBI Classic bulls will compete in Las Vegas, and the winner will receive $250,000. Even the bulls that finish inside the top 10 will walk away with plenty of prize money for their efforts. This year’s race has a clear favorite in Bushwacker, but any bull can have an off-trip out of nowhere. And one bad trip in Vegas will instantly take a bull out of the money. With a little over two months until the Finals, here is how I see this year’s race. If you have anything to add, please comment below or email me at: [email protected]. Enjoy!

The Favorite
Bushwacker is at the top of the Classic standings, and his lead is nearly $20,000 over the second-place bull. He has won numerous events so far this season, and he has placed extremely high in a few others. Out of the entire class of young bulls, he has been the most consistent all season. Even his bad trips result in 43 or 44-point bull scores. If every bull has their best trip in Vegas, Bushwacker will come out on top. As long as this bull doesn’t hip himself or fall down, he will be the odds-on favorite to win $250,000. Either way, Julio Moreno has a present and future PBR Bull of the Year candidate.

The Next Five
Best Ever is a bull owned by D&H Cattle Co., and he has continued to get better as the season has progressed. It may be a little stretch to put him at number two on my list, but other than Bushwacker, this bull has had more “it” factor than any other Classic bull this season. He finished fifth in Tulsa a few weeks back, but he should have been higher. He had a rough out in Weatherford, TX last weekend, but he will be a serious threat in Vegas. Best Ever is currently ninth in the standings.

Moon is owned by Jackson, Holmes, and Baker, and he is coming off a win at the Tulsa Super Classic. He was definitely the best of the bunch that weekend, and he will be one of Bushwacker’s biggest competitors in the Classic Finals in October. This bull is also coming off a fifth-place finish at Weatherford, TX last weekend. If he has two good trips, he can win it all. He is currently second in the standings.

Copp Hou may not be my pick to win the $250,000 in Vegas, but he is a sure bet to finish inside the top 10. He has had more hype following him than most because he won it all as a two-year old, and he always seems to place pretty high regardless of where the event is. This bull is fourth in the season standings, and he is coming off an eighth-place finish in Tulsa and a second-place finish in Weatherford, TX. He doesn’t have enough to win it all, but he will win his owners (Lightning C Cattle Co.) plenty of money in October.

Priceless is probably the D&H bull most would put at the top, and he is undoubtedly a good one. He bucked quite a bit as a three-year old, and it was a given he would be near the top of the standings this year as a four-year old. He finished seventh in Tulsa and fourth in Weatherford, and he will be a near shoe-in to finish in the top 10 in Vegas. He can be as good as any when he has his day, but he just doesn’t look as flashy as the others above him on this list.

Judgement Day, a bull owned by Boyd-Floyd/Castle, is currently ranked 15th in the standings. That’s lower than the others on this list, but he has really come on strong late in the season. He finished fourth in Tulsa and 10th in Weatherford. This bull continues to get stronger, and by the time the Finals rolls around, he will be a contender. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t end up finishing near the top five.

The Best of the Rest
Minor Incident is owned by Larry Cunningham and hauled by Boyd/Floyd, and he has had his fair share of ups-and-downs. He was great when he won the Oklahoma City Classic and finished third in the Tulsa Classic. On the other hand, he was so-so in Kansas City and really bad last weekend in Weatherford. This bull could sneak up and finish inside the top two or three, or he could finish near the bottom. That’s why he is placed here on the list and not higher.

Mad Max, owned by Tino Martinez, is currently seventh in the season standings. Some would say he should be placed higher on this list after finishing third in Weatherford, but he just hasn’t ever impressed me much. He is definitely an above-average bull, but he doesn’t seem to have what it takes to place high when it matters most. It won’t surprise me if he finishes inside the top 10 or 15, but I doubt he will be a serious contender in Vegas.

Jed Clampett, a bull owned by Jerry Nelson and a host of others, has snuck under the radar a little. He is only 12th in the standings, but he is coming off an impressive sixth-place finish in Tulsa. Nelson usually has a couple solid young bulls, and Jed Clampett is his best right now. This bull probably won’t challenge Bushwacker and others for the $250,000, but he should cash a decent check in Vegas.

Wine Hu has been hauled to a lot of Classic events this season, and he is currently sixth in the season standings. He isn’t as good as his running mate Copp Hou, but he always seems to finish inside the top 15. His last two finishes include a 10th in Tulsa and 14th in Weatherford. Regardless of how well he performs in Vegas, this bull will be a good one for years to come. Lightning C Cattle Co. has done a great job as of late.

Lil’ Red Cat, owned by Boyd-Floyd/LaRue, is another bull that has come on late in the season. He won’t be a serious threat to win it all, but he is bucking better right now than the others left off this list. He tied for 11th in Tulsa, and he tied for sixth last weekend in Weatherford. Boyd and Floyd have a great class of young bulls this year, and this is another one that could get them a solid check in Vegas.

Filed Under: ABBI, General PBR Tagged With: , , , , , ,

2010 U.S. Air Force Invitational Recap

August 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Bull Rider Kasey Kayes runs from a bull after his ride at the Professional Bull Riders Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City on January 10, 2010. UPIJohn Angelillo Photo via Newscom

The PBR Built Ford Tough Series is officially back in the swing of things after two events over the past three weekends. Renato Nunes only rode one out of three bulls in San Antonio, yet he increased his lead to 1,707 points over Austin Meier. The big move in the top 10 was once again made by Valdiron de Oliveira. The Brazilian moved to fourth after Tulsa, and he moved up one more spot to third after the U.S. Air Force Invitational. Overall, the event was a little lackluster. The top-10 bull riders combined to cover only one bull Saturday night, and while it improved a little Sunday, it still wasn’t great. The bull power was pretty strong, but some big-time buckers had off-days. Here are my five key thoughts from the event. If you have anything to add, please comment below or email me at: [email protected]. Enjoy!

Return to the Spotlight
I mentioned above how bad the top-10 riders struggled in San Antonio. This undoubtedly opened the door for some unlikely names at the top of the leaderboard. That list starts with last year’s PBR Rookie of the Year, Cody Nance. Nance came into the event riding less than 30 percent of his bulls in 2010, and he has missed nearly 10 events because of injuries and being cut. He was the only rider to cover his short-go bull, and that paid huge dividends. He teased fans by finishing fifth in Tulsa a couple weeks ago, but it looks like he is definitely back and ready to make an impact on the BFTS. It won’t surprise me if this guy wins a lot of money over the next two or three months.

Also, it was nice to see Brendon Clark back at the top of the leaderboard. He has been on fire at the Touring Pro Division, and it was only a matter of time before that translated to the BFTS as well. His short-go out didn’t go very well, but he still rode two bulls this past weekend. He has always had the talent, and it looks like his confidence and swagger is back as well. The last guy who returned to the spotlight in San Antonio is Kasey Hayes. It’s hard to think of a streakier rider than Hayes, but it looks like he is entering a serious hot streak. He could definitely find the winner’s circle in the next couple months.

Most Impressive Bulls
Major Payne was the high-marked bull at the U.S. Air Force Invitational and rightfully so. The judges marked him 46, and that was about right. He was only marked 43.75 points in Tulsa, but he deserved a little more. It was nice to see him get some respect in San Antonio. The other really impressive short-go bull was Buffalo Hump. He has been in-and-out of the short-go this year, but he tossed Wiley Petersen impressively. This bull is a little underrated, and it was nice to see the judges mark him 45. The best long-go bull was Freak, a bull owned by El Charro Bucking Bulls/El Bosal. I haven’t seen what the judges marked him Sunday, but he was marked only 43.5 on Saturday. He was much better than that. It will be fun to see him in the future because he has the “it” factor.

Reride or no Reride?
The short-go in San Antonio was surrounded by reride controversy for the second consecutive year, and J.B. Mauney was in the middle of it yet again. Mauney was awarded a reride on Super Duty, and it was pretty clear there wasn’t any foul by the bull. Both Valdiron de Oliveira and Dustin Elliott pushed the button for rerides of their own, but they were declined by the judges. Those two didn’t necessarily deserve a reride because their respective bulls didn’t clearly foul, but if Mauney got one, they probably should have been awarded one as well. At the end of the day, none of three received scores in the short-go, so it all worked out. That being said, decisions like that always stir up controversy, especially when Mauney is involved.

Chicken on a Chain’s Costly Trip
Before the event in San Antonio, I had Chicken on a Chain ranked third in my PBR Bull of the Year rankings. After his 41.5 out in the short-go, he dropped considerably. It’s unfortunate because he was the best bull out in Tulsa a couple weeks ago, and it looked like he might be a serious contender to win his second Bull of the Year title. He still might get voted in by the riders, but this last trip definitely hurt his chances. In a world of what have you done for me lately, the Chicken struggled badly on national television. Hopefully he finishes the season strong and ends up getting a chance to buck for the world title in Vegas. He has had a great season other than his out this past weekend. It will be interesting to see if it costs him a few votes.

Austin Meier Struggles Again
Valdiron de Oliveira was the only top-10 rider to cover two bulls in San Antonio, while the rest of the top guys struggled. That being said, Austin Meier didn’t register a score for the second consecutive BFTS event. His four victories this season are still the most on the BFTS, but he has also been blanked at numerous events. Every rider takes a different approach during the summer break, and I’m officially starting to question Meier’s strategy over the last few months. He didn’t get on many bulls, if any, and he has definitely been rusty the past two events. It could be completely coincidental, and it will be an interesting storyline as the season progresses. Renato Nunes has almost tripled his lead over Meier since the break ended, and de Oliveira is very close to overtaking the Oklahoma cowboy for second in the standings. Hopefully Meier gets things together over the next couple months and makes a serious run at a gold buckle. Until he starts covering bulls, however, the questions will arise.

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2010 PBR Chase for the Buckle

August 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Jan. 10, 2010 - New ork, New ork, United States - Professional Bull Riders at Madison Square Garden, NC.Januar 10, 2010.Photos b , Photos Inc 2010.K63959SMO. © Red Carpet Pictures

The 2009 PBR World Title race was one of the most exciting of all-time, and it’s going to be hard to compete with. That being said, the 2010 race is going to be very entertaining as well. The top 10 are all within 3,000 points of the leader, and it’s going to be a crazy race to the finish line. The Final Five Chase is going to add even more to this year’s race, and the guy who gets the hottest could definitely steal the show when it’s all said and done. The season is about to enter the final home stretch, and the following is my breakdown of this year’s title race. If you have anything to add, please comment below or send me an email at: [email protected]. Enjoy!

The Favorite
Renato Nunes currently sits at the top of the standings, and there is no reason to believe he won’t finish in that position. He has ridden more bulls than any other rider on the Built Ford Tough Series, and his 11 90-point rides is far ahead of the next guy in line. Not only is he riding more than anyone else, he is making it look better as well. When he wasn’t on the original World Cup roster for Brazil, a flip switched. He was riding well before that, but he has ridden like a man possessed since.

It’s hard to predict how Nunes will return from the summer break, but he will probably pick up right where he left off in Pueblo. As long as he stays healthy, he is going to be extremely tough to catch. He has been extremely consistent in 2010, and while he hasn’t contended for a PBR World Title before this year, he is the definite front-runner as things stand right now. Something tells me we are going to see a lot more back flips this season.

The Contenders
Valdiron de Oliveira always seems to be in the mix, and he is going to be right there again in 2010. He missed a few events earlier in the season, but he also picked up the huge win at the Iron Cowboy Invitational. Even with the injuries, his riding percentage is still the highest of all the guys inside the top 10. Oliveira has moved from eighth to third over the past two events, and it looks like he will be the biggest challenger to Nunes. He is just over 2,100 points out of first, and there is plenty of time to make a deep run. My prediction for him is second.

Austin Meier has four BFTS wins in 2010 which is the most on tour. It’s been fun watching his progression over the last year or so, and now he has himself in prime position to win the title. He is riding about 55 percent of his bulls, and he is only 1,707 points behind Nunes in the standings. Meier’s grit and determination is second-to-none, and that will keep him in the hunt until the very end. He has struggled a little in the last two events, but he will continue to ride well and have a shot when the World Finals rolls around. I just don’t think he can keep up with Nunes and Oliveira. I have him finishing third.

The Pretenders
Travis Briscoe has made a habit of starting the season on a roll, and 2010 was no different. He rode 15 of his first 20 bulls. After going through a 3 for 17 slump before Nampa, he got things back together and finished well before the break. That’s a good sign because that hasn’t happened in the past. Briscoe is riding a little over 52 percent of his bulls, and he is a little over 2,200 points out of first. This could be the year he keeps it together through Vegas, but I’ll have to see it to believe it. When he has it in his mind he can ride anything, he can. But when the doubts arise, he goes through tough slumps. One slump this time of year will take a guy out of the race in a hurry.

As much as I hate to put the next guy on the list, it has to be done. J.B. Mauney was my preseason prediction to win it all this year, but he has been on a roller-coaster ride over the last few months. He has fallen to seventh in the standings, and his riding percentage is currently under 50 percent. Mauney is about 3,000 points behind the leader, but he has more than one streak of five consecutive buck-offs this year. That will not get the job done, and he knows it. Right before the break, he suffered a partially collapsed lung. He looked average in Tulsa and San Antonio, and it will be interesting to see how he performs down the stretch.

One Rider to Keep an Eye on
One rider to keep an eye on the rest of the season is Jody Newberry. He has been to six less events than the leaders, but he is still 15th in the standings. He is riding around 50 percent of his bulls, and he can ride anything when he is on his game. I’ve mentioned the Final Five Chase a couple times, and this is a guy who could benefit greatly from that. If he can get into the top 10 before the last five events of the season, he can make a serious move in the standings. He won’t win a title this year, but he can definitely end up finishing in the top five.

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PBR Bull Power Rankings: August 2010

August 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Jan. 10, 2010 - New ork, New ork, United States - Professional Bull Riders at Madison Square Garden, NC.Januar 10, 2010.Photos b , Photos Inc 2010.K63959SMO. © Red Carpet Pictures

The PBR Built Ford Tough Series is back in the swing of things after the long summer break. A lot of people will be focused on what will be one of the most exciting World Title races in the history, but don’t forget about the other half of the ride. The bulls of the PBR are some of the rankest in the world. Voodoo Child has clearly been the best so far in 2010, but it gets pretty competitive after him. Things could change a lot over the next month because most of the contenders will be out a couple times, but here is how I see the top 10 right now. If you have anything to add, please comment below or send me an email at: [email protected]. Enjoy!

10. Braveheart
Judd Leffew has a present and future star in Braveheart. This bull has only three outs on the BFTS in 2010, but one of those scores was a 47 in Fresno. That’s one of the highest bull scores of the season, and there will probably be more of that in the near future. In total, the average bull score for Braveheart is 45.17 points this year. If he gets a few more outs and gets enough votes from the riders, he could be a huge factor in Vegas. This animal has the “wow” factor most don’t have.

9. Carrillo Cartel
Carrillo Cartel doesn’t get much attention, but he has quietly put together a very good season. In seven BFTS outs this year, his average bull score is 44.79 points which could easily be higher. Only Renato Nunes and Austin Meier have ridden him in 2010, and their scores were 91.25 and 91.5, respectively. This bull has become a mainstay in the short-go round. He won’t have quite enough to be the bull of the year, but he can be counted on for a score close to 45 every time out.

8. Chicken On A Chain
Before the San Antonio event, Chicken on a Chain was ranked inside my top five. After a miserable trip of 41.5 points, however, it was only fair to drop him. Nonetheless, it’s pretty remarkable to see him bucking so well after all he has been through. This bull has been all over the nation this year. In 15 BFTS outs, he has an average bull score of 44.98 points. He has been ridden five times, but the average ride score is over 91 points. Don’t sleep on the Chicken when Vegas rolls around.

7. Major Payne
Major Payne has had a couple off-trips in 2010, but when a bull has an average score of 44.92 points in 18 BFTS outs, he is going to get ranked pretty high in my book. He has been out more than any other contender for PBR Bull of the Year, and that’s pretty respectable. He has been hauled from New York all the way to Arizona and has bucked his heart out every time. The bull has been ridden twice this season, and the average ride score is 90 points. He has had a very underrated 2010 season.

6. Bushwacker
Bushwacker is the leading money winner in the 2010 ABBI Classic standings, and he will be the front-runner to win the Classic title in Vegas this year. In six BFTS outs in 2010, his average bull score is an impressive 45.38 points. He has had some really rank and honest trips, and he has also had the out-of-line trip here and there. If he ends up being a finalist for PBR Bull of the Year, watch out! He has the “it” factor to steal the show at the PBR Finals.

5. Uncle Buck
Uncle Buck is widely recognized as one of the most difficult bulls to ride in the PBR, and he has had a great 2010 season. He has been out eight times so far on the BFTS this year, and his average bull score is 45.28 points. Valdiron de Oliveira was the only man to conquer him this season, and it’s not likely many others will get the job done. As long as this bull has his honest trip, he will be over 45 points every time. If he has his junkier trip, he will have a hard time being the PBR Bull of the Year.

4. Black Pearl
Black Pearl was last year’s ABBI Classic Champion, and he has followed that with a solid 2010 season. He has been out eight times on the BFTS this year, and his average bull score is 45.22 points. He has been ridden on three occasions, but the score was over 90 points each time. This bull can be as good as any other out there if he has his day, and he should be one of the finalists for PBR Bull of the Year.

3. Spit Fire
If you are wondering who the most underrated PBR bull is, look no further than Spit Fire. He never gets any attention, but he has had a very good 2010 season. In eight BFTS trips this year, his average bull score is 45.19 points. In the last event before summer break (Pueblo), he was the top bull of the event with a 46.25 bull score. Valdiron de Oliveira is the only guy to cover him this season, and the ride score was 92.25 points. If Spit Fire has a few honest trips down the stretch, he will be a serious contender in Vegas.

2. Code Blue
Code Blue was remarkable in winning the PBR Bull of the Year award last season, and other than one bad out, he has been equally impressive in 2010. Despite the shaky second trip in Arlington, this bull still has an average bull score of 45.48 points in 11 BFTS outs. He has been marked 46 points or higher on five occasions. I’ll give him a slight pass on his bad trip in Texas because these bulls aren’t used to bucking back-to-back. And when Vegas rolls around, he will have a good shot to defend his bull of the year title.

1. Voodoo Child
It’s not very often a bull dominates the PBR Bull of the Year race, but that has happened this season. Voodoo Child has been head and shoulders above the competition. As long as he keeps bucking the way he has so far in 2010, he will win the award in Vegas. In 13 BFTS outs this year, his average bull score is a remarkable 45.94 points! L.J. Jenkins rode him in Glendale, but the score was 94 points. I thought this bull might be done a year or so ago, but he just keeps getting better and better. Voodoo Child is definitely the front-runner for PBR Bucking Bull of the Year.

The Next Five: Bones, Big Tex, White Magic, Deja Blue, Paycheck.

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Welcome to Rant Sports Bull Riding

August 1, 2010 By 1 Comment

Welcome to Rant Sports Bull Riding, a new addition to Rant Sports. This part of the website was created by me, Cody Thrasher. I seriously started watching bull riding in early-2004, and I’ve been a huge fan of the PBR ever since. In 2009, my wife and I partnered with Hebert Bucking Bulls on some bulls and cows. Hopefully I’ll be a part of the industry for years to come as a writer and stock contractor.

My goal is to provide entertaining analysis for the PBR and ABBI, whether it be power rankings, interviews, event previews, or various opinion articles. My goal is to grow the site into one of the best out there, and while I have my own personal ideas and goals, I’m always open to suggestions. If you ever have any ideas or want to help out along the way, please email me at: [email protected]. Thanks again for visiting, and I look forward to your future visits.

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