Monthly Archives: July 2011

PIMA, Ariz. – As folks in this region understand, sometimes it takes just a spark to ignite a wildfire. World champion team roper Matt Sherwood is hoping that’s the case for his 2011 season. The spark came during the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Fourth of July run, where Sherwood and partner Cory Petska of Marana, Ariz., roped $15,768 each, the most of any teams in ProRodeo. “I was happy to have a good week, and hopefully I can have that carry over into the rest of the season,” said Sherwood, who won world titles in 2006 and ’08. “My year had been pretty slow, but that’s part of the business, and you have to tell yourself that. Between fees and fuel, it gets expensive, and when you don’t do well, it is pretty frustrating both emotionally and financially. “But you keep telling yourself that you’re good enough and that you have enough faith in your partner that things will turn around. You have to tell yourself that you should be winning. If you need to make a few minor investments, then make them but keep doing what’s been successful for you.” Sherwood has plenty of ability, and so does his partner. Originally from Oklahoma, Petska is a second-generation team roper whose father, Paul, qualified three times for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Cory Petska has played on ProRodeo’s grandest stage eight times so far in his career. Petska and Sherwood just teamed up a few weeks ago, but they’ve been around one another for years. Prior to this partnership, the two had roped together a handful of times but never at a ProRodeo event. Still, they found a lot of confidence during the Fourth of July run, a string of lucrative rodeos that lead into the holiday. “Our Fourth had been a lot like the season … slow,” said Sherwood, who lives in Pima with his wife, Kim, and their seven children, Megan, Jessica, Aubrie, Ashlie, Cody, Logan and Porter. “It started out extremely show and was pretty frustrating when we finally started turning it around. When we did, we placed on six steers in a row. “We didn’t do any good at the first three rodeos we went to, then we placed a little bit at St. Paul (Ore.), which kind of broke the ice.” The ice was melting by the time they competed at the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede on July 4. The finished third in the first of two go-rounds, then won the two-run average with an aggregate of 10.9 seconds. That was worth $6,171 – 39 percent of their week’s earnings. The big week catapulted Sherwood to the top 20 in the heading world standings with $32,607. In fact, he almost doubled his 2011 earnings in just a few days. Petska moved past $43,000 on the season and steadily into the top 10 on the heeling money list. “Even though Cory and I had never rodeoed before, we both felt like it would be a good fit,” Sherwood said. “We had roped for about a month, and nothing great had happened. Then we had a good run. That means a lot in this business.”

SYDNEY, Australia – The last time Cord McCoy was in the picturesque city of Sydney, he and his brother, Jet, were on a sprint around the world for the $1 million first-place prize on the CBS-TV reality series “The Amazing Race.” Most recently, McCoy was Down Under fighting for another bull riding title while competing in the Professional Bull Riders association’s Australian Cup National Finals, which took place July 9 in Sydney. “This was a chance for me to come back to Australia and ride bulls,” said McCoy, who had competed for Team USA in the 2007 PBR World Cup event in Sydney. “It also gave me time to come to Australia with my wife and just see the country. The last time I was here, Jet and I were on ‘The Amazing Race,’ so I was a little rushed.” That’s McCoy’s humor shining through, but the reality is the Oklahoma cowboy is one of the top athletes on the PBR tour. That’s why he’s battling for the event title more than 8,500 miles from home. “It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “I get to ride bulls for a living. That’s a real blessing, but being over here with my wife is also a real blessing. “Really, I wouldn’t be able to do this without the support of Pre-Paid Legal, Ariat and Express. My sponsors give me the opportunities to do what I love, and that means a lot to me.” Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. offers products that are one-of-a-kind, life events legal service plans, and the company provides legal service benefits provided through a network of independent law firms across the United States and Canada, and include unlimited attorney consultation as well as will preparation, traffic violation defense, automobile-related criminal charges defense, letter writing, document preparation and review and a general trial defense benefit. Ariat is the leading performance footwear and apparel brand for equestrian athletes around the world. Express Employment Professionals offers a full range of employment solutions for area businesses and job seekers. Express Ranches is an active participant in every phase of the beef production process and has fed as many as 50,000 head of cattle per year. Express Sports develops strong corporate and media partnerships in the communities they serve in order to successfully plan sporting events, as well as market and manage sports teams and individual athletes. “Pre-Paid, Express and Ariat have stood by me through every ride, whether I was racing around the world on ‘The Amazing Race’ or riding bulls in Australia,” McCoy said. “It’s pretty cool that I get to do this and have that kind of support behind me.”

If you can’t be in Alberta for the Calgary Stampede, you can still catch all the fascinating action livestreaming on the Internet HERE. The show opened with rookie bronc riding, and the young cowboys were in a dogfight with the exceptional young horses in the mix. I’m not sure who all the commentators are, but the color guy is Rod Hay, a 20-time saddle bronc riding qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from Wildwood, Alberta. Hehad an outstanding comment with regards to the bucking animals in the draw. “If you’re going to come to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, you’ve got to learn to twist the good ones,” Hay said. It’s a warm day with high humidity here in northwest Missouri. Livestreaming the Calgary Stampede seems the best way to spend the day.

The Calgary Stampede began its world-renowned 10-day festival Friday. It’s been called the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth; it’s definitely a showcase of the best in rodeo. Its championship is one every ProRodeo contestant wants to win. The opening performance featured a who’s who of winners, like world champions Wesley Silcox, bull riding; Chad Ferley, saddle bronc riding; and Dean Gorsuch, steer wrestling. There was also tie-down roper Tuf Cooper, a three-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and Ryan Gray. Money won at the Stampede will not count toward the NFR standings, but there’s plenty of cash available. Each round in each pool pays $5,500 to the winner, and the shootout round champion earns $100,000. Being in Alberta in July is a great benefit to competing at the Calgary Stampede; giving yourself a shot at $100,000 is probably a little bit more incentive.

Rodeo bloggers D.V. Fennell and Justin McDaniel talk about a flight that didn’t happen, even after it did.  

I fought an uphill battle all the Fourth run. I had to turn out a couple good ones due to a groin injury, but I’m feelin’ good again now! It was a hectic week where the good ones were a little off, and JMac (Justin McDaniel) and I drew some colts that we couldn’t even get out of the chute on. Got up in a plane that circled the mountain between Red Lodge, Mont., and Livingston, Mont. After running into storm clouds, we had to turn back. It was a $700 plane ride that didn’t go anywhere. Hahaha! All in all it was a rough week with not much in the way of profits. Justin made the short round at Greeley and had some success, and I placed at Oakley & Red Lodge. Best thing about rodeo is I’ve got another one tonight. Y’all be blessed, and I’ll talk to ya soon.

The Fourth of July rodeo run was plenty lucrative in 2011. In fact, 59 cowboys and cowgirls earned at least $10,000 during the one week of rodeoing. Of course, that meant a lot of long hours on the road. It mean all-night drives and rushed trips to airports. Barrel racer Brenda Mays said she began the week with just six hours sleep in three days. Brenda finished the week with $11,140, eighth best among WPRA barrel racers. Consider that further: Seven others earned more than Mays. That’s pretty impressive. The top 10 ProRodeo contestants in Cowboy Christmas earnings, according to the PRCA: 1. Trevor Brazile (TR/TD), $39,993 2. Wesley Silcox (BR, 29,186 3. Taos Muncy (SB), 26,489 4. Shane Hanchey (TD), 25,121 5. Lindsay Sears (GBR), 23,838 6. Curtis Cassidy (SW/TD), 22,146 7. Cody DeMers (BB), 20,192 8. Clint Cannon (BB), 20,155 9. Shane Proctor (BR), 18,987 10. Steve Woolsey (BR), 18,953 The top 10 WPRA barrel racers: 1. Sears, $23,838 2. Sue Smith, $17,025 3. Sherry Cervi, $16,618 4. Angie Meadors, $15,870 5. Tammy Fischer, $14,266 6. Brittany Pozzi, $13,222 7. Sydni Blanchard, $11,530 8. Brenda Mays, $11,140 9. Lisa Lockhart, $11,117 10. Sammi Bessert, $10,948

It’s been a few years since Ty Murray was on top of the rodeo world. More than a decade. It’s been 13 years since he won his then-record seventh all-around world championship. It’s been 12 years since Murray set the high-water mark for Cowboy Christmas earnings, those dollars won at rodeos over the lucrative Fourth of July run. In 1999, he earned $37,630, a record. Trevor Brazile continues to surpass Murray in virtually every all-around capacity. Over the past few days of competition, Brazile earned $39,993, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s post on Facebook. It’s fitting that Brazile owns the Cowboy Christmas earnings record. He’s the most prolific roper in the history of the sport, and the greatest ropers in the game will tell you that. When Murray retired while still one of the greatest cowboys in the Professional Bull Riders – he’d changed his focus to riding bulls and promoting the association he helped found – the late Jim Shoulders told me that Murray might be the last “real” all-around cowboy to win that title in the PRCA. In his mind, Shoulders believed a true all-around cowboy must ride bucking stock. I can understand that mindset, and I appreciate it. There’s nothing better to watch than an outstanding saddle bronc ride. But having watched Brazile in action, seen his work ethic up close and witnessed his outstanding personality, I’ll kindly disagree with one of the greatest cowboys in the history of rodeo. Trevor Brazile is a cowboy, from his polite demeanor to his dogged determination to his awesome athleticism. He’s what every man should aspire to be.

Part of Cowboy Christmas – the string of lucrative rodeo around the Fourth of July – is the possibility of competing at two rodeos on the same day. For D.V. Fennell and Justin McDaniel, that came Sunday, July 3. In order to insure they had the best shot at winning, Fennell and McDaniel took flight. Here’s hoping their Cowboy Christmas is profitable.    

First performance of the PBR in Park Rapids, Minn., is in the books. Boy, does the Berger family bring some athletic animals. We got rained on, but made it through. The BMX motorbike fellas are performing here as well. They are fun to watch. My microphone wasn’t delivered as promised before I left, so I borrowed a mic last night. It was a little rough, but I made it through. My mic will be here by tonight’s performance! YAY! I like having my own mic that I’m familiar with, so to avoid this happening again, I ordered another mic yesterday while driving up here. I’ll have it in a couple of days! I bought a Sennheiser Third Generation for under 6 bills ($600). Another YAY.

GUYMON, Okla. – In his lifetime, Craig Latham has handled the rankest beasts in rodeo, able to use his tremendous athletic talent and will as one of the best saddle bronc riders in the history of the sport. Now Latham might be in the toughest ride of his life, a battle with plasmacytoma, a treatable type of cancer for which a tumor was removed during a surgery June 9 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. More treatment is planned for Latham, the rodeo coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State University who qualified nine times for the National Finals Rodeo. Now friends, fans and rodeo supporters are producing a benefit event to raise money for the Craig Latham Medical Fund at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at Bob’s Cowboy Bar and Rodeo Room in Guymon. Donations will be accepted at the door. Ken Stonecipher’s Wooden Nickel Band will begin playing at 9 p.m. The Craig Latham Medical Fund has been established at Bank of the Panhandle, and donations may be sent to Bank of the Panhandle, P.O. Box 2180, Guymon, OK 73942. “We want to reach out to Craig and his family and show that we’re ready to fight this fight with them,” Stonecipher said. “Rick Furnish is generously donating the use of Bob’s and will donate part of the proceeds to the fund-raiser, and we’re going to play so people can come out to Bob’s, have a great time and help the Lathams ease a little of the financial burden of this treatment.” Latham opted for the well known Baltimore hospital after researching the best neurosurgeons in the world. “When I rodeoed, I traveled with the best guys and I rode the best bucking horses because I wanted to win,” Latham said. “When I started dealing with this, I wanted the best doctors because I intend on winning.” When the Lathams learned about further treatment being planned for July, friends began putting together the benefit. Within a day, the July 9 festivities were set in motion. “Craig and Lori have done so much for that community, for Panhandle State rodeo and for their friends that we can never repay them,” said Lynette Harbin, a friend of the Lathams. “I hope this is a good way for us to give back just a little.” That kind of reflection means a lot to the family. “I give the credit to God and our amazing friends and family for helping us get to Baltimore and for sticking with us through this journey,” Lori Latham said. “The prayers and the thoughts and all the things everyone is doing … that’s what’s going to get Craig through this, and we appreciate it more than we can ever say.”

Craig Latham Medical Fund Benefit If you can’t make it to the benefit, donations may be sent to Bank of the Panhandle, P.O. Box 2180, Guymon, OK 73942.

I rode in the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede tonight, and it went really well. I had a good horse, and I’m splitting the rodeo so far. But the trip to Greeley hasn’t been without incident. When I got behind the chutes, I changed into my riding pants, put my boots and spurs on and walked out the back gate to the Justin Sportsmedicine trailer. I said hello to the gate man, who was wearing his weekend badge and was wearing his newly acquired authority. I got my hips worked on by the sportsmedicine team and went to walk back through the gate. That’s when I got stopped by our weekend warrior. He said, “I can’t let you back here.” I asked why not, and he said, “Well, this is for contestants only! I need to see your PRCA card.” I told him I didn’t have it on me, so we had to walk into the secretary’s office and look on the bareback riding contestant sheet. Then he had to look at my driver’s license to confirm that I was, actually, Justin McDaniel. I guess he thought I was just some tourist trying to get behind the chutes. Haha. It’s kind of funny, but I have a request for all rodeo committees out there: Please get gate men that are rodeo savvy!