Start....Watch....Stop - The Stopwatch Dilemma

Have you ever tried to time something and kept coming up with different times? I have a wrist stopwatch and time everything. I've timed how long it takes to get from one town to another, how fast it takes to run a lap, how long it takes to swim a lap, even down to how long it takes for me to shave. Those are just for fun and I find it interesting. When you are dealing in a sport and dealing with tens of thousands of dollars, for winning an event or a million dollars for winning a title, you can't time something for fun. The PBR is using stopwatches to time an 8 second ride and that time has to be accurate, or it can cost a rider some hard earned money. Yes, they are using the same method to time rides that have been used for decades, while other sports have improved their ability to time their events.

There are four judges that score rides and all four judges have a stopwatch. Then you have a replay judge and he has a stopwatch as well. The judge that is closest to the riders, on the chutes, is the judge that controls the 8 second arena clock. He starts the clock when the bull breaks the plane of the chute. The other three judges start their stopwatches as well, even though they do not have the best position as to when the bull breaks the plane. If after a ride, the clock shows 8 seconds, a rider gets a score. Right? Wrong. If one of the other three judges believe that the rider has not made the 8 seconds -by looking at his stopwatch - he can call for a review of time. He can call for a review of any other infraction, but for the sake of this article, I am staying on point as to time only. Then the replay judge will run the ride in "real time" and uses his stopwatch. If he comes up with 8 or more seconds, the rider gets a score, if not, the rider does not get a score. Also, if after a ride, the arena clock does not show 8 seconds, such as 7.7 seconds, the rider can push the challenge button and ask the replay judge to review the ride, using his stopwatch. If the replay judge says he made the 8, he gets a score, if not, then the rider will pay a $500 penalty for challenging the time. To me, there seems to be several problems with this system.

First, many sports have gone away from using stopwatches as a form of timing events, because they are not accurate, due to human reactions. If you are timing a runner on a 40 yard dash, the time has been shown to be an average .24 seconds off, by using a stopwatch (to run a 40 yard dash takes between 4.3 to 5.5 seconds). This is due to the reaction time that it takes to push the stopwatch button. Second, people have different reaction times. One person, with a slightly slower reaction time, will have a different time than another person. Third, many people use their thumb to push the stopwatch, when research shows that your index finger has the quickest reaction time of all the fingers. Therefore, many people using stopwatches are using the wrong finger to push the button. In bull riding, it is also up to each judge and then the replay judge as to when the bull crosses the plane of the chute. That difference of "opinion" can cost a guy a title.

In swimming, they have an automatic timer, then a person that pushes an electronic keypad, then a person that times with a stopwatch. The stopwatch is not the primary timing source, as a matter of fact, it is the back up to the back up. I looked into other events, and I could not find one sport, that says they are growing and a major sport in the US, that uses a stopwatch to time the event. Why is the PBR still using such an archaic way to determine who wins and loses, in regards to timing a ride?

What is the solution? First off, any ride that is 7.7 or higher, the rider would be able to challenge the time, without fear of a fine. Since the stopwatch is not accurate (due to human error), why should the rider pay the penalty. I have seen guys that were at 7.8 or even 7.9 that did not challenge the time simply because they did not have the $500 to lose, if the challenge was not upheld. Second, if the ride goes to the replay judge, then instead of a stopwatch, he would use the digital feed to look at the ride. When you are looking at a digital feed, there is a digital timer, usually at the top right of the screen. The replay judge could start the ride, on his screen, frame by frame and see where the bull breaks the plain of the chute. At that time, note the time on the digital screen. Continue the ride, slow it down, frame by frame as the rider is bucking off or losing his rope, then stop it at exact frame. When this occurs note the time on the digital timer. This tells you the time of the ride. Since you can go frame by frame, and the digital timer is usually in hundredths or sometimes in thousandths of seconds, the replay will be more accurate than using a stopwatch. This will cost money to set up and run, but considering the PBR publicizes the fact that they just surpassed the $100 million mark in payouts and they are one of the fastest growing sports, the money will be well spent. There is no fool proof system, but there are better ways to time the rides.

If you want to even be close to the same level (which the PBR is many levels down) to the big boys, you have to spend money to legitimize your sport and the timing system used. By the way, what ever happened to the Hyper-Mo camera? Will we see it during the finals? Was it too expensive to use every event? This is what I am talking about, other major sports have many new gadgets that help the fan enjoy the sport and the PBR has to spend the money to up date and stay up with and promote their sport.

In Pueblo, McKennon Wimberly lost a score, because one judge challenged the time, after an 8 second ride. This was not the main judge starting the arena clock, but one of the other judges. His time after the replay judge looked at it and timed it, with the inaccurate stopwatch, was 7.94 seconds. That is a difference of only .06 seconds or 6 one hundredths of a second. Remember, I said before that due to reaction times, the time can be off, on average, by .24 seconds. McKennon lost the score and lost points and money for that round. In the same event, Shane Proctor was timed at 7.9. He challenged the time, and the replay judge said the ride was 8.36. Now how can you be off by .4 seconds and call the way the time is done "accurate". A challenge by a judge several weeks before cost Sean Willingham a ride as well. He made the 8 seconds, a judge challenged it, then the replay judge said he did not make the 8. How come I have not seen any judges challenge the time, when a rider is less than 8 seconds? Why only if the rider is more than 8? Due to the inaccuracy of the stopwatches and the human reaction time and due to the fact that the other judges can't see as well as the judge on top of the chute, in regards to when the bull breaks the plane of the chute, if the clock shows 8, the other judges should not be allowed to challenge the time. What do you think?

Put Away the Armor - New Guidelines for the PBR Comment Section and Forum

Last night we took some time to go see a movie, Iron Man 2. It was a fun movie, with explosions and high tech gadgets. I found myself really wanting the Iron Man suit, the armor. The more I thought about it, the more I found similarities with the PBR comment section. There have been many artillery shots thrown from ALL sides. We use the high tech gadgets (computers) to leave comments and have had to use armor or some special protection with all the personal attacks that have been thrown around.

The PBR looks like they are finally taking control and have come out with some new guidelines. These new "rules" or guidelines are now posted on the TeamPBR forum. I assume they will be posted on the main page of the PBR website, or mentioned on the PBR comment section. I, for one, am glad that this step is being taken, and I fully support this change. The comment section has taken on a nasty tone. There have always been a few comments thrown out that should be deleted immediately and in many cases were. However, there have been comments recently that have been personal attacks directed at or to the commenter's themselves. It is one thing to cheer for or admire your favorite, now there seems to be more idolizing and worshiping. If anything is said, that seems to be "negative" (not nasty or a personal attack) there seems to be more of an attack mode that turns into nasty confrontations between the fans (commenters).

One of the new rules state that "do not post anything that is abusive or that personally attacks others". It does not state to not write something that is not positive, just don't make it a comment about something personal. The comment section is about "personal" opinion. Those opinions will not always be positive. One of the problems, from my point of view, is that if your comment is not positive, then you get personally attacked from some. That's were it crosses the line, and as I said, I am happy that this is being addressed.

There are some new rules that I do find puzzling. On the TeamPBR forum, they have friendlier exchanges and talk about many issues, including personal information. According to the new rules, you can not share about any personal information, either on the forum or the comment section. This personal information includes yourself, or anyone else. This is done all the time on the forum and sometimes on the comment section. Will the PBR delete posts when people are sending prayers about what is happening in their personal life? Will they delete posts if someone announces a new born as a proud parent or grandparent? Will the PBR consider these and other similar posts, personal? That is the problem sometimes with new rules, how are they interpreted?

Although I agree that changes were necessary, the big question now is .... Will the PBR enforce the new rules? How will they enforce them? Will they only delete a post or account, if people complain, or will they be proactive and delete when something is seen by them? If they only delete when someone complains, will the rules be enforced evenly? There are many other questions that need to be answered before I think we will know how this will all play out. If the PBR actually enforces the new rules, I believe it is safe to put away the armor, as there should be fewer explosions.

Wichita PBR BFTS - Event Review, Part 2

There are days when the alarm clock goes off and your first thought is - didn't I just go to bed? It was time to get up and start a new PBR day. This was Saturday and the second and last day of the Wichita event. At every BFTS event the Riding High Ministries has a church service. When it's a three day event, the service is on Sunday. If the event is a two day starting on Friday, the service is on Saturday. Since going to PBR events, we have not missed one, because it's such a blessing. This time was no exception, no matter how tired we may think we are.

We got up, got dressed and headed down stairs to head to the service at the arena. We saw Travis and Jessie Briscoe in the elevator. I inquired about his knee, and as we were leaving the elevator to the lobby and out, it appeared they were going to walk the .4 miles to the arena, for the church service as well. Keep in mind, Travis just tore an ACL in his knee the night before. If it were me, I would be trying to find every excuse not to go anywhere, much less walk that far to church. I insisted that they ride with us. The conversation was good and the more I get to know Travis, the more I respect his ability and his faith.

Todd Pierce, who normally would be the pastor, was not there. There was a tag team effort by three riders, Josh Koschel, Jordan Hupp and Mike Lee. They were all three great, but Mike was the last, the longest and the best. He not only spoke from the heart, but I loved how he puts things in his (as he says) redneck way. He was funny, spoke the truth and it was inspiring.

We left the service, headed to Sams to get some more of Tammie's pictures developed. Then went to Sheplers for some autographs and to meet up with some of our PBR buddies. While we were at Sheplers, we had the pleasure to meet a PBR fan that we had not meet before, krazykat (again using sign on names to protect privacy). Krazykat, it was a pleasure meeting you and hopefully, the next time we are at an event at the same time, we will all have more time to spend together and get to know each other better. As I stated on my previous blog, the PBR faithful have the best people you could ever meet.

There was a group of eight of us that went to eat lunch, and I don't think the waiter knew what he was getting himself into. The place was noisy, and I think we doubled the decibels. We saw Ryan McConnel and Caleb Sanderson there and talked to both briefly, we didn't want to disturb their meal. Ryan McConnel did something real nice and thoughtful, and although I can't say what it was, all I will say is, THANKS again.

Well, Tammie and I left the table a few minutes early, so we could go to another signing that Flint was at. Tammie had some special pictures of Flint that she really wanted to get signed. We drove the few minutes over there and talked to Shane Proctor, Travis Briscoe and Flint. As I said in a previous blog, to me, Flint is one of the best parts of the PBR "show". We talked to Flint for quite a while, then it was back to Sams, pick up the pictures, and then back to the hotel for an hour, before we head to the arena. You would think an hour is plenty of time, but it is amazing how little time it is when you lay down on the bed and try to catch a sort nap.

We meet Twiggy and her other half downstairs, and along with Ben Jones we all rode together to the arena. We did our usual walk around the arena, went down to the fan zone, got some signatures and then back up to get a chicken strip basket and sit in our seats. I like to eat before the event starts, that way I don't have leave my seat when the event gets going. It only seemed like a short time had passed before the lights dimmed, the music was blaring and the riders were being introduced. It was another great night of bull riding that was about to begin.

This night belonged to the bulls. There were only 12 rides in the long round, and 3 rides in the short go. The highest scored ride in the long round was - Austin Meier, 88.75. Austin went into the short go with the highest combined score, after two rounds. In the short go the highest scored ride was -Guilherme Marchi, 90.50. However, Austin was able to keep pace and win the event with a score of 90.00. Marchi finished second and Dustin Elliott finished third.


Tammie has had a good camera for her pictures, but we recently purchased her a "new and improved" camera, to feed her picture taking habit/hobby. She is very excited about the camera and the picture quality and will be posting them on her Facebook page. We made our way to the arena fence to get a few more signatures. I am amazed at some people and their comments to riders, while they are signing souvenirs. One lady (well maybe lady is not the correct term) told one of the riders to sign her arm. She then said that she was going to have him sign her butt, but he can just sign her arm. Just earlier in the day, Mike Lee talked at the church service about the temptations that these guys face from the female fans and how difficult it is. This was a good case in point.

We left the arena, and headed back to the same restaurant that we all ate at the previous night. We arrived at 11:00 pm and the placed closed at midnight. For the second night in a row, we closed the place down. Do you think we let that stop us from having a good time? Absolutely not! Tammie and I, Sannpow and husband and Twiggy and other half, left the restaurant and headed to the hotel lobby. There were jokes, stories, reminiscing, and plenty of topics covered. It is great to be able to get around people that you have met, don't get to see that often, and shares laughs with. All of you are good people, have good hearts and are just fun to be around. The night, or should I say morning, finally came to an end, at 2:30 am. We went back up to the hotel room, got on the computer for a few minutes and finally turned out the lights. The next day was going to bring a long 7+ hour drive and heaven knows I need my beauty sleep (although no matter how much I sleep, it doesn't seem to help). The next BFTS event we are going to is Tulsa, but we are going to several Touring Pro events, so the PBR withdrawal will not be as painful.








NOTE: If you want to see any pictures on this or any of my blogs and you want them bigger, all you have to do is click on the picture and it will bring the picture up and it is larger.

Wichita PBR BFTS - Event Review, Part 1

Well ...... We're not in Kansas anymore, but we were. We took the 7+ hour drive up to Wichita, Kansas to attend the PBR event in the new Intrust Bank Arena. We left on Thursday afternoon, so we could get up there early, check into the hotel and relax. If we could ever learn to get our "stuff" done before we go, we would be be able to relax, but since we didn't, we got to the hotel and had to do other things that forced us to get to bed around 2 am. So much for relaxing.

Friday started off good, but chilly. An unusual cold front was moving in, the winds were picking up and the temps were dropping (this is May, isn't it?). We left the hotel for lunch and to get Tammie's pictures developed for the riders to sign. While we were out, it was time for shopping. After eating lunch, we made our way back to the hotel. As we were heading into the lobby, we passed Harve Stewart. We noticed his jaw was not wired shut anymore (he broke his jaw previously and had to have all of his food blended to eat). He said he was happy to be able to eat and talk again. As we turned into the lobby, Twiggy ( I will use sign on names from the PBR site, not their real names, for privacy) and her other half were sitting in the lobby chairs.

One of the great things that we have learned and experienced about the PBR, is the fans. We have meet the nicest, friendliest people, that I think exist. In just one short year, we have made many, many friends with the PBR faithful and it just seems to grow. Just a quick shout out to those PBR friends. Tammie's mom has been very ill the last several weeks. She has been encouraged with the numerous kind words and prayers that she has received from PBR friends on Facebook and I know she is grateful.

We sat in the lobby for at least 2 hours talking to Twiggy and her other half and we were joined by MikeLee04 and her husband. In the meantime, Valdiron and his family came in and we talked to him and his family. He had his baby and the way he held his new child, you could tell he was a proud father. By the way, he is getting better with his English.

Well, time passed and it was time to go up to the room and start to get ready for "the show", and a show it is. As we were heading to our room, we passed Travis Briscoe and his wife Jessie. We stopped, talked for a minute and wished Travis a successful ride. After what seemed hours for Tammie to get ready (just kidding) we headed down stairs. We were going to catch a ride with Twiggy. While we were standing waiting, Renato made his way down with his family and we talked, while he was waiting for Valdiron to make his way down. We talked about his family and how he learned to do the famous back flip when he was a young boy in Brazil. We also meet up with another couple that we have become friends with, Sannpow and her husband. Ok, time to pile in the vehicles and head to the arena.

The Intrust Arena is new, I think only two months old. Although not a "splashy" building, it was very nice, inside and out. As we were walking through the building we saw Cody Nance. We have gotten to know Cody and he is just a tremendous young man. He has a heart for God and we've had the opportunity, on several ocassions to get to know him more. After talking to him for a few minutes and congratulating him on getting back on the tour, Justin McKee approached and we left Cody alone to bask in his time back (when Cody approached us, he was limping badly from an injury that he received the previous week) We made our way in and did the usual looking around and signed up for raffles. One of the things that we signed up for was a chance to win chute seats, which even if we didn't win, it goes to a good cause, The Rider Relief Fund. Just before the event started, I got a chicken wrap and chips and salsa to eat. Man, it was spicy, but very good. I swallowed it and it was time for the event to start.

If you have never been to a live PBR BFTS event, and only have seen it on TV, you don't know what you are missing. The opening and announcing of the riders is intense. Pyrotechnics, loud music, videos, fog, lights dimmed and spotlights. It's a spectacle. The rides started and this was a night, just like many, great rides, great buck offs, and some wreaks and injuries. After about the first 5 rides, someone came to our seats and said we had been picked for the chutes seats!!!! We made our way to the seats along with MikeLee04 and her husband (we went in half with them for the raffle tickets). The chute seats are right behind the chutes and you are literly 6 feet behind and 6 feet above the riders. The sounds are tremendous, the chutes banging, the riders pulling ropes, talking, exercising, the bulls snorting, all sounds and sights are right in front of you. You can get lost in the moment and forget that there are rides going on, but we didn't.

There were some great rides - Travis Briscoe, Guilherme Marchi, Brendon Clark, Chris Shivers, Dustin Elliot, just to name a few. However, there were also some injuries - JB Mauney, Chris Shivers, Travis Briscoe, Cody Nance.

Suddenly, the first night's round was over. Where did the time go!! We made our way onto the dirt for the opportunity to get riders autographs and pictures. Tammie is slowly, but surely getting well known for her pictures that she does and numerous riders have complimented her on them and some have asked for copies. She puts alot of time into making them and, being her husband, I am proud that she is recognized by the riders for them. As the riders were finishing up, I approached Dustin Ellioit for an interview. He was very willing to do it, but as I started, a PBR rep came over to me and said that since I don't have a "press pass", I could not do an interview in the arena. So, no interview, however, don't despair, I didn't. I am working another angle to get interviews and will let you know in the coming weeks if that is successful.

We left the arena, caught a ride back to the hotel, with Twiggy, and Ben Jones was in the vehicle as well. We have already talked to Ben on several occasions and both Tammie and I have said that we love just listening to him talk and hearing his Austrailian accent. After getting back to the hotel, we along with Twiggy and other half, Sannpow and her husband and MikeLee04 and her husband walked to a restaurant, a block away. We stayed there and ate, laughed, talked, shared stories, and simply just had a good time. The only reason we stopped at midnight, is because the restaurant was closing. We said goodbye, made our way back to our room and I faded off to sleep about 2 am, while Tammie was still on the computer trying to finish a few more pictures for the riders.

Flint Rasmussen - Entertainer

If you have ever been to a rodeo, you will see some guy in makeup, in the middle of the arena making jokes and sometimes jumping in the barrel. This guy is known to many as "the rodeo clown". Well, I'm here to tell you, the PBR is not a rodeo and Flint Rasmussen is no rodeo clown. What Flint is, is an "entertainer". Yes, he does have the clown makeup, but other than that, he is totally different than what any definition of the rodeo clown that many are use to.

The first time I saw Flint, was in Dallas, at the PBR event in January 2009. After the event, I told my wife that I enjoyed the bull riding, the pyrotechnics, the music, but the thing I enjoyed the most, was the entertainment provided by Flint. He is now 42 years old, but has moves that would make a man half his age jealous. There are dance moves from Michael Jackson to Beyonce, from hip hop to swing music and just about everything in between. There is the back and forth banter between the arena announcers and fan interaction. The whole night of "entertainment" is different than anything I had ever seen. The next two events we went to, were Tulsa and Springfield. I sat next to people that had never been to a live PBR event. I got so much enjoyment watching them jump when the fireworks go off, moving to the music, sitting in awe of the bull riding and of course laughing when Flint would dance, do jokes and interact with the fans.

In between the Dallas and Tulsa events, Flint had had a heart attack at the age of 41. He was in great shape, which just tells us that life can throw all of us curves and we just have to get back up, dust ourselves off and get back out there. That is exactly what Flint did. He came back with a monitor for awhile, to make sure that his heart rate stayed below a certain level. Fortunately, he has been able to ditch the monitor and is back at full tilt (as full tilt as you can be after such an incident).

I will be honest, after awhile I started to get the impression that Flint was aloof and not fan friendly. He was not out meeting the fans, like the riders do. But I noticed that neither were the bull fighters. But as Flint has explained, the PBR is about bull riding and the bull riders. With that said, I know from personal experience, I want to get to know all of the people that make the show happen, including Flint. All of this changed, for me, in February of this year.

During a meet and greet of the riders, at an event before the Iron Cowboy, Flint made a joke about some of the people that make comments on the PBR website, I was one of the people that he made a joke about (webpbr). I think he was kind of surprised that I was there, but then we started to have a good back and forth banter and both of us had fun with it. He had an impression of me and I had one of him. I think both of us changed the others mind of those impressions. The next week, we went to St. Louis for the PBR event there. During the last day, Flint saw me in the stands, while he was on the "shark cage". He gave me a nod, pointed to me and started moving his fingers, as though he was typing on the computer. Some might say he was making fun of me, but I know he was simply giving a non verbal playful banter, that we started the week before. My wife saw it as well, and thought it was pretty cool that Flint, out of the thousands that were in the stands, did something that only him, myself and my wife knew what he was doing.

The last event we were at, New Orleans, we were at the back talking to riders as they were leaving, the last night. Flint was leaving as well and as he was approaching, he looked up and said "so whatcha writing about today". We talked for a few minutes and I told him that he was "on" the whole weekend and that was surprising, due to the small crowd that weekend. We talked for a few more minutes and he was on his way.

This last week there was a little dust up on the comment section and some things were said about Flint, that he took offense to. A fan was not pleased that Flint was not part of the show as he had been in the past. Some things were said and although I think they could have been said differently, I did not think they were meant to be mean or hurtful to Flint. As a matter of fact, I think the comments were out of frustration that Flint was not as much a part of the show, as the fan wanted him to be. That is how much Flint is liked and admired for his ability. When he is not in the show or not in the show as much as people have become accustomed to, they are upset. THEY WANT FLINT, just as much as they want all of the things that come with a PBR event. The PBR and Flint are one. My advice to Flint, not that my advice matters, is to relax, have fun, don't worry about the comment section and just go out and do what you do best: ENTERTAIN.

Winning with Grace - My Take on Mike Lee

Watching and Listening to the PBR event this weekend in Des Moines, and seeing Mike Lee win the event, prompted me to write this blog. The meaning of the title is based on two parts - Mike's reactions to difficult times, including buck offs and the second is his outspoken faith. Mike is a pretty simple guy, what you see, is who he is. He's not flashy, but will take the shirt off his back and give it to you, even if it meant him going without one. Not only does he not seek the limelight, he seems uncomfortable when he is in it. He is there to do his job, which is to ride bulls and give God the glory for what He has given him, however much or little that is. This does not mean he is a recluse and will not meet or talk to fans. He is at the fan signings, taking pictures, smiling and talking. He walks around the arena on the dirt, after the event, signing and taking pictures, for as long as it takes. With all that said, Mike is a bull rider and that is what he loves to do.

Winning with Grace (1) Sometimes how someone handles adversity, can tell us who they are. Adversity can come in bad times, but adversity can happen even if things are seemingly perfect. How we act or react in good and bad times is a reflection that many can see, especially when you are an athlete and the public is always watching. During last year's season, Mike suffered through many injuries that either kept him out of events or caused him not to be at his best as he attempted to stay on a 2,000 pound bucking bull. I watched after each buck off for some negative reactions from him, but all Mike would do was pick up his bull rope and walk slowly out of the arena. You could see the dejection on his face, as though he just lost his favorite dog. However, watching buck off after buck off, no negative reactions, just the same slow walk.

In my younger days of playing sports, it was difficult for me to control my emotions when I lost. When I did not perform up to what I thought I should/could, it would be like a dagger in my soul and the aggravation would show. No serious outbursts, just mood changes that nobody wanted to be by my side for at least a day. I think the term is "being a bear". I personally know how difficult it is to control one's temper and internal emotions. That is why I respect any athlete, bull riders included, that can control those emotions. All athletes are competitive and hate to lose. Sometimes, it is not that you lost or even if you won, but how you handled each of those scenarios. Mike handles winning with the same grace that he handles losing. There are other riders in the PBR that are just like Mike, and those that are not, would be doing themselves a big favor if they watched, listened and applied what Mike and those others have to offer.

Winning with Grace (2) Mike will be the first to tell you that bull riding is what he does for a living, but being a follower of Jesus Christ is who he is. Whenever he is interviewed, most of the conversation reverts back to his faith and the strength and peace he gets from that. This weekend, as I was listening to the live audio on Saturday night, as Mike was being interviewed after winning his first event since 2008, he mentioned Jesus twice. Once was a reference to Christ dying on the cross. It is refreshing to see and hear such words spoken in front of thousands of people and no apologies given for Christ's name being said. In today's society, even in a Christian nation, it is not popular to use the term God, and it is even less popular to use the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Society is more interested in political correctness and not offending people to the point that many Christians have become silent in their views of their faith. Being a Christian is who we are and wanting to share that with others is what we should do and what many of us have in our heart to do. Fortunately, there are many Christian riders in the PBR and the PBR allows the Riding High Ministries to conduct church services at every event and encourage fans to attend. Mike is a great ambassador for the PBR and he is also a great ambassador for God. The grace of God is certainly with Mike, no matter if he ever wins an event or title again. God's grace can been seen in Mike's face and his words, and I for one, am thankful that he is a part of the PBR.

"Look out I'm coming back" - Q & A with Reese Cates

Reese Cates, the 2008 PBR rookie of the year, looked comfortable as he mulled around after the Touring Pro event in Cleburne, TX, talking to fans. Although Reese is only 21, he seemed at ease in meeting with people and when the subject of bull riding is brought up, the excitement and tone of his voice elevates to a point that he seems so desperate to get back on a bull, even though he had bucked off his previous and only bull of the night. I had the chance to talk to Reese after the event and in a laid back and yet enthusiastic manner, he answered the questions.



Q. What is your boot size and brand that you like best?
A. Ariat is the brand I like best. They are one of the sponsors of the PBR and the boots I am wearing were given to me by Ariat. I think the boot size is 8 1/2 or maybe 9.



Q. What is your favorite, non-western movie?
A. The Hangover (comedy). I saw it last year and it was really funny.


Q. Some say you live in Arkansas, some say Texas, which is it?
A. I'm actually from Arkansas, that's where I was born and raised. I moved to Carthage, Texas to go to college. My hometown is and will always be El Dorado, Arkansas. But I do live in Carthage now.



Q. Regarding the Daisy Rookie of the Year buckle, do you wear the buckle or do you keep it in a case?
A. I wear it all the time. As a matter of fact, I am wearing it now (see picture of the buckle that was taken that night). It's the biggest accomplishment, as far as my bull riding career that I have. I am awful proud of it, but then again, I am hoping that 10 years from now it's still not the biggest accomplishment of my bull riding career.



Q. Do you remember your first PBR BFTS event?
A. I think you can ask anyone that has ever been to one and they will give you the same answer. I remember just like it was yesterday. In was in Duluth, Georgia, and it was the first event of the 2008 season. Actually it was on New Year's weekend, so it was a few days before the new year, so it technically was at the end of 2007.


Q. What happened to this famous van that you and some others were driving all around in?
A. We still have it. It is still sitting out at the ranch at Clayton's (Williams) house. When we got it, it had about 130k miles on it and we put over 100k miles on it when we drove it around. We start it every now and then, just to make sure it still runs, and sometimes we'll take it out for a short drive.


Q. Do you have a traveling partner?

A. Kolt Donaldson and I travel together. He was in the race for the rookie of the year, the same year I was. We're best friends and have been since high school rodeos, and he goes to college in Carthage as well. With all the traveling we do, it's definitely more fun to have somebody to travel with. Cody Ford is another one of my good friends, but he's from Oregon. Occasionally he'll fly down a stay a month or so in Texas and we'll travel together.


Q. Is there anything, in particular, that you want people to know?
A. Look out I'm coming back!