This last weekend, the city of Memphis, known for it's most famous resident, Elvis Presley, hosted it's first ever PBR event. We decided, kind of a last minute thing, to buy the tickets and make the 6 1/2 hour drive up. After the Tulsa event and having dinner there with our PBR buddy's, there was talk of Memphis and getting together at that event. Talk turned into action and before you know it, tickets were being bought and the hotel reservation was being made. We drove up the night before and the trip was uneventful. After checking in and getting something to eat, I decided to take a long run. The evening was not only hot, but very muggy. There were several truck stops around the hotel and a long road that I took my run down. Listening to my ipod, I was able to drown out the noise from the trucks and just concentrate on the run and my music. When I was finished, I looked like I just stepped out of a swimming pool. The rest of the weekend was the same way, hot and muggy.
We decided to sleep in Friday morning and after eating a late lunch, our PBR buddy's arrived at the hotel. We spent some time in the lobby of the hotel and just talked, laughed and caught up on things that we had done since Tulsa. I really enjoy the PBR events, but I must say I enjoy the time spent with PBR friends that we have made along the way, almost as much as going to the events themselves. We all have different back grounds, different personalities and different favorite riders, but that doesn't stop us from having great conversations. The time went by quickly and we had to finish getting ready to head to the arena.
Tammie and I had volunteered to help with TeamPBR on both nights and you are asked to get there about almost 3 hours before the event. We headed to Fed Ex Forum, where the NBA team the Memphis Grizzles play. However, there will be no bears here tonight, just beasts of another kind, bulls. We parked in the "special parking lot" and went in the back of the arena and found ourselves inside, behind the chutes. The first PBR person we saw was JB Mauney and asked him how to get to the other side. He was nice, but wasn't sure how to get around. So we just continued walking and there he was, "Mr Article" himself, Keith Ryan Cartwright. We first met Keith back in Oklahoma City and he gave me a book to read (which was a great book) and I had it in my hand to give to him. Keith had just posted on Facebook that he was a book junkie and had too many books with him. Well, I just added one more for him to take back on the plane. On our way over to the TeamPBR area, I saw Flint and we discussed the PBR comment section. We discussed how some people on the PBR comment section take everything so serious. He told me that I need to write what he says all the time "folks, come on, we aren't curing cancer here". We talked about some other things, but he needed to go and we needed to get over to our final destination.
We were asked, as we did last time we volunteered for TeamPBR, that when the TeamPBR members start coming in the front doors, fifteen minutes earlier than regular ticket holders, we need to check for TeamPBR cards to let them in. I can tell you this, the security people in the Memphis arena are pretty tough regarding what you can bring into the arena, including detachable lens cameras. After our task was completed at the front entrance, we made our way to the TeamPBR meet and greet area and along with another couple, we checked for TeamPBR cards, had them sign the waiver and answered questions. I met a wonderful English lady and her adult daughter. We talked for a long time and she was just so delightful. She talked about her favorite riders, one of them was Cody Nance. Well, when the riders came out in the TeamPBR area to sign, she got her chance to say hi to Cody, because he was one of the 5-6 riders coming out. I do have to agree with her, he is a nice guy and although I don't have the same giddy feeling about him that she did, I do respect the guy and enjoy his riding. The time flew by and by the time we got everything put away, there wasn't alot of time to get to our seats before the event started.
In the last two years, we have now been to 12 BFTS events (not including the finals and Touring Pro) and I still enjoy the opening. There is one video that is Tammie's and my favorite, with the song "Ladies and Gentlemen". The video is made up of great rides and wrecks and just gets your blood pumping for what is about to happen in the arena. After the opening prayer, National Anthem, fireworks and introductions, it's time for SOME BULL RIDING!!!
In the first flight there are nine riders and this was going to turn out to be the best flight of the night. Out of the nine riders, there were five qualified rides. The top score in the flight turned out to be the top score of the night. Cody Nance scored an 88.25 on Bad Medicine. Cody has been hot lately, which included a top five finish in Tulsa and a win in San Antonio. Colby Yates, coming off a win in a Touring Pro event, scored an 87.75 on Parrothead. Jordan Hupp and Caleb Sanderson both scored the same 86.50 on their bulls, Misunderstood and RFD-TV. Brendon Clark rode his bull, Western Star, for an 85.50.
Could this trend continue in the second flight? Nope. In the second flight there were seven riders, but only one rider got a score. Jody Newberry rode Son of Thunder for the 8, but had the lowest score of the night, an 80.25. Sevi Torturo was tossed in 2.0 seconds and Tyler Thompson was off in 2.3 seconds. Harve Stewart came up just short on Restless Heart, and the clock stopped at 7.7 seconds. Harve challenged the time and after a short delay, the replay judge showed his stopwatch and it said 7.7 seconds. Not only did he not get the score, but that challenge cost him $500.
In flight three the buck offs continued. There were seven riders in this flight, with only two of them being successful. The new sensation Silvano Alves scored an 87.00 on Segs The Juice and Robson "Spiderman" Aragao scored an 83.50 on Weed Wacker. The most disappointing buck off was Cord "Amazing Race" McCoy. He came off Deja Blu in 4.1 seconds. I along with the rest of America love Cord and although I would really like to see him be successful in the arena, I think his days will be better at promotion than riding bulls. A scary buck off took place in this flight as well. Ben Jones was slammed hard to the ground by Drop Zone. However, that was not the scary part. When he was on the ground laying there from being stunned, the bull stepped on his leg. Ben was just below us and you could see and hear the pain he was in. After sometime, he was picked up and carried off by the sports medicine guys. As it turns out, he was ok, but still in pain.
In the fourth flight of the night, there were six riders and two scores. Cody Cambpell had the second best score of the night with an 88.00 on Uppercut and Chris Shivers scored an 86.75 on Stinger. Kasey Hayes came off of Prosecuter in the quickest time (time clock wise) that I have ever seen. The clock stopped at 0.4 seconds. You have to pretty much start and stop the clock almost at the same time to get that time. In flight five there were seven riders and only one score. McKennon Wimberly scored an 83.00 on Lightning. Mike Lee, the 2004 World Champion, was launched off Rocket I in 2.7 seconds. Guilherme Marchi, the 2008 World Champion, was dumped by Cool Spot in 2.1 seconds. However, a judge threw the reride flag out because a foul had occurred. Marchi would later come back on Cool Spot and came off almost as quick.In flight six we were down to the last four riders. JB Mauney came off Rowdy Houdlum in 2.5 seconds. Valdiron de Oliveira didn't last much longer on his bull, Despicable Me, coming down in just 3.3 seconds. Austin Meier, the number two ranked bull rider in the world, stepped up to the plate and came through with a ride and a good score of 87.00. However, Renato Nunes, the number one rank bull rider in the world, said "what you can do, I can do better". Renato rode his bull, High Alert, for a score of 87.75. He took a hit to the chin when he hit the ground and would later tell us that he could not feel his chin and had a busted lip.
The final standings for the first night of the Memphis event:1) Cody Nance 88.25 2) Cody Campbell 88.00 3/4) Colby Yates 87.75 3/4) Renato Nunes 87.75 5/6) Silvano Alves 87.00 5/6) Austin Meier 87.00 7) Chris Shivers 86.75 8/9) Caleb Sanderson 86.50 8/9) Jordan Hupp 86.50 10) Brendon Clark 85.50 11) Robson Aragao 83.50 12) McKennon Wimberly 83.00 13) Jody Newberry 80.25
After the event there was a concert, but we did not stay for the concert. Due to the concert, there was no riders signing after the event. We made our way to the back area of the arena, behind the chutes and out to the hall behind the pens. There were a number of riders that we spent some time talking to. Cord McCoy, Cody Nance, Travis Sellers, Cody Campbell, Ryan McConnel, Robson Palermo, McKennon Wimberly, Renato Nunes among others. Just having a good time and getting to know the guys from a different perspective.
We made our way to the car and went to dinner with several PBR friends, twiggy and other half (twiggy, got to tell you he is just fun to have around and talk to) and sannpow and spouse. We went to the Iron Skillet next to the restaurant of our hotel. The food was good but the conversation was much better. We did have a PBR judge that sat next to us and talked to him for a few minutes. I have to give kudos to our waitress, April. She was the only waitress and there were a number of tables and she did a great job. She had a smile on her face and was pleasant, even during the stressful time of dealing with a number of tables. I think it was close to 2 am when we left the restaurant. Tammie and I spent a few minutes on the computer. I tried to go to bed, but Tammie had her computer on her lap in bed and was clicking away at the pictures she took at the event. I reminded her that it was nearly 3 in the morning, she reluctantly put away her computer and lights out.
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