The longest day
Iron Cowboy will be a grueling test of endurance
ARLINGTON, Texas (February 9, 2010) - The winner of the upcoming Iron Cowboy Invitational will take home over a quarter-million dollars.
Getting there won’t be easy. But according to last weekend’s event winner Austin Meier, the approach should be.
“Shoot, just keep your hand closed,” he said, “a leg on each side and your butt in the middle. Just stay focused on one bull at a time, and do your job.”
“It’s going to take everything you (have) inside,” Ryan McConnel said. “There can’t be one piece of you missing (to) get this won.”
While many riders have gotten on three, sometimes four bulls in one night because of re-ride options, no one has ever attempted four bulls of this caliber in one night. In fact, most riders said they’ve only attempted up to four bulls in a practice pen, with a handful saying that they might have gotten on 10 to 12 over the course of an entire day.
But Renato Nunes and Cody Nance topped all those who were asked. When Nunes was 18 years old, he rode 20 practice bulls in Brazil, and later that same day rode again in an event. Nance rode 24 at a bull sale a few years back.
Everyone seems to agree that in order to be successful in this type of format, the winner will have to be at his best both mentally and physically.
“It’s a stamina event,” said Dustin Elliott. “Guys are going to get sore and everything, but you shouldn’t be sore that night. Maybe the next day you’ll be feeling it, but that night, if you win it, $260,000 will ease a lot of pain.”
Depending on where in the bracket they qualified – the Top 8 riders from last year receive a bye in the opening round, with the remaining 16 going head-to-head from the beginning – they will have to ride either four or five bulls, the likes of Code Blue, Voodoo Child and Big Tex. Other top-ranked bulls include Bones, Chicken on a Chain, Major Payne, RFD-TV, Uncle Buck, Crosswired, Black Pearl and Spit Fire.
In each of the five rounds, two riders are matched up in a single-elimination competition, which is the first of its kind in professional bull riding.
“I think it’s awesome,” McConnel said. “I think it’s giving everybody a chance to go head-to-head and maybe more incentive to go try to win – try to beat a competitor instead of just trying to beat the bull.”
The initial bracket was announced a week ago after the final 16 riders qualified based on the world standings following the Tampa Invitational. In case of any unforeseen injuries that might occur, the bracket will be finalized on Sunday evening at the conclusion of this weekend’s Express Classic.
Currently there are four riders on the injury report who have qualified for the event – Kody Lostroh, Guilherme Marchi, Robson Palermo and Dustin Elliott.
Palermo and Elliott are expected to return to competition this weekend in Oklahoma City, while the past two World Champions – Lostroh and Marchi – are slated to return in Arlington for the Iron Cowboy.
Wiley Petersen, who tore his left ACL this past weekend, is expected to be officially added to the injury report. At this time, he is the only qualifier who will not compete at Cowboys Stadium.
In addition to the $260,000 paid out to the winner, there will be $40,000 to the second-place finisher, and an additional $25,000 paid to the average winner over the last four rounds.
Like a regular BFTS event, each round will also award bonus points for the top scores.
For the opening round, the Top 8 qualifiers, each of whom receive a bye, will be awarded bonus points in increments of 2 ranging from 100 points for Lostroh to 86 points for Zach Brown.
The awarding of bonus points for each round, along with a payout for the average winner will assure fans that the second rider out in each matchup will be working just as hard to make the whistle, whether or not his competitor bucks off short of the whistle.
“Personally, in the over 15 years that I’ve been here, it will by far be the biggest event in the history of this sport,” said Randy Bernard, the outgoing CEO of the PBR, “and it will be a format that will lend itself so well to our sport that possibly, in five years, half our tour could be like this.”
NEWS and NOTES
Petersen optimistic: Three days after tearing his left ACL, Wiley Petersen said his knee is swollen and stiff but “is not real painful.” The Idaho native had an MRI taken Monday evening and will learn the extent of his injury in the next few days.
He hopes to hear from a local doctor later today or first thing Wednesday, but it could take until Thursday before he consults with Dr. Tandy Freeman.
He remains “optimistic” that if the meniscus ligament is not torn, he won’t need surgery, and could return to competition with a knee brace after three to six weeks of rehab. If the meniscus is torn and the knee is unstable, surgery would keep him out for the next four to five months.
In a phone conversation earlier today, Petersen said the knee injury he suffered in 2004 “was a lot worse” than his current injury.
PBR NOW on RFD-TV: Hosted by J.W. Hart and Justin McBride, “PBR NOW” is a weekly live one-hour TV series that airs every Thursday on RFD-TV at 10 p.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to call in with questions at 866-547-9696, or email them to pbr@rfdtv.com.
Event Center: Follow all the action from Oklahoma City, by logging on to www.pbr.com and entering the “Event Center,” which is accessible from the tab located at the top of the main Web page. The Event Center provides live scoring, live blogging and event-related Podcasts and interviews.
—by Keith Ryan Cartwright
-
“I think it’s awesome,” McConnel said. “I think it’s giving everybody a chance to go head-to-head and maybe more incentive to go try to win – try to beat a competitor instead of just trying to beat the bull.”
Interesting stmt. from one of my favorite cowboys. Not so sure I agree with him, though. First, the event isn't giving "everybody" a chance to go head to head. Second, even though the cowboy has to beat the bull each time, to say that they're not trying to beat one another as competitors sort of seems, hmmmmmmm, how shall I say, sort of not so to me. I sort of see them trying to beat the bulls and each other in the rankings, but maybe that's a fan's view not the riders' views.
Also, I'm sort of with Chad Berger--I'm concerned about the bulls bucking back to back, esp. in light of Apollo's fatal injury, not to mention the many rider injuries so early this year.
Bullrider724 - if as you say, the PBR is trying to sort of "set up" the top riders so that others can't catch them--well--doing such could backfire, if more top riders get hurt at the Iron Cowboy event, so that's why I'm never in favor of conspiracy theories, because the proverbial stars have to align just right, you know? -
Bullrider724
February 12, 2010What the PBR has done with this event changes how I feel about the entire sport. Awarding points to the riders who are "invited" to this event when NOT EVERY SINGLE TOP 40 RIDER WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE??? That is rediculous. Who is running that show in Pueblo. Get a grip. These cowboys work hard to work their way up in the rankings. So, to reward the guys who didn't make the cut for the "invitational," you're going to forget about them for a weekend and give points to all the guys who are just a few points ahead of them?
I have been a PBR fan since 1997. I have been to several events, and have watched almost every event. And what I have seen the PBR grow into over the last 3-4 years is a political mess. I never once thought that I would see the day when the PBR would only invite 24 guys to an event, give them points, and forget about the other 16-25 riders who aren't invited. How are they supposed to gain points this next weekend guys? What you are doing is practically disqualifying them from an event. All this could have been avoided if you would have made this a MONEY ONLY event and did not award points at this event. Now, instead of gaining a lot of fans (which was your main reason for putting this event together), you have ticked a lot of people off. Like I said, its rediculous.
You want to know what it looks to me from the outside. It looks to me like the PBR is trying to set up the Top 10 for the rest of the season. They want to make it so hard for the rest of the guys in the top 40 to catch these guys.....so they can have a "tight race" at the end of the season for publicity. If you weren't, you would have made this a money only event.
SHAME ON YOU PBR. I have to say, this is the first decision you have ever made in my 13 years as a fan that I have been extremely disappointed in. -
Rebelnbobbi
February 12, 2010This format would actually be a good thing for the World competition and put a rider from each country in each bracket and if the rider advances then the country he is from gets the points till a championship country is crowned. That way no extra points or even dollars towards being able to compete in the Finals in Vegas are awarded to anyone. I did notice now I am aware that the brackets are based on where the cowboy finished last year or is in the standings at end of Jan this year, but one bracket has 3 Brazilian riders and 2 of the brackets have none. That is what gave me the idea to use it in the competition between the US, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and Australia. Would appreciate feedback on my idea. Thank you. -
moneychops
February 12, 2010So if Wiley is officially out of the Iron Cowboy Invitational, who will take his slot on the
bracket? -
moneychops
February 12, 2010So if Wiley is officially out of the Iron Cowboy Invitational, who will take his slot on the
bracket? -
steve99
February 11, 2010This is one of the most exciting events the PBR could have created. Although there is a big payout for someone, I'll bet that the bullriders lucky enough to be at the event are riding for pride and bragging rights. Money is nice--but to be An Iron Cowboy would be really special. These elite riders love what they do--as a fan, this will be awesome.
This is something, if it is hugely accepted and attended that might be able to be repeated 3 or 4 times a year around the country. In a sense, it's like the PBR allstar game.
Good luck to all the riders. -
Shawnna
February 11, 2010mblack1073....I could not have said it better myself, perfectly stated!!! -
Shawnna
February 11, 2010This has to be the most exciting event the PBR has ever held! I am looking forward to it! It can't get here soon enough!! -
cnay2
February 11, 2010It is the Iron Cowboy "Invitational". I think that if the cowboys
thought that this was a bad deal they wouldnt be there, but they are there. Yeah it sucks
that only 2-3 are going to get the money, but if they didnt want to come I'm !@#uming
that they had the oppurtunity to say no. Please correct me if I'm wrong. -
BullRidingIsArt
February 10, 2010I second everything mblack0101 said. You stated it like it really is. Wow!
If you read this article the riders seem very excited for this once in a life time event. It will be interesting to see if the cowboys or bulls win this event. I always cheer more for the riders but it may be stacked against the riders this time. We'll see. All in all, this will be an amazing opportunity for the rider at the top of his game on this given day.
Thanks for removing the trash pbrfan0101 posted. I agree ban this person. -
dsw
February 10, 2010I agree with Joan. There was NO NEED for the comment by pbrfan0101. Personal life is just that and no one business. Totally uncalled for and totally tacky. -
alamo
February 10, 2010pbrfan0101 needs to be blocked from ever posting on this site again. -
brittany
February 10, 2010will Luke Snyder lose his event thing this is a PBR event and he didnt make it in -
Joan Simpson
February 10, 2010pbrfan0101, The remark you made is very unnecessary. Personal remarks about any bull rider is nobodies business. -
Joan Simpson
February 10, 2010mblack1073, from what I can gather from your blog, you are right.
I think the blogging fans do more whining and griping than any of the bull riders. I have never heard the bull riders complain. -
mblack1073
February 10, 2010I do find this all so funny and just had to make a comment. First off bullriders don't sit around and whine only a few get money. News flash, basically that has been their way off life for years as children growing they go to an event, hello only a few holes are paid. So what is the gripping baout. True Bull riders enter the event believing they have a chance to win or they just don't go, hence the purpose of call in. Yes, just like in all sports a some rodeos or bull rides politics play a roll you aren't going to change that, I have had floors full of bull riders sleeping and hanging out and NEVER did they sit around and whine. They are busy sporting each other, visulizing the rides what they did wrong or right. They aren't sitting around saying he does so and so or he labels hisself this way or that. They care about the bull and sport. Just watch one get hurt they have no labels!!! Cowboy, punk whatever so stop judging stuff you have no idea about. Just like on any street in this counrty you have people walking by with lots of interests, these guys grow up in many different homes and ares of the world so of course they are going to view themselves differntly. What makes you a cowboy isn't raising a cow!
Frankly anything anyone can do to get the sport out there will help all. Go to a PRCA most don't have many people in the seats so if Ty and Jewel going out brings attention it does it for all.
I pray the event in Dallas goes great and brings new fans. We are praying for all the riders!!! People need to chill out and now the PBR has the best interest at heart and wants to make it where a guy can make a living for his family which always trickles down to all. -
alamo
February 10, 2010homer, Zack Brown earned the right to be there over the course of the entire year last year as he was #2-#8 in the standing during the entire year. He is coming back after an injury and I think your comment that he is having a terrible year is premature since it is so early in the season this year. -
bookdragon3
February 10, 2010If I remember correctly, wasn't Table Mountain (Fresno) a winner-take-all event a couple of
years ago when Brisco won it? -
webpbr
February 9, 2010One last point, In the Challenger Finals, Valdiron, Ryan M and Jordon Hupp rode three out of four bulls, all finished in the top 10 and none of them made any money for that effort. Look it up. -
webpbr
February 9, 2010By the way, I am not talking about the $1M bonus to the World Champ. What I am talking about is events like this. Only 2 guys will win money (possible 3). You can ride two bulls or even three and still make $0. As people have said, this is the most dangerous sport on earth. You risk your life, do your job, ride bulls, and still might not make a dime. Also, why not just make this a special event, like the World Cup, and let the money count towards the finals, but not the points? They can do it for the World Cup, why not this? -
webpbr
February 9, 2010donaldrr18 - All I can say is that from conversations with some of the riders, including riders that will be in the special event, they would rather see the money more evenly divided than have all the money pushed to the top. I work with a company that if you sell a certain amount of business, you go on all expense paid NICE trips. This is for the top 5%. I have been on every trip this company has had. With that said, I still have talked to top management about lowering the bar to quilify and lowering the exotic locations, so others that still make a very good living can go. Management to this day will not change it. I am NOT for everybody getting trophys, just taking the money and spreading it more down the line. Sorry to disapoint you, there are some of us that do well in live and would like to see some things spread to those that do well also, just not as good.
Bullrider724 - Yes points will count towards the title chase and current standings. -
Bullrider724
February 9, 2010Are points toward the World Title and current standings being awarded at this event? -
ilikepie
February 9, 2010more wise advice from austin! shoot, that is too good.."keep your hand closed, a leg on each side and your butt in the middle"
wow nance- 24 bulls in 1 day
true words dustin-the cash you could win would get you some painkillers!
awww, no wiley:( GGGGRRRR
wonder how stormy's doing
overall, can't wait until the 20th!!!!!! -
donaldrr18
February 9, 2010WebPBR, I hate to disappoint you but it always is going to be that way. Any one of the top 40 is capable of winning an event, but very, very few can win the world. Three men have won almost half the world titles. If Adriano had not broken his leg late in the season and could not go to the finals, three men would have more than half. The men who will not be allowed to compete, do not regularly ride their short go bulls. These men are professional athletes, not little league baseball players. Everyone who shows up doesn't get a trophy. All you have to do to ride for the big money is cover your bulls. -
webpbr
February 9, 2010homer299 - You wrote: "If it was going to be based on last year’s results, that should have been announced last year so that the riders knew how important it was to finish in the top 8. If it was going to be based on this year’s standings, that should have been announced at the beginning of the season so that the riders could plan for it and make decisions/trade-offs based on that."
The riders did know how this was going to be set up. This is a quote from the press release of this announcement on 9/25/09: "A total of twenty-four riders will qualify to ride at Cowboys Stadium – eight riders will qualify based off of the 2009 World Finals standings after Las Vegas and will receive a bye in the first round; fourteen additional riders will qualify based off of the 2009 BFTS standings as of January 31; and the PBR Competition Board will award exemptions to two riders."
donaldrr18 - This isn't the PRCA, it is the PBR. The PBR was formed because the bull riders did not believe they had a say in what was going on in their sport and the PBR was formed by bull riders for bull riders. They seem to have lost some of that original focus the last several years. The money is bigger, much bigger, but only for the top few. Get out of the top 10 riders and the money earned is much smaller. The rich get richer and the poor, well ... they stay poor. This concept is the same, one guy wins $260K, one guy $40K, and one guy $25K. The guy that wins the 25K could be the same guy that won the other money. So, 24 guys competing, instead of 40 and possibly only 2 guys winning money. Yep, seems fair.
txpbrgal - As you know, we will be there also. I think that there "could" be some good rides in round 1 and 2. However, I think there WILL be mostly buckoffs in rounds 3,4,5. Kind of sad to think that the "winner" could win $260K and ride no bulls or one or two. -
txpbrgal
February 9, 2010Just another note, I don't mind the rider lineup, the guys riding good should get the chance and unless it becomes a tour feature I think it is fine. Nothing like motivation to get them riding. -
txpbrgal
February 9, 2010Thanks, I too hope it works out. It should be a good time, they always are just the new concept and bull power will be different. -
homer299
February 9, 2010txpbrgal: Thanks for the clarification. I have concerns too, but I hope this works out and you have a good time at the event. -
txpbrgal
February 9, 2010homer, i don't think the concept is going to be a failure, I think the bulls that they have selected will POSSIBLY make it a failure. It is just a concern. These are great bulls and I love to watch them, just seems the guys have been given a really tough set of bulls that might make this end up really boring, just my opinion -
homer299
February 9, 2010donaldrr18: I agree with you in principle that there is nothing wrong with the top riders getting invited to an invitational. The problem I have is with how the PBR structured this particular invitational, and how they are selectively deciding who the “top” riders are.
We are in the 2010 season yet the top of the bracket is seeded based on last year's results...and the bottom of the bracket is based on this year's standings. If it was going to be based on last year’s results, that should have been announced last year so that the riders knew how important it was to finish in the top 8. If it was going to be based on this year’s standings, that should have been announced at the beginning of the season so that the riders could plan for it and make decisions/trade-offs based on that.
The way it is structured, it looks contrived. I.E. It looks like they sat down and said...Ok, we want JB, Kody and Marchi to be top seeds...how can we structure this so that the are the top seeds regardless of their standings when the event comes around. Then as an afterthought, they filled the bottom of the bracket based on this year's standings. Then, they didn't even announce until a few weeks ago that this was a 2010 BFTS event.
To me, this is a 2010 event, thus should be based on 2010 standings. Go ahead and limit it to 24 if you want to, but the guys who are at their best right now should be invited. For example, Zack Brown is having a terrible year right now, yet he is being invited instead of other guys who are actually in the top 24 in the standings right now.
If you want to make it an invitational with no REAL valid criteria that is relevant to the 2010 competitive landscape, then make it an exhibition event with no 2010 points awarded. -
donaldrr18
February 9, 2010I may the only one who feels like this, but I am tired of hearing how "unfair" it is that all 40 riders can't compete in the up coming event in Dallas. There aare a lot of P.R.C.A. show that only allow the top contestants to enter and money won counts toward a NFR trip. Bottem line, do your job and cover your stock and you get to enjoy some perks. -
homer299
February 9, 2010txpbrgal: I can understand being unsure and leery of the format prior to the event. But to judge it as a failure before it even happens is pretty extreme don't you think?
I have the same questions/concerns as everyone else, but I'm going to suspend my judgement of the failure/success until after the event. If this bracket concept is as exciting as the NCAA wrestling championship bracket, or the olympic brackets, it could knock your socks off if you keep an open mind. -
Joan Simpson
February 9, 2010txpbrgal, you are so right. They may have picked the short round bulls for the bull riders to ride and may have made a big mistake by most of the bull riders being bucked off. The scores will add up to who stayed on a longer time and not have many actual rides. -
txpbrgal
February 9, 2010I hope the PBR is reading the unfavorable comments here and understands that we are "putting up with this" as a one time special event. If Bernard thinks it should be something that would happen regularly on the BFT then it might be time for him to go. Maybe the next CEO won't feel the same way. I am going to this but think it won't be that good because it is basically short round bulls, I want to see good bulls but I also want to see rides and not sure that we will see that many. I think they went to grandstanding on their bull choices. -
Shannon K
February 9, 2010homer299: That's what I thought -- thanks for confirming. It does seem odd, though, that a rider could conceivably get (big) scores on 4 bulls and yet lose to another rider who did not get a single score all afternoon. -
TWTX
February 9, 2010One other thing, the comment by Randy Bernard that
"in five years, half our tour could be like this.”
I sure hope that does not happen. I like this format as a 'special event" only, not as a
BFTS regular event or a regular season event, especially not half of the tour. I guess
then it would be cut down to a 24 rider tour!!! -
TWTX
February 9, 2010ShannonK - I too am somewhat perplexed about this system. I understand why they are giving
points to the first round bys because they have no way of earning any points. The other
thing I am confused about is: are there points given for the score given? It only mentions
round points?
As far as the winner it would be whoever rides the last bull, Code Blue, the best
regardless of what they did in the other rounds. Someone could actually buck off all
their bulls and move ahead because they stayed on longer and go up against someone in the
last round that rode all their bulls and if the one that bucked off all rides better in that last
round, they will win the $260,000.. Seems a little odd, I know, but that is the bracket
system.
And I do agree as I have stated before that this is totally unfair to the other riders in the
top 40 that are not allowed to compete in this event. -
Rebelnbobbi
February 9, 2010I agree with Shannon K points towards the World Title should not be awarded at an event where not all the competitors are allowed to compete. Also this will solidify the top 30 riders on tour that they will not face the next cut by even competing in the Iron Man competition. Totally unfair to those just trying to stay on tour. It should be strictly a money event or open it up to all cowboys on tour. -
homer299
February 9, 2010Shannon: To give you another example, it's possible that the winner never has a qualified ride all day. As long as he stayed on longer than the guy he was matched up with in each round, he could win. -
homer299
February 9, 2010Shannon: That's a good question. I think they are talking about BFTS season points when they refere to receiving 100 points for a buy. Because, in a bracket format total points from ride scores do not determin the winner. The navigation thru the bracket determines the winner. You get to the top of the bracket by winning your matchups, not by the absolute value of your total scores.
Whoever makes it to the final round and beats their opponent in that matchup wins...regardless of their total score on bulls for the day. For example, it's conceivable that the winner of the final matchup could have less total points on 4 bulls that the person that they beat in that match up, but but they still win. -
Shannon K
February 9, 2010Thanks for the information on Wiley's knee! Please keep us updated!
I'm confused by this sentence: "For the opening round, the Top 8 qualifiers, each of whom receive a bye, will be awarded bonus points in increments of 2 ranging from 100 points for Lostroh to 86 points for Zach Brown." Let's say for example that Renato, who is not seeded, rides his first four bulls for 90 points each and Code Blue for 95, so he has a points total of 90*4 + 95*1 = 455 points. Let's also say that Kody rides his first three bulls for 90 points each and Code Blue for 86 (maybe he's out of position), so his points total is 100 + 90*3 + 86*1 = 456. Who wins the $260,000?
Plus, wasn't there a lot of talk at the end of last year how the World Title could come down not to a single ride but to a good or bad *score* on a single ride? Yet now the top 8 from last year are getting free points toward this year's World Title race. If we end up with a close race again this year, it's possible that the difference between #1 and #2 in the world could be the bonus points that were handed out at this event *based on the rider's performance in 2009*. I really hope it doesn't come down to that, as that seems really unfair!
Login to add your comment!
Login to Post your comment
Guidelines: Comments should be within the standards established for the PBR community. Failure to abide by these standards may result in the deletion of comments and suspension of posting privileges. Please keep your comments relevant and courteous, and please refrain from posting any personal information.
When logging in you will be using your TeamPBR login Information. If you are not a member of
TeamPBR you can join for free at www.teampbr.com
Dont have a TeamPBR login? By going to www.teampbr.com you can find out more of the benefits for joining TeamPBR!
There are memberships for every one from the Toughest Membership to the Free Membership TeamPBR has you covered. Find out which membership fits you today!
About PBR
Sponsors
PBR 101
International
Contact the PBR
For all inquiries about PBR Tickets
For all inquiries about the fan club.
Inquiries about general publicity requests, media credentials, or interviews.
Comments, questions, or help with the pbrnow.com.
View a list of contact options for the PBR.
February 13, 2010