LAS VEGAS – There are more than 800 of the most talented bulls in the world staying at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas this week, with the 2021 PBR World Finals getting underway on Wednesday night at T-Mobile Arena and a series of ABBI competitions taking place at the South Point.
It is truly a prestigious honor to have a bull bucking in Las Vegas this week, but there is certainly a difference between a bull who bucks at the World Finals vs. a bull who goes on to win a World Championship.
“There is a level reserved for greatness, and that is what the Brand of Honor is all about,” two-time World Champion Justin McBride said during the 2021 Heroes & Legends Celebration Tuesday night at the Grand Ballroom of the South Point.
“That is what Asteroid exemplified: greatness. It didn’t matter if you hauled him across the country or if it was back-to-back outs. Whatever the situation was, he was always great.”
The 2012 World Champion Bull posted some of the most eye-popping stats in the history of the sport.
In 2012, Asteroid went an astounding 17-1 with an average bull score of 46.31 points per out. The 17 buckoffs on the premier series is the most by a PBR World Champion Bull during his championship season.
“They all have a lot of ability, but there is something special about the great ones, and it is really hard to put your finger on it,” McBride said. “If it was a bull rider, we would say they have a lot of heart, and I think that is what Asteroid had. A lot of heart. He wasn’t the biggest bull out there, but there were days I know he had to be the strongest bull by the things he did.”
Asteroid was born on March 1, 2007, and would make his PBR premier series debut under the tutelage of Circle T Ranch & Rodeo (Howard & Jeff Talley) and Gene Melton four years later. The Talleys retired Asteroid in 2015 before Chad Berger acquired the bull a year later and unretired him for a year and a half.
Asteroid went 67-4 in his premier series career. His record included a streak of 30 consecutive buckoffs on the premier series, and he was marked a career-best 47.5 points on four occasions.
Asteroid went toe-to-toe with three-time World Champion Bushwacker – the 2016 Brand of Honor recipient – challenging him for the world title in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Asteroid would finish second in both 2011 and 2013. If not for Bushwacker, there is a belief that Asteroid could have been one of a handful of bulls with multiple world titles.
“This bull went for years and he got rode five times total,” Berger said. “The last time, he was 10 years old. I don’t know any bull more deserving. He went toe-to-toe with Bushwacker for years, and one year it looked like he was going to win it, and he hipped himself with Cord McCoy and it cost him a world title.
“That would be like going 12 rounds with Rocky Marciano and losing by a split decision.”
McBride said competing against Bushwacker was similar to bull riders trying to dethrone the legendary Jim Sharp.
“Asteroid came along in an era of bucking bulls, to me, would have been like coming around when Jim Sharp was at his best,” McBride said. “Because Asteroid was in the same era as Bushwacker, and he still managed to win a world title and was close to winning several other ones.
“That speaks to how tough that little bull was, how gritty he was and how much heart he had.”
The best ride ever recorded on Asteroid belongs to three-time World Champion J.B. Mauney, who conquered the legendary bovine for 93.5 points in 2012.
“One of the best rides I have ever seen in the PBR, and I think it was a little bit underrated, was J.B. Mauney on Asteroid,” McBride said. “That day in San Antonio, I think J.B. was probably the only guy who could have ridden that bull. He was around to the left, and he was really, really steep. There are pictures of it, and their backs are touching.
“J.B. was 93.5, and I will never be a judge, but I think it could have been more. It was really a great ride. It was two great champions going at it.”
Berger never took it for granted that he could unretire Asteroid and haul him for another season and a half, and he wished Howard Talley could have been on the stage with him Tuesday night.
“I got to be good friends with Howard, and I just would give anything if Howard was up here talking because I get a little nervous,” Berger said. “I would give anything for Howard to come get this award tonight. This bull was so phenomenal. I had him, and he was still great when I got him.”
Jeff Talley was originally going to accept the Brand of Honor alongside Berger, but he could not attend the evening.
Talley, though, did provide a statement that was read on stage.
“First, I want to thank the PBR for having a platform for ranches like ours,” Talley said. “To showcase the talent that these bulls have. Howard and Shirley (Talley) started from a hometown arena where I was bulldogging and a mother that wanted a bucking bull that turned into Circle T Ranch and a highly sought-after string of bucking bulls. Howard was never satisfied with being second-best. He strived to be at the top of whatever game he played.
“Asteroid was the best. He was the one in the arena. Circle T had a handful of standouts, but none like the little brindle branded 781. It is an honor for Asteroid and for Howard and Shirley Talley. A crossing of an animal with a huge talent and a ranch that would spare nothing to showcase his talents. Thank you to everyone involved in this and for my small part. I got to carry out a man’s dream, and for that, I am thankful.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Christopher Thompson/Bull Stock Media
