Billy’s Back

The most recognized name and face in professional rodeo arrived in Cheyenne early and his back is hurting. Billy Etbauer rides broncs like no other and he’s aged well by staying in great physical condition. But he finished a ride a few days ago by striking a fence and he’s visibly seized up. Etbauer sought some medical assistance from the Justin Sports Medicine team in Cheyenne yesterday along with a consult with Cheyenne Dr. Skip Ross. Billy will do all he can to have his body ready for his first ride at frontier days tomorrow. If you know anything at all about this man who has graced his mid-forties by leading the world standings again, Billy Etbauer will be spurring with everything he has to try and win what has proved to be the most elusive individual championship for him – The Daddy Of ‘em All. Etbauer traveled for many years with his two brothers, Dan and Robert. Dan is working as a pick-up man at Cheyenne Frontier Days this year. There is no rodeo man on this earth who would be happier than Dan will be if he rides alongside his brother to bring him safely down from a gold buckle ride in Cheyenne.

Pouring Down Scores Up

The skies finally broke over the arena yesterday and it was a good gully washer for much of an hour. Mud made for some splashy rides and runs. It’s always great to see that spray sent forward by the steer wrestlers. There were some high marks in bareback riding once the rain came including the two top rides of the competition so far – a pair of 87-point scampers by Bobby Mote of Oregon and newcomer Tyrel Nelson who lives in Cheyenne.

Hawaiian Exhibition

Cheyenne is recognizing the 100th anniversary of the 1908 Daddy when a trio of steer ropers from Hawaii competed in, and won, frontier days. A few “paniolos” – Hawaiian for cowboys – showed their skills in the Cheyenne arena yesterday. They have a very unique way of roping a steer’s head to a rail. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum has a special exhibit open on the whole history of Hawaiian cowboys in Cheyenne. Give it a look if you get the chance.

Friday Highlights

If you are a Wyoming rodeo fan you’ll want to get up early and cheer on world champion steer wrestler Jason Miller tomorrow. He’ll be out for frontier days slack beginning at 7 a.m. It’s free and the Lance Creek, WY dogger would appreciate the cheers. Jason is attending the free pancake breakfast tomorrow to flip jacks and sign autographs. He should be downtown by 8:30. Several hours before that bullfighter Jeremy Sparks is scheduled to be interviewed by a team from “The CBS Early Show.” Pending a last-minute change of events, Jeremy is supposed to make a 4:50 a.m. curtain call for a nationally-televised appearance from Cheyenne Depot Square.

Welsh & Sparks & Cash

Look at the picture closely. Bobby Welsh rides a bull at Cheyenne Frontier Days yesterday. Jeremy Sparks, the bullfighter, fronts the action drawing the bull’s attention and the bull takes notice. What will happen next? Looks to me like Bobby is going to fall off and Sparks is in for a stomping. Nothing could be further from what takes place. Welsh regains his balance and Jeremy does his job making sure Bobby gets the best possible score out of his eight seconds on top. Bobby‘s ride was scored a 78. Why would young men put themselves in such precarious positions? They can. From a young age a parent, mentor, or rodeo hero they saw on television gave them inspiration. And then adrenaline took over. A rodeo song I have on a compilation CD is probably findable on I-Tunes. If you don’t have the ability or desire to go web-hunting here are a couple of stanzas from “Bull Rider” as recorded by Johnny Cash. The song was written by Rodney Crowell who was married for a time to Johnny’s daughter Roseanne. To me, this holds up pretty well and really captures the intensity, drama, and reckless nature of an event that once the chute gate opens, no one can avert their eyes from watching. Frankly, the man in black was actually way before his time (as usual) and did “Bull Rider” circa 1979 in a mostly spoken rap:

Well first you got to want to get off bad enough to want to get on him in the first place.

And you better trust in your Lady Luck and pray to God that she don’t give up on you right now.

Live fast. Die young. Bull Rider.

One hand hold is all you got. It’s you and the bull against the clock and of course the crowd.

And once upon a spinnin’ ton, nothin’ else you ever done can pull this way.

You’re just outside the buckin’ chute, lose a spur you lose a seat and you lose yourself.

By now he’s buckin’ mean and dirty, slingin’ mud and cowboy boots and kickin’ clowns.

No fools. No fun. Bull Rider.

Weathering the Storm

Done a Dirty

Bobby Welsh has the perfect build for a bull rider. He’s compact, close to the ground, and body balanced – above and below the beltline. This season most bulls are having trouble getting Bobby down early. The pride of Gillette holds a spot in the Top Five of all pro rodeo bull riders and has sights firmly set on another visit to the national finals in December. One of the David Bailey string called Gentle Ben was not so much gentle as downright nasty in the frontier days rodeo arena yesterday making a nifty move to toss Welsh a bit before the eight-second buzzer. “He did me a dirty right at the end there,” Welsh said. He’ll be back out today at Cheyenne trying for go-round money (#2) on Mr. Wilson.

Nose Job

Matt Bright went dark for a split second following his 79-point bareback ride yesterday at Cheyenne. A pickup man’s horse kicked Bright in the side of the nose popping it off center like a Mike Tyson roundhouse would have done in that boxer’s heyday. Bright, though battle-scarred, spent the rest of the rodeo displaying his hoof altered and cotton stuffed proboscis. “Cheap plastic surgery,” he remarked.

Asay Update

A Top Ten bull rider who is just coming into his own as one of the world’s best suffered serious injuries in Oregon early this month and initially Kanin Asay said he wanted to get back in the arena by the tour rodeo in Idaho come mid-August. Kanin’s brother Kaleb, who scored nicely in the saddle bronc competition at Cheyenne yesterday, now says Kanin plans to be ready to go by the famed Pendleton, Oregon tilt which starts September 10. I find that decision a wise one considering the extent of Kanin’s injuries and the need for a proper convalescence.

First Weekend Impressions

My first Cheyenne Frontier Days view was from the airport tarmac arriving for a job beginning the day after the 1982 Daddy ended. Talk about your Monday morning “coming down.” A group of people who worked at the radio station that hired me showed up but they weren’t really there. I asked the one who could stand up, although with a definite lean, why everyone looked so tired. “We just had our annual rodeo. It’s quite a party.”

Indeed. The years have led me past the partying aspect that is without question still a major part of the frontier days ambience – mostly for the younger set. I think those of us who’ve stayed a part of the event find a niche and follow it. My job affords me the good fortune to both work and help out at the rodeo without having to take vacation time like so many must, and do, every year. Because helping the media on behalf of Wyoming is one of my chief duties, connecting journalists with cowboys falls within the job description.

We usually find a way to crank out a television feature or two as well. This year it is most likely to focus on bullfighter Jeremy Sparks. We may also acquaint viewers with the bull riding Welsh boys out of Gillette. Tune in for more later in the week.

The “ready” area for rough stock cowboys is where I hang my hat during the rodeo performances. If a press person needs to talk to someone it’s my job to find them. Not always easy since there are only a few “stars” and physical characteristics of this particular brand of cowboy athlete are very similar. But we usually get the job done and the cowboys are almost always happy to chat. One was a little reticent Sunday.

The other rodeo work he and his traveling pards had to do this past weekend made it necessary for Jesse Bail to put two go-rounds into one day yesterday at Cheyenne. He’s in good shape in saddle-bronc riding. He also rode two bulls to scores. However, the tally on the last ride was low (54) and Bail wanted to make the Sunday finals with a good chance to win so he took a re-ride. He was tossed early. His hip is hurting. Whose wouldn’t be? And he is peeved, mostly at himself, because of the number of chute seats he took. All that aside, what I saw was a young man with a truck full of grit. He was actually ready to get back out there and take on that last bull again. “I didn’t know him. I know him now and I want to ride him....right now.” Five rides, two horses and three bulls, in one day at the Daddy and Bail was ready to go again. There’s a cowboy who ought to change his last name.

Back in the Saddle

My humblest of apologies for not being regular in these remarks on rodeo in Wyoming, the western life and a road trip suggestion or two. Rather than offer any excuses let us more forward. I assure you there will be updates to this column every month with the addition of video in some cases. We are sure to have something for you in the video vein over the next couple of weeks as we partake in Cheyenne Frontier Days. Beginning July 19 you can find me in the rough stock riders “ready” area where it’s my honor to connect the cowboys with journalists.

Our office sponsors professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls based primarily on their appearances at the national finals. One exception is Jeremy Sparks – a bullfighter who has been a fixture at frontier days for several years. Jeremy is a captain in the U.S. Air Force having decided to join after 9/11. He is the only full-time military person who is also a card-carrying member of the PRCA. I’ve gotten to know him well and appreciate his bravery in the arena. Jeremy’s had some health issues in recent months. Kidney stone complications put him in the hospital in Cheyenne. He lost weight his frame really could not afford to be without. Every time I see him now I first ask if I can buy him a double cheeseburger and fries.

Jeremy married his college sweetheart last month in Yellowstone National Park and the first week of July saw a dream come true as Sparks joined Sparks fighting bulls at the Cody Stampede. Jeremy decided to become a bullfighter because of the legendary Donny Sparks who has been one of the best at his trade for nearly twenty years. Their work together in Cody was abruptly cut short when Jeremy got stepped on by a bull. The resulting head injury put Jeremy in the Cody hospital overnight. He sustained a concussion and contusions but plans on being ready to go in Cheyenne, Saturday. I still think his relentless gym workouts should be capped off with candy, ice cream and mashed potatoes. But he won’t listen to me.

Jeremy will be joining us at the Wyoming booth this weekend. We’ll be out Friday-Sunday along the rodeo arena fence leading to the main entrance of Frontier Park. Look for the black tent that proclaims: Wyoming, Forever West. We’ve some good freebies including an updated Chris LeDoux Tribute DVD that concludes with the nice ride his son Beau performed at last year’s Daddy. And there is also footage of Beau, following his 81-point ride, dispensing a portion of his Dad’s ashes in the arena Chris once said he felt was his birthplace. We will have a drawing each day for a very special piece of framed art. It is a series of still photos (by our talented pal Rick Carpenter) of Beau LeDoux’s 2007 Cheyenne Frontier Days ride and its aftermath. Please stop by, say howdy, and register to win.

Calgary was good to our Wyoming hands. Chet Johnson of Gillette is trading in $27,000 from Canadian to American currency. The huge saddle bronc horse he drew for the showdown round put up one heck of a fight trying to unseat Chet. Johnson stuck with it to place third in that round after winning Round 10. And world champ steer wrestler Jason Miller of Lance Creek collected some $12K at the Stampede. Chet will ride in the regular afternoon performances of Cheyenne Frontier Days – July 25th & 26th. Those same mornings, Miller seeks to repeat a Cheyenne championship by bulldogging in the slack competition for which there is no charge to watch.

Our team roper, heeler Jhett Johnson from Casper, is now working with Charlie Crawford of Oklahoma on the head. Jhett says they’ve pocketed about ten thousand dollars over past couple of weeks as Johnson makes another run at the national finals. Jhett and Charlie will work this week in Cheyenne – Wednesday and Thursday in the slack competition.

Bull rider Bobby Welsh of Gillette is coming off a big Fourth of July in Cody finishing with the reserve championship in the X-treme Bulls competition. Bobby won the WYO Rodeo in Sheridan last weekend and will ride in Cheyenne July 21st & 22nd.

The barrel racer we have a sponsoring interest and friendship with is Brandie Halls from Carpenter, WY. She is excused from Cheyenne with a vet’s release. We’ll be in touch with Brandie soon to let you know the latest.

Finally, and with no small amount of pleasure, I am happy to report Powell bull rider Kanin Asay is alive and on the road to recovery. The same night Jeremy Sparks was hurt (July 2) in Cody, Kanin was in a big wreck at the Saint Paul, Oregon rodeo. According to eyewitness reports given to Asay (he remembers nothing) Kanin was strung out and then brought down for a head-to-head smash. That sequence was repeated before sending the unconscious rider into a hung-up position alongside the animal. Kanin went to the ground after five or six seconds whereupon the bull stepped on Asay’s stomach. He was flown by helicopter from the arena to a hospital in Portland. Surgeons removed Kanin’s spleen. He sustained fractures to an eye socket and rib. The stomach surgery left a rather lengthy gash from Asay’s sternum to below the belly button. But he is back home and plans to ride again by the tour rodeo in Caldwell, Idaho the latter part of August.

I learned about Kanin from Jeremy Sparks who called me groggily from his hospital bed in Cody. These rodeo folks. Some times you have to wonder where they get their juice. One thing for sure. That fountain of adrenaline, focus, and pure cowboy try only flows one way – up.

Hey Brother Can You Spare $250??

First off, Happy Birthday Wyoming!! The “Equality State” to some will always be “Cowboy State” to me. It’s a place where the ranch folk are talking about the weather at the corner café and you are only a stranger as long as you act like one. In Wyoming, humor is most appreciated in a one-word shrug rather than a page of lofty societal observations.

One fall day a few years back we were shooting video and collecting interviews with a television production crew working near Pavillion on Wyoming Horses Ranch. Character actor Wilford Brimley (now a Wyoming resident) was guest starring. I’ve always enjoyed his work in films. He’d agreed to spend a little time talking on camera to us. I fired out several rather lame questions and ended the queries with a smile asking: “What’s next?” Mr. Brimley wasted not a second in his reply, “Supper.” Now that’s a westerner’s way. The moment brought to mind a “Brimleyism” I overheard many years ago as he was being interviewed upon arrival at the Cheyenne airport for the frontier days rodeo. Brimley had most recently been seen on television as a main character of the show “Our House.” The reporter asked Wilford his opinion of that program. And he was quick to finish the discussion thusly: “Canceled.”

But I digress. What I wanted to talk about is the price of fuel. We’ve been to rodeos in Casper, Greeley and Cody so far this summer season. The overriding concern of contestants is how best to “buddy up” so that more people are paying at the pump. As if there aren’t enough issues affecting our sport of rodeo – animal rightists, PRCA inner turmoil, lagging talent pools (except for the bulls) – now it’s next to impossible for the “average” Joe or Mary to get down the road, let alone cover the entry fees. My guess is fewer will be able to make a run at their dreams because they just can’t afford it. I’ve spent some time with team ropers and steer wrestlers the last couple of weeks and to a person they “hate” the diesel pump price but find adding more men to the mix a necessary move to make due. Splitting a thousand dollars a month four ways is both palatable and prudent – even if the chorus of snoring adds another tenor or bass to the midnight choir.

I am not pessimistic about the future. While it is probably true that the majority of rodeo cowboys don’t like change much, they are uncannily able to adjust their ways – and travel schedules – when it’s a matter of survival. Rodeo will survive. What comes out at the other end may not be a system that gives just about anyone, from anywhere, a chance at a gold buckle. But we’ll still see amazing feats performed by athletes and animals locked in a very real struggle to maintain a way of life.

Rodeo isn’t for everyone. I know that. To those who would deny its place in the world of competitive sports I would invite you to watch Jason Miller throw down a steer in the mud at Cheyenne. Take the time to admire the athleticism of Kelly Timberman on a good bareback horse. Follow the loop of team roper Jhett Johnson picking up a steer’s back legs. Gasp at the angles and air underneath the buck of Miss Congeniality. Or perhaps it would behoove us to root on the young ones make a run at riding sheep in Lusk or Dubois, or brave a barrel race pattern in Pine Bluffs. Those are the times when you smile and say to yourself, or someone within earshot, “We ain’t dead yet.” But take care Wilford isn’t next to you to close with: “Life-support.”