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.