Defending champ hopes to add to his gold buckles by repeating at the NFSR
GUTHRIE, Okla. – Trevor Brazile is defined by many things, and most of them are gold.
In all, the Decatur, Texas, cowboy owns 16 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association gold buckles, nine of which are the most coveted in the sport of rodeo, World Champion All-Around Cowboy. But it’s the other titles that have established Brazile as likely the greatest timed-event contestant in the sport’s history – a team roping-heading championship, three tie-down roping titles and three steer roping championships.
In fact, he is the reigning World Champion Steer Roper, and he will look to defend his title during the 2012 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, presented by National Saddlery set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, and Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla. He’ll test his talent against the other top 15 ropers in the game, just as he has done every year since 1997 when he first qualified for the season-ending championship.
That statistic is just as telling as any other in helping define Brazile’s greatness because 2012 marks his 16th straight year to finish among the world’s best professional steer ropers. Overall, he’s qualified for ProRodeo’s World Championships’ 38 times – in addition to steer roping, he has qualified in tie-down roping (13 times) and in team roping (nine times).
He joins Dale Smith as only the second man in the sport’s history to have qualified for the National Finals in all four roping disciplines – Brazile’s first team roping qualification came in 1998 as a heeler; his subsequent eight trips to Las Vegas have been in heading.
Even more telling is that Brazile will enter the early November competition at the Lazy E with a giant target on his back.
“When you’re talking about Trevor, I think he’s just that talented; I think he works hard at it,” said Rocky Patterson, a two-time World Champion from Pratt, Kan.
Patterson knows of what he speaks. Not only does he own two gold buckles, Patterson has secured his 18th qualification to the Clem McSpadden NFSR in 19 years. He is second in the world standings and knows what it takes to walk away a champion. On top of that, Patterson is well within range to walk away from the Lazy E with his third title.
Cody Lee of Gatesville, Texas, leads the world standings race and is heading to the finals for the seventh time in his career. Brazile is the No. 3 roper heading into the final four weeks of the regular season, which concludes the final day of September; there still is time for the “bubble boys” to finish in the top 15 in the world standings to play for the biggest pay in the sport.
“It’s like any other event, where if you want to win the world title, you have to have a good finals event,” Brazile said. “It’s going to be close enough by that time that it will be about anyone’s to win.”
A year ago, it was a close race. In fact, it came down to the final run on the final day of the 2011 Clem McSpadden to finally decide the world champion.
“It just made it that much sweeter,” Brazile said. “There are things you remember, and I’ll remember that run because of that race, whereas you don’t remember it when it doesn’t come down to it. When your heart’s not that heavy on your last one, it doesn’t stick with you as long.”
It looks like 2012 will repeat as far as a down-to-the-wire finish. Will it be Brazile winning a fourth gold buckle or Patterson winning a third, or will Lee secure his first world title in his career? Whoever claims the top spot will have earned it, just as a cowboy should.
“There’s a lot of tradition in steer roping,” Brazile said. “It’s the first event, period. It’s one of the earliest cowboy sports. That tradition means a lot to me, plus it’s just a cowboy event.”
As in years past and just like the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the event will consist of 10 go-rounds to determine the PRCA World Champion and the final 2012 PRCA Steer Roping World Standings. On Friday night, Nov. 2, Rounds 1 through 5 will take place – that means 75 runs in one night. Then on Saturday night, Nov. 3, Rounds 6 through 10 – and another 75 runs – will determine who walks out of the Lazy E Arena with the PRCA World Championship gold buckle and saddle.
The Lazy E Arena was built to host the NFSR in 1984 by E.K. Gaylord II. In 2009, the Oklahoma state Legislature unanimously passed a resolution to change the name of the event to honor the late Clem McSpadden, who served for many years in the Oklahoma Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives while also building a reputation as one of the best announcers in rodeo history. He worked the steer roping finals a record 27 times. McSpadden was also known as the “Voice of the Lazy E.”
Steer roping fans will enjoy all of the activities planned for the performances and in addition, the Senior National Finals Steer Roping will take place during the day at the Lazy E Arena on Nov. 2-3. VIP ticket prices for each performance of the NFSR are $37 … Box seats $30 and general admission $20 pre-show. Children 12 and under are free in general admission. Group discounts are also available … Call (800) 595-RIDE for complete details. A portion of the proceeds from the 2012 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping will again be donated to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the Clem McSpadden Endowed Chair at Oklahoma State University. The Lazy E is proud to support these institutions for Western preservation.
Tickets will be on sale Sept. 24 at www.lazye.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000 or by calling the Lazy E directly at (800) 595-RIDE. Call early for the best seats possible for this world championship. A portion of the proceeds from the 2012 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping will be donated to the National Cowboy and western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the Clem McSpadden Endowed Chair at Oklahoma State University. The Lazy E is proud to support these institutions for Western preservation.
The 2012 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping is presented by National Saddlery, with support from Wrangler, American Farmers & Ranchers Insurance, Boyd Gaming, Montana Silversmiths, the American Quarter Horse Association, Justin Boots, Priefert Ranch & Rodeo Equipment, Ram Rodeo, John Vance Auto Group, Pendleton Whisky, Purina Mills, Kyler Cattle Company, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, The Oklahoman, One Stop Copy Shop, the Fairfield Inn & Suites-Edmond, Best Western-Edmond, and the Comfort Suites-Edmond.
The Clem McSpadden NFSR is a Lazy E Production. For more information on the NFSR or other Lazy E events, contact the Lazy E Arena, 9600 Lazy E Drive, Guthrie, OK 73044, (405) 282-RIDE, (800) 595-RIDE or visit www.lazye.com.