GUTHRIE, Okla. – When the idea of Bullnanza came about in the late 1980s, it was a way to get the best bull riders together on one stage and showcase their talents. One of the primary organizers was an Oklahoma world champion named Lane Frost, who served as the contestant director for that first event[...]

Smidt, Waguespack, Thurston add to their world-title collections LAS VEGAS – Caleb Smidt can be quiet and unassuming, preferring to stay in the shadows until he’s called to action. Much like a special forces’ sniper, his shots are deadly. The proof shines in gold four times over. Just weeks ago, he secured his fourth National[...]

LAS VEGAS – There were moments during the National Finals Rodeo where bareback rider Tanner Aus was just shaking his head. He had trouble matching his bronc in the third round, then had more trouble the next night when his left foot slipped below the animal’s shoulder on the first jump out of the chute.[...]

LAS VEGAS – Three-time world champion Tim O’Connell was standing at the South Point Hotel and Casino awaiting his time to go on stage and receive his ninth-round go-round buckle. His phone indicated a message, one that revealed the 10th-round draw for bareback riders. He peaked down, scrolled for a second and saw he’d been[...]

LAS VEGAS – J.D. Struxness just finished a rough and rugged 10 days at the National Finals Rodeo, but his work isn’t done. “There’s no time off,” said Struxness, originally from Milan, Minnesota, now living in Perrin, Texas, with his fiancé, Jayden, and their daughters, Everlee and Lilly. “There are some (Texas) Circuit rodeos I[...]

LAS VEGAS – Cole Franks has spent the last two ProRodeo seasons traveling with three-time world champion bareback rider Tim O’Connell and Jess Pope, who clinched his first gold buckle this season. “I’ve just got to complete the trifecta and have all of us in the rig wearing gold buckles,” said Franks, 21, of Clarendon,[...]

LAS VEGAS – Before the celebratory beer could flow, Jess Pope’s tears displayed just what it means to be named a world champion. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid,” said Pope, who won his third straight National Finals Rodeo average championship and dominated the 10 days of competition in Las[...]

LAS VEGAS – Everything about Tanner Aus’ ride on Calgary Stampede’s Annual News looked good until it didn’t. It didn’t feel good for Aus, and it only got worse. Annual News was part of Thursday’s eliminator pen of bareback horses. It was a fistfight from the time the horse left the chute until the big[...]

LAS VEGAS – Whew! Garrett Shadbolt needed that. It’s been a rough National Finals Rodeo. He collected just his second paycheck of this year’s championship with an 87-point ride on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s William Wallace to finish third in Friday’s ninth go-round.  That was worth $17,255 and pushed his Las Vegas earnings to $47,308. He[...]

LAS VEGAS – A big part of rodeo is the random draw on the animals with which the cowboys are matched for each night. While the steers, calves, bulls and broncs are placed in pens to make them as even as possible. Still, there are some animals that stick out as the better ones. It’s[...]