Tilden Hooper expected better when he got to Las Vegas last December for the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The Carthage, Texas, cowboy had a strong season, earning his third qualification to the NFR. But he suffered an injury over the summer, the re-aggravated it in August. He didn’t return to action until the NFR,[...]

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association is a fantastic forum for up-and-coming stars. Over the years, I’ve been blessed to tell stories of great young champions, like Taos Muncy’s double-dip of a college title and world championship in 2007 or Jet McCoy’s quest to clinch that elusive all-around College National Finals Rodeo title a decade ago[...]

When Pamela Capper began her 2011 season in earnest, the Cheney, Wash., cowgirl kept her expectations quite conservative. “I started the year out just hoping to make the circuit finals,” said Capper, who had qualified for the Ram Columbia River Circuit Finals before. “I didn’t get started until after the Fourth of July weekend.” But[...]

MUSKOGEE, Okla. – Whether it’s riding a nasty bucking beast or tackling any other obstacle that comes down the rodeo trail, D.V. Fennell has done it. The Porum, Okla., has ridden the rodeo roller coaster to the top of the peaks, twice qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. In 2009 and 2010 combined, Fennell,[...]

NEOSHO, Mo. – It’s good to have good friends. D.V. Fennell knows that as well as anyone, if not better. Fennell, a bareback rider from Porum, Okla., is a two-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, one of the elite cowboys in the game. When times were at their best, his bandwagon was quite[...]

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story is for the 2012 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 29-April 1 in Oklahoma City. To see more information on this great event, click HERE. Let’s face facts: Ryan Gray’s 2010 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo stunk. Gray, a seven-time NFR qualifier in bareback riding from Cheney, Wash., was stepped[...]

It’s just a few minutes until the kickoff of this year’s Super Bowl, the NFL’s championship game featuring the New England Patriots vs. the New York Giants. It’s a rematch of Super Bowl XLII, the 2007 championship game that took place just four years ago and one that the Giants won 17-14. This weekend, another[...]

In his only appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, South Dakotan Cody Taton won the 2008 saddle bronc riding average title. During the 30 performances of the Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show Rodeo, Taton took home the biggest payday of any contestant in the field, $13,259. He placed in all three go-rounds, including wins[...]

I wanted to give everyone a head’s up that I’ll try to post through the weekend, but my laptop is going on a weekend visit to the technician for a few fixes and some updates. Posts might not happen, but it’s not because I’m not trying to keep my eyes open to the rodeo happenings.[...]

The Fort Worth (Texas) Stock Show Rodeo is counting down to its final four performances, which take place at 2 and 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday. The finale will feature the top contestants in each event through the cumulative scores from the preliminary rounds. For instance, the short-round qualifiers in bareback riding will be based[...]