Post by WI8SecFan on Dec 31, 2007 15:53:17 GMT -5
Last year the First to Fail format was ill conceived and well was the first to fail. But it did not fundamentally change the game. This year the PBR has decided to go against what has always worked and it seems that the riders are now on the losing end. On the heels of the announcement of the pick your own bull …The latest press release deals another blow to riders:
PUEBLO, Colo. (December 30, 2007) - One PBR bull rider will ride away from the Save Mart Center on Friday, January 18th, with over $100,000! It’s winner takes all when the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) bucks into Fresno, California for stop No. 4 on the elite Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler. There’s no long-go winner, no short-go winner, no event second, third or fourth place winner – only the Table Mountain Casino Invitational event champion and, courtesy of the PBR and Table Mountain Casino, he’ll add at least $100,000 to his 2008 season earnings.
“As the PBR continues to grow, we want to create signature events like our Fresno event where fans will see all the riders laying it on the line for first place,” stated Randy Bernard, PBR CEO.
“I believe that we need to have some events at which we will reward the very best rider at that time,” said three-time PBR World Champion Adriano Moraes. “[In Fresno] on two head you will see who is at the top of their game and really wants it.”
Former PBR bull rider and current PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert is excited about the format as well. “I’d love to be a bull rider riding with a shot at $100,000 for one day. At the PBR we always try to do things that traditionally have not been done in rodeo. Some new features are great and we run with them, and others don’t work and we move on. I think both fans and the bull riders will be excited about this opportunity.”
Fans can witness this first-time ever competition format by purchasing a ticket via ticketmaster.com, at the Save Mart Center box office or by phone at 866 448 7849. Over two-hours of top notch bull riding action from the world’s best bull riders and rankest bulls, rock & roll music, pyrotechnics, and a fight to the finish awaits Fresno fans.
At first glance it seems sort of great…wow someone could win $100,000.00 what a great opportunity for the riders to get some serious cash and won’t that make a perfect photo op a guy holding a $100,000.00 check smiling no doubt from ear to ear.
But then reality sets in! Last year Fresno paid $103,330.00 the winner made $33,000. This is actually less money then was paid last year. Next you have your grining from ear to ear rider but you also have 44 riders that you required to show up at the one day event. These same riders then have to travel to Sacramento to compete so it is already an expensive travel weekend for them and that is not even talking about the hotel fees etc. Now you may say yes but they all get to compete for the $100,000 so it is fair. But is it really? Since a rider only counts for only ½ of the score there also have to be 60 bulls that figure into the equation. If you look at the bulls from last year the scores ranged from the low 30s to 44.75 in the long round and 41.75 to 47 in the short-go. So now you are asking a rider to come all the way pay the expense and the time to get on a bull that can not possibly get him enough points to win the event and has no chance at making any money back. Since the PBR requires the top 45 guys to attend he smiles at the fans does his required appearances covers every bull he gets a chance to get on. Is riding as well or better then anyone and is still $1,000 poorer at the end of the day. At least other associations would allow the rider to decide he got the short end of the draw and not pay to show-up. Okay so he loses some money but is it really that bad…it is just one bad day…now let’s fast forward to October. The smiling guy is still smiling because his $100,000 was the equivalent of winning 3-4 events so he is in comfortable position to qualify for finals even though he had a very streaky and mediocre rest of the season. Now the second rider has been consistent. He has been consistent but not had a break out season he is still trying to pick up a little more money to make sure that he makes the cut. Hopefully move on part of “Some new features are great and we run with them, and others don’t work and we move on.” Comes sooner then later but it is unfortunate that the riders will have to pay the consequences first. If they want rides for big money to add excitement to the rounds bring back the Mossy Oak Shoot out format which generated all of the excitement and headlines without the extreme negative consequences.
PUEBLO, Colo. (December 30, 2007) - One PBR bull rider will ride away from the Save Mart Center on Friday, January 18th, with over $100,000! It’s winner takes all when the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) bucks into Fresno, California for stop No. 4 on the elite Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler. There’s no long-go winner, no short-go winner, no event second, third or fourth place winner – only the Table Mountain Casino Invitational event champion and, courtesy of the PBR and Table Mountain Casino, he’ll add at least $100,000 to his 2008 season earnings.
“As the PBR continues to grow, we want to create signature events like our Fresno event where fans will see all the riders laying it on the line for first place,” stated Randy Bernard, PBR CEO.
“I believe that we need to have some events at which we will reward the very best rider at that time,” said three-time PBR World Champion Adriano Moraes. “[In Fresno] on two head you will see who is at the top of their game and really wants it.”
Former PBR bull rider and current PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert is excited about the format as well. “I’d love to be a bull rider riding with a shot at $100,000 for one day. At the PBR we always try to do things that traditionally have not been done in rodeo. Some new features are great and we run with them, and others don’t work and we move on. I think both fans and the bull riders will be excited about this opportunity.”
Fans can witness this first-time ever competition format by purchasing a ticket via ticketmaster.com, at the Save Mart Center box office or by phone at 866 448 7849. Over two-hours of top notch bull riding action from the world’s best bull riders and rankest bulls, rock & roll music, pyrotechnics, and a fight to the finish awaits Fresno fans.
At first glance it seems sort of great…wow someone could win $100,000.00 what a great opportunity for the riders to get some serious cash and won’t that make a perfect photo op a guy holding a $100,000.00 check smiling no doubt from ear to ear.
But then reality sets in! Last year Fresno paid $103,330.00 the winner made $33,000. This is actually less money then was paid last year. Next you have your grining from ear to ear rider but you also have 44 riders that you required to show up at the one day event. These same riders then have to travel to Sacramento to compete so it is already an expensive travel weekend for them and that is not even talking about the hotel fees etc. Now you may say yes but they all get to compete for the $100,000 so it is fair. But is it really? Since a rider only counts for only ½ of the score there also have to be 60 bulls that figure into the equation. If you look at the bulls from last year the scores ranged from the low 30s to 44.75 in the long round and 41.75 to 47 in the short-go. So now you are asking a rider to come all the way pay the expense and the time to get on a bull that can not possibly get him enough points to win the event and has no chance at making any money back. Since the PBR requires the top 45 guys to attend he smiles at the fans does his required appearances covers every bull he gets a chance to get on. Is riding as well or better then anyone and is still $1,000 poorer at the end of the day. At least other associations would allow the rider to decide he got the short end of the draw and not pay to show-up. Okay so he loses some money but is it really that bad…it is just one bad day…now let’s fast forward to October. The smiling guy is still smiling because his $100,000 was the equivalent of winning 3-4 events so he is in comfortable position to qualify for finals even though he had a very streaky and mediocre rest of the season. Now the second rider has been consistent. He has been consistent but not had a break out season he is still trying to pick up a little more money to make sure that he makes the cut. Hopefully move on part of “Some new features are great and we run with them, and others don’t work and we move on.” Comes sooner then later but it is unfortunate that the riders will have to pay the consequences first. If they want rides for big money to add excitement to the rounds bring back the Mossy Oak Shoot out format which generated all of the excitement and headlines without the extreme negative consequences.