Building a bridge to the 19th century...
Two-time world champion Rocky Patterson came into the second night of the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping Nov. 3 in the odd position of holding the lead while simultaneously being the underdog.
Sixteen-time world champion cowboy and defending world champion steer roper Trevor Brazile was just $303 behind him and holding the lead in the average after five rounds, so Patterson knew he would have to press — and press hard — for go-round money to have a chance to add the 2012 gold buckle to his collection.
“A lot of people were saying, ‘Unless Trevor messes up, you other guys don’t have a very good chance,’” Patterson said. “But you don’t want to count on Trevor messing up. We’re used to Trevor roping flawlessly; that’s Trevor every day.”
And the thing is... Brazile didn’t mess up. He roped all 10 steers over the two days to join Phil Lyne as the only men in ProRodeo history to win average titles in three different National Finals events — team roping 2008 and tie-down roping 2010 were the others — and he won by a margin of 61.7 seconds over Mike Chase.
Only a funny thing happened on the way to the coronation — Patterson had a better night.
He toppled the king. He earned checks in all five rounds, winning two, and clinched his third world championship in four years by winning the 10th round in 10.3 seconds.
He edged Brazile for the gold buckle by a margin of just $418. PRCA
COYOTES OF THE WEEK
Bloomberg Magazine’s headline: It’s Global Warming Stupid! Scientists have proven global warming is a hoax. Bloomberg doesn’t get it.
The general election is Nov. 6, but Spanish-speakers in Maricopa County, Ariz., are being told otherwise, with now two documents from the county’s elections department stating the date — in Spanish — as Nov. 8. They are direct translations of English-language documents, except for the date — which in both cases is listed correctly in English, but not in Spanish. ¡Que lastima!
SAYIN’S
“The Weakest Link is a fascinating program. They ask a bunch of people questions and they keep getting rid of the dumbest person, so just the smartest person is left. It is kind of the opposite way we elect a president.” — Jay Leno.
Send us a sayin’ or quote and if we use it, we’ll both be surprised.
COWBOYS & RANCHERS ADVISORY PANEL
Joe Arpaio won a sixth term as Sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz. Although quite popular, the controversial sheriff is accused of allowing his staff to be derogatory against some minorities (i.e. An e-mail that included a photograph of a Chihuahua dressed in swimming gear with the caption “A Rare Photo of a Mexican Navy Seal”) was widely distributed by sheriff’s office supervisors.
CAMPAIGN ’12
If only the rest of the United States had voted the way Tulare County did. Thanks, Mitt, for a dignified campaign.
WHERE TO BUNCH UP
Nov. 10 Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo begins. Springville Sierra Rodeo April 26-28. 2013.
