1. Chris Shivers on Pure Smoke. Chris Shivers in general. Every time he gets on a bull you might just see something almost perfect. He gave an interview after Round One in which he talks about the toll it takes to be on the tour at his age. It's in the left sidebar. Watch him on Pure Smoke here.
2. Cody Ohl had five bulls in the Classic and two of them (Pure Smoke and Alternator) scored 44.25. The others were Black Ice (43.75), White Velvet (43.10), and Little White Out (41). If you don't know who Cody Ohl is, he's a six-time PRCA world champion tie-down roper who also owns and breeds bucking bulls. Come December, I will remind you to check out the National Finals Rodeo, because the guy is awesome to watch.
3. Boots: Ryan McConnel got one of his ripped off by a bull, and Austin Meier had some new ones with black and bright yellow diamond checks. Shazam!
4. Silver Wings. Nothing flashy. No high bull scores. Just a stocky bit of bucking bull royalty no one can manage to stay on.
5. Mesa Pate. She tied the flank on Copafeel and told Silvano to get out of the chute.
6. Commotion. It wasn't 2008 with J.B. Mauney, and I don't know that I would have given it a 92.25, but it was good to see this very nice out for a bull that knows how to jump. Scroll down the page to see Lima's ride, then Mauney's.
7. The Truth Booth. What can I say. These guys have been interviewed so many times, they've said it all, and they have their patter and their set answers, just as all professional athletes do. Most of the time you could guess what they're going to say and you'd be right. But the Truth Booth seems to bring out something more natural in them. I like it.
8. I am trying to turn over a new leaf and mention positive things about the broadcast. This week I liked the casual, candid moments the camera crew got into the broadcast, like Shane Proctor after he pushed the review button on the called slap. That kind of look behind the scenes made a really nice difference in the show. I also like the bull cam behind the out gate. Hummer and McBride do a pretty good job, not too bad, anyway. I do still miss the enthusiasm McKee brought to the booth.
9. Whoever was last in that final short go draft - was it Cody Nance? - breathed a sigh of relief and a prayer of gratitude for the Mike Lee-ness of Mike Lee when the man picked Bushwacker at the sixth spot in the draft.
10. Bushwacker. Will anyone ever make it by that second jump? My money is on "no."
11. I know I said there would be ten things, but here's one more: Chute time. Still a problem.
