Nick on the Town

Bulls coming to Arco!

January 13, 2010 at 10:59 am 1 comment

No, not the Chicago Bulls, but remember that game last month when the Kings came back from like 35 down? How awesome was that?

Anyhow, in what has to be considered the first truly awesome Sacramento event in 2010, the PBR Tour will be at Arco Arena this weekend for the Sacramento Classic. No, this is not a traveling team of dudes swilling everyone’s favorite blue ribbon winning beer (which would also be awesome), but the Professional Bull Riders tour.

For me, a love of bull riding grew out of my uncanny ability to be entertained by the lowest rungs of televised sporting events. When the major sports are unavailable I have never turned away from bowling, darts, pool (including “Trick Shot Magic”), poker, Scrabble, Spelling Bee or even cup-stacking. I guess just love competition, but I wouldn’t call myself an avid fan of any of those I just mentioned…well maybe cup-stacking.

The one sport that really won me over after being discovered through my panciked channel surfing in search of sports was bull riding. In fact, last weekend I even watched the PBR instead of the NFL…ok it was that terrible Pats game, but still.

This weekend – if the NFL playoffs get real boring again – desperate, channel-flipping sports fans will find the familiar confines of Arco Arena on their tv screens…and it will be full of dirt, cowboys and bulls. And if they give it a chance, they won’t regret it.

For me, the appeal of bull riding comes from the whole thing being completely ridiculous. These bulls – Bones, Chicken on a Chain, Code Blue, Crossfire and more – are no joke. I don’t know all the details of the sport, but I know that the bulls are huge and they don’t like having that guy up there. I’m not sure how or why anybody ever thought it would be a good idea to get on top of one, but thank god they did.

Riders - many of whom don’t even wear helmets - hop on a bull, wrap a rope around their hands, psych them selves up and head out of the gate in hopes of maintinaing control for 8 seconds. Eight measley seconds which probably feels like a freakin’ eternity when you’re on the back of a monster bull.

Riders bounce and spin, get jerked from side to side. They go flying in every direction. They get stepped on. They bleed. They limp. Dirt covers everything. It’s a total mess and I love every second of it.

The riders are a special group too. In the ring these guys are pumped. If they make it the 8 seconds they do the PBR equivalent of a touchdown dance. Some guys throw their hats. Others dance or do backflips. They are absolutely as amped up as you’ll ever see anybody – it’s a little frightening. Then, they come out of the ring for an interview and they are just totally calm, polite, mild-mannered and modest dudes. Compared to other pro sports, it’s kind of refreshing.

Anyhow, the PBR will be at Arco (and on NBC and Vs.) this Friday and Saturday. Tickets start at $10 so come on out.

Oh, and as an added bonus, last season’s champ, Kody Lostroh and the rider who gave him a real run for his money, J.B. Mauney, are competing head-to-head in something called the $10K Sacramento Challenge. I think, Friday night, they are each getting on a couple of the nastiest bulls in the competition and whoever does better gets the extra cash. Sure,  I’m not 100% sure what all is involved, but that isn’t keeping me from being totally stoked on it!

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