Brazile nabs ‘triple crown’ to cap National Finals Rodeo

The 34-year-old roper from Decatur, Texas, stole the show — again — throughout the 52nd annual rodeo that paid out $5.87 million over the past 10 days.

He clinched the all-around two days into the NFR and then set records, including one nearly 80 years old, on Saturday night before an announced 17,683 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

For the second time in four years, Brazile won a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association “triple crown.”

His first came in 2007 when he won world championships in all-around, calf roping and steer roping, which is not contested in Las Vegas.

In the 10th go-round, he added world titles in calf roping for the third time and team roping with Decatur, Texas, partner Patrick Smith for the first time.

He is the first multiple triple-crown champion since Jim Shoulders in 1958 and first since Everett Bowman in the 1930s to do it by winning with two combinations of events.

“It means so much to me because I think everything has (become) so specialized,” Brazile said. “That’s why I work my tail off every year, because of the respect I have for my competition.”

Other world champions determined Saturday were: Bobby Mote of Culver, Ore., in bareback riding; Dean Gorsuch of Gering, Neb., in steer wrestling; and Cody Wright of Milford, Utah, in saddle bronc riding.

Barrel racer Sherry Cervi of Marana, Ariz., and bull rider J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas, clinched their third world titles Friday.

Brazile set a record for earnings in one year by finishing with $507,920. He won $239,586 in the NFR, which was the most of any contestant and earned him the inaugural Top Gun award that provides a new Dodge truck, commemorative rifle and special belt buckle.

Like he needs another buckle.

His season might have been better had he not missed 40 days of competition in late spring because of a torn tendon in his right, rope-throwing elbow.

But, as his wife, Shada Brazile, has told him, the forced break in midseason might have been beneficial.

“She wants me to take a month off next year,” he said. “I don’t know if that helped me, but it kept us hungry. There was never any time I was ho-hum at a rodeo. When we got back out there (in late June), we knew there was some urgency.”

He and Smith won the team roping title by setting an NFR record by winning $120,418 over 10 days.

His margin of $314,920 over Canadian Curtis Cassidy to win the all-around is the largest ever.

“It’s just been an awesome year,” Brazile said.

And Brazile’s year might be one that never is repeated.

Contact reporter Jeff Wolf at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247.