Sportsmanship prevails

One of the good things about rodeo is sportsmanship.

The only time you’ll hear someone boo at the National Finals Rodeo is when the judges mess up a score.

The only time ol’ Buck wants to uncork a big booooooooooo is every night when the Thomas & Mack speakers blare out “Viva Las Vegas.”

What are they thinking?

Yeah, our visitors like it. And it’s Vegas and Elvis was ’bout the size of those ropin’ steers and worshipped like a Buddha.

That’s about the only drawback to the NFR in my eyes and ears, and it’s a pebble of sand compared to all the good stuff.

And sportsmanship stands out like a mountain.

Most roughstock cowboys — bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders — help another get situated in their hand riggin’ and on their rides. Doesn’t matter if they’re battling for a world championship, friendship outweighs everything else in the chutes.

It’s like winning only has value if they know the guy trying to whip them had the fairest shot possible.

Even in a timed-event like steer wrestling, it’s not “win at any cost.”

Nothing is more valuable to nearly every cowboy than family and his fellow rodeo cowboys.

That stood out on Wednesday night when Luke Branquinho spent most of the night in the bulldogger’s box after he made his run. Here’s guy goin’ for his third world championship and sittin’ in first place.

It’s not that Luke likes getting horse poop and dirt clods flung on him. It’s just important to him to get back there to use his boots to fill in holes in the dirt after the last bulldogger’s horse shot out of the box. He’s quick to get a steer up in the chute if it’s reluctant to launch.

“All bulldoggers cheer for each other and try to help each other,” Luke says.

“Guys feel good knowin’ there’s someone back there.”

And rodeo fans feel good knowin’ that sportsmanship still lives in rodeo. Even at the Big Daddy of ’em all like the NFR.

BROTHERLY LOVE

Back when ol’ Buck was 5 or 6, my older brother Crazy Steve showed me some love. Steve’s six years older, so back then he was 11 or 12.

I remember he’d want to play with me.

Like when he wanted to “big time” wrestle. He’d make me be the villain and wear Mom’s blue tights. Biggest problem was he didn’t know it was fake and punches weren’t supposed to hurt.

Or the time he wanted to play William Tell and let me be the apple. He sent me to the end of long room with a lampshade on my head because we didn’t have apples. He flung a steel-tip arrow at me that knocked off the lampshade and took a slice of my scalp.

The blood, like his punch, wasn’t fake either.

I think of my childhood whenever I see four pairs of brothers ride into the T&M Corral.

Each night, fans get a double dose of hearing announcers talk about Cooper in tie-down roping, Minor in team roping, and Wright and DeMoss in saddle bronc riding.

Riley and Brady Minor have it in easy because they compete together in team roping.

The pressure of doing the family name right has fallen squarely on Heith DeMoss’ shoulders after brother Cody got hurt a few nights ago and has since withdrawn from the NFR.

But the other pairs of brothers are not only in the same category but are contending for world championships.

Roper Tuf Cooper came to the NFR with a big lead but has seen some knots form in his rope and older brother Clint is closing in.

In saddle bronc, Cody Wright is second battling Taos Muncy for the lead, but Jesse Wright has been closing in.

The Wright brothers’ love wasn’t even challenged in the fifth go-round when Jesse knocked Cody from the top spot to win the round and older brother Cody placed second.

None were happier or prouder than Cody.

“I like all the bronc riders here,” Cody said after the round, “but I’m not going to lie; I’d just as soon it be my brother win if it’s not me.”

And there could have been three Wrights here.

Jake, Jesse’s twin, missed the 15th and final qualifying spot by just $84.

Another brother, Alex, could make it next year.

“With a little luck, we all could make it here,” Cody said.

And that would be even more love in the arena.