Roping icon Whitfield writing autobiography’s climax

There was the night Fred Whitfield invited his friend Charles Barkley to watch him compete at the National Finals Rodeo.

The 6-foot-5-inch basketball Hall of Famer sat in the stands wearing a cowboy hat - "He looked like the Jolly Green Giant," Whitfield said - and, being Las Vegas and all, the two went out on the town afterward.

"That goes without saying," said Whitfield, an eight-time world champion and seven-time NFR champion.

What Whitfield didn't expect was the phone call early the next morning from his fun-loving pal, who sounded as if he had not been to bed.

Barkley wanted to watch Whitfield practice, and pulled up in a limo about an hour later.

"You don't find celebrities like that. He's as down to earth as they come," Whitfield said. "He rode a couple horses around. He said, 'Hell, I thought pro football players were real men, but this rodeo's for real.' "

Whitfield, 45, can tell countless tales from his 23-year rodeo career, many of which he will recount in his autobiography, "Gold Buckles Don't Lie," which will be published next year.

The winner of one all-around crown and seven tie-down roping titles, Whitfield expects his 20th NFR appearance to be his last. He plans to base the final chapter of his book on his experiences at this year's 10-day event.

"I'm actually living the last chapter of the book right now," said Whitfield, who tied for seventh place - one spot out of the money - on Thursday night in the first go-round of the 54th annual NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center.

It's a testament to Whitfield's grit that he even made it here this year. He had back surgery seven weeks ago and was told by his surgeon he couldn't be cleared for competition until Dec. 11.

"I told him, 'You can't do that,' " he said. "The NFR would be half over."

While another tie-down gold buckle would match Dean Oliver's event record of eight, Whitfield said he has no expectations other than to relish each moment. He entered the NFR 12th in a field of 15.

"I imagine I'll get emotional like anyone else. I just wish the days didn't go by so fast," he said. "I didn't have to prove anything to anybody this year. I just wanted to prove to myself that I could make it one more time."

Whitfield is all but retiring after the NFR to spend more time with his wife and two daughters. The first African-American cowboy to win a world title in calf roping, he'll leave behind a legacy that includes breaking down barriers.

"I feel like I opened doors for a lot of people," he said.

While the easygoing Whitfield said he has encountered racism during his career, he said he's saved those stories for his book.

"Whether you're black, white, green or purple, if you put in initiative, you'll be discovered," he said. "The main thing people want to see is that you're a decent person. Someone gave me an opportunity, and I took advantage of it."

Growing up poor in Cypress, Texas, Whitfield was taken under his wing and introduced to roping at a young age by Roy Moffitt, whose family owned an oil company and employed Whitfield's mother as a housekeeper.

While Moffitt provided early financial backing, Whitfield took full advantage of his opportunity and is one of only three PRCA cowboys to top $3 million in career earnings.

He attributes his success to a tireless work ethic that was on display Thursday, when he woke up at 5:30 a.m., worked out until 7, had breakfast and went on some practice runs on his horse before most people were up.

"I've done two days work already when most people are still in bed," he said.

Barkley was probably still awake.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.