Rider tries to buck trend
Fourteen years ago, a cowboy you might have heard of, a fellow by the name of Ty Murray, completed the 1998 season by winning the PRCA's all-around world championship.
It was the last of Murray's seven all-around titles, as he ended an extended period of dominance and moved onto other things. Like getting together with and ultimately marrying Jewel. And who could blame him for that?
It was also the last time a rough-stock cowboy - one who rides broncs and bulls, rather than roping or steer wrestling for a living - won the all-around crown. Since then, it has been all timed-event cowboys bringing home rodeo's biggest prize. And nine of those gold buckles have gone to the same guy, Trevor Brazile, who is in prime position this year to keep that streak going.
Steven Dent understands what he's up against.
"It's always been like that," said Dent, a bronc rider who entered the 2012 National Finals Rodeo second in barebacks and second in the all-around. "When Ty was winning all his all-around titles, and Jim Shoulders and Dan Mortensen, those guys faced the same deal we do. They were just some extremely talented rough-stock guys."
Dent is pretty talented, too. The 26-year-old cowboy from Mullen, Neb., has earned $140,781 in barebacks this year, and just shy of another $4,000 in saddle broncs. That allowed him to qualify for the all-around chase - a competitor has to earn at least $3,000 in his second event to do so.
Yet with $144,465 in total 2012 winnings, Dent trails Brazile by more than $100,000 for that prestigious all-around title. But he's not giving up on his dream.
"That's been a goal of mine my whole life, since I was a little kid, watching Ty and Dan and those guys on TV," Dent said. "Every world title is difficult to win; and when you're competing against a guy like Trevor Brazile, he's maybe the greatest cowboy ever."
One thing Dent has working in his favor is that Brazile is only competing in one event, team roping, during this year's 10-day run at the Thomas & Mack Center.
"So I have as good a chance as any year, as good a chance as ever before," he said. "But of course, I have to take care of my bareback riding first."
And he has to do that in a field loaded with studs. Reigning bareback world champ Kaycee Field has a narrow lead over Dent in the standings, and former bareback champions Will Lowe and Bobby Mote are also in the top five.
"In barebacks, it doesn't take a genius to see it's gonna be difficult to win the world title. I've got world title winners surrounding me in the standings," Dent said.
But at the NFR, with its total purse of $6.125 million, the money can quickly pile up if you can get on a little hot streak.
"I think I'm gonna have to win $140,000 to $180,000 to win the barebacks," Dent said. "If I do that, Trevor is gonna have to win $60,000. It gives me a chance.
"Basically, it comes down to winning the world title in barebacks, and that gives me a real good shot in the all-around."
Being physically and mentally prepared also will be key for Dent. The 10-day rodeo is physically demanding for all contestants, often even more so for the rough-stock riders. But Dent, now in his fifth NFR, said the mental aspect is perhaps even more difficult.
"It's a mentally tough week out there. For 10 days, you've got ups and downs," he said. "That's the toughest part of it, not letting what happened to you the night before affect the way you ride, or even what the rider before you does each night.
"If that guy gets 90 points, all you can do is get every possible point out of the horse you're on. If you press, then you make mistakes. It's just one horse at a time, and get every point out of every horse you get on. If you do that all year, you've got a chance to win a world title."
Playing Favorites With
Steven Dent
Age: 26
Home: Mullen, Neb.
NFR Qualifications: Five
Favorite Rodeo Moment: "That's a really tough one to narrow down. I'd say any time you win first in any rodeo, no matter how big or how small."
Favorite Rodeo Superstition: "I'm not really superstitious. I'm too busy rodeoing all year. There are so many superstitions that eventually you're gonna get hit with one and still win. Bobby Mote wears yellow all the time, so I think that blows superstitions out of the water."
Favorite NFR Moment: "Probably the funnest thing, and I've done it two times, is nodding my head (to open the chute) in the 10th round with a world title at stake. You know you have to win the round to win the title. Those moments leading up to nodding are the moments you've dreamed of. That's a pretty sweet feeling."
NFR FUN FACTS
• In 2011, the event had a total attendance of 175,275 over the 10 days of competition, resulting in a nongaming economic impact of $60.1 million, according to the 2011 LVCVA Intercept Study. The Wrangler NFR has sold out more than 260 consecutive performances.
• The National Finals Rodeo is often termed the "Super Bowl of Rodeo," where the top 15 contestants in each of seven events compete for 10 straight nights. The events include bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. NFR earnings are added to each contestant's season earnings, and the top money earner in each event is awarded the gold buckle symbolizing the world championship.
• Shawn Davis, a three-time world champion in saddle broncs, has participated in some form or fashion in 50 of the 54 Nationals Finals Rodeos. He's either been a competitor, the president of the NFR, or in his long-standing current role as general manager of the NFR.
• Fans can follow all of the action on the NFR 2012 Mobile Application. It is free and available on all platforms, including Blackberry, iPhone and Android devices. Apple users can access it at www.NFRapp.com/itunes . For all others, simply go to www.NFRapp.com through your mobile web browser.
