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Exclusive insider info on the WNFR Fight … Texas Vs. Florida!

January 12, 2014 By Jason Hetland

All the talk and speculation surrounding the moving of the NFR controversy has a new player involved. It was reported a couple days ago that the great state of Texas is involving themselves into the mix for potential host for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo starting in 2015.

There was a meeting held between the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Commissioner Karl Stressman, the PRCA Board of Directors, the Governor of Texas Rick Perry, State House Representative Cecil Bell Jr. and WNFR bareback qualifier Clint Cannon.

I have sources that are very close to the negotiations that have been talking exclusively with me and have given me the rights to post quotes and real time updates about this issue coming from Texas.

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman, Governor of Texas Rick Perry and State House Representative Cecil Bell Jr. at the state capital Photo Credit: Chip Hunnicutt

Here is the statement I have received from one of my sources that is close to the negotiations and for now would like to be unnamed:

“We are part of group including trying to get the NFR to the state of Texas along with a unnamed Texas city. We are part of State group not the city, but we are helping support the city the with their bid. This state group was formed by Clint Cannon, Kirby Cannon and Cecil Bell Jr., with the intention of finding a way to get the NFR here. It now includes many more. Without getting numbers out, the bid is unbelievable. The Governers’ office puts events on par with Final Four, Formula One race in Austin, and the Super Bowl and wants the NFR here. We don’t know what board will do but we hope they were impressed.”

PRCA and Texas Bareback Rider Heath Ford sits down with Governor Rick Perry to talk about bringing the WNFR to Texas Photo Credit: Chip Hunnicutt

The Governor quotes, “lets bring the NFR home”, and those thoughts are represented throughout the entire state. To me it sounds like Texas is pulling out all the stops to do anything it can to lure the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to cowboy country, the great state of Texas. The next few months will be very interesting to see what the commissioner and the Board of Directors decides to do once all the options are out in the open and on the table.

Texas State Representative Cecil Bell Jr.

Current state negotiating group member and TheRodeoRoundUp.com’s friend Texas State Representative Cecil Bell Jr. is very involved in everything happening there. He is on the state group and is the one person that is tasked with coordinating with the city’s group. So as you can see EVERYONE wants the WNFR in Texas and both city and state are working together to try to make this happen in 2015. He took time out of his day to give TheRodeoRoundUp.com and exclusive statement and here it is:

“Texas is rodeo country. We’re home to the best location for contestants, stock producers and for fans. From our cities and card-carrying PRCA cowboys to our elected officials in Austin I can tell you we’re working hard to show the PRCA our commitment to bringing the NFR back home to Texas”.
State Rep Cecil Bell Jr.

The stories are continuing to unfold and before long we will all have the answers we are so patiently waiting for. No matter what the PRCA decides to do we will have it covered right here for you on TheRodeoRoundUp.com!!

NFR in Texas May Be A Done Deal!!! At Least For Now!

January 12, 2014 By Jason Hetland

As folks wake up again this morning there is even more news coming out from the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association office that there is something huge happening on the horizon in the great state of Texas! There is nothing for sure announced yet but there are many hints and teasers being dropped already this morning.

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman at the state capital in Texas

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman and the Board of Directors were in the capital city of Austin meeting with the Governor and House Representatives as publicity photos were spreading around social media adding to the questions and hype surrounding why. This morning on the facebook page Support the PRCA an official press release gave a few more hints as to what the meeting was about. Here is the official press release to bring everyone up to speed as to what we all know so far:

Sorry for the delays in announcements, everyone has to be patient, the hecklers are just causing there selves embarrassment , just know that the state of Texas is the largest rodeo state in the country, with the largest number of rodeo athletes in the nation, and Governor Perry has deep route’s in the rodeo world along with many of the legislators in congress . There are confidentiality agreements that are in place and millions of dollars at stake. Just know that Texas and the PRCA , the governor, congressmen, and some bareback riders are working along with a large City group to put together the biggest 10 day rodeo in history. There is no “American, or Vegas or anything that can come close to it. Trust Texas, trust your board, trust the cowboys involved, and remember if you build it they will come! Oh and everyone of you rodeo fans ..it wont hurt for you to pray, this one is worth praying for…hecklers be patient, your board cannot talk right now, I assure you Governor Perry, Mr Stressman and everyone involved will be smiling when all is finished. Remember this cannot happen until 2015, there is plenty of time for the entire rodeo world to prepare and adjust. Thanks and relax the National Finals Rodeo and the PRCA are alive and well, with more interest than ever. – Jay Cannon

The Great Falls Tribune had the opportunity to talk with PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman via telephone and published their conversation this morning as well. You can read the entire conversation HERE and find out what he thinks about the situations and the aspect of social media behind it

Editors Note: Jay Cannon is a moderator for the Cuttin Up Radio facebook page and is closely involved with the talks happening at the state capital in Texas

Stay tuned for all the breaking news as it is released right here on The Rodeo Round Up!

Breaking News: PRCA Update and response

January 8, 2014 By Jason Hetland

Okay folks, remember me saying that I hope there was a response from the home office of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and its Board of Directors. Well our wishes came true, sort of, as the PRCA home office issued a statement late last night that I have just received a few minutes ago from the headquarters themselves. Once you read it you all can start to draw your own conclusions and start to take sides as more information starts to come out. As you may already expect the two sides are very far apart on what actually happened and what is being demanded. Here is the official statement from the headquarters of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and its Board of Directors:

PRCA Statement

January 7, 2014

A group of approximately 20 PRCA contestants called a meeting Jan. 3-4 in Waco, Texas, a day after requesting a special PRCA Board of Directors meeting. Upon 48 hours’ notice, the PRCA Board agreed to hold that special meeting via teleconference on Jan. 4. During the Jan. 4 Board meeting, the 11 contestants in attendance asked the PRCA Board to add and amend 18 bylaws related primarily to newly created contestant Board seats and contestant eligibility for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The contestants discussed their proposed bylaw changes at length with the Board. The PRCA Board expressed concerns about the contestant demand that all 18 bylaw changes be voted on that same day, within 48 hours of the notice of the meeting, as that timing did not allow for the necessary vetting and research to be done in order to make legally sound, informed business decisions greatly affecting the entire membership. The contestants stated that their urgency for immediate answers was based upon their belief that a deadline of Jan. 6 existed for negotiating the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo contract. However, the PRCA Board was never informed of any Jan. 6 deadline, and was at the very same time receiving a conflicting counter-offer deadline of Jan. 14 from multiple members of the Las Vegas Events Board. In the interest of serving all 6,000-plus PRCA members and the entire sport of professional rodeo, the PRCA Board requested additional time to research and carefully consider all requests from the contestant group, but the 11 contestants denied that request.

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman and the PRCA Board of Directors at the 2013 WNFR

PRCA Commissioner Karl Stressman and the PRCA Board of Directors, in my mind, leave a lot to be said after this so-called statement. As I said earlier I was expecting to see both sides have completely different views on the “meeting” but I was not expecting the response from the PRCA. It seems to me that the cowboys and cowgirls are not wanting to hide anything about what, why and how they went about this and the reasonings behind it. On the other hand, the PRCA statement is very short and sweet and still refuses to talk about everything in detail. I believe that the PRCA is trying to figure out what to do since there is a whole lot riding on what happens within the next few weeks as this all plays out. I hope that both sides will take the time to figure out the best way to go about things from here on out. All in all, to say the very least, this will be an extremely important and demanding year for all those involved in this drama. Make sure to stay tuned to www.therodeoroundup.com for all late breaking news regarding this and all other issues throughout the year!!

J.B. Mauney continues his winning streak at Madison Square Gardens in NYC

January 5, 2014 By Jason Hetland

2013 PBR World Champion, J.B. Mauney, continued his winning ways at the first stop on the 2014 season at Madison Square Gardens in NYC. It may have been below zero outside but the temperature was hitting record setting highs inside Madison Square Gardens. J.B. Mauney tied the record for consecutive bulls rode at 15 with Terry Don West after the Championship Round on January 5, 2014.

This young man has grown up before our very eyes over the past couple of years and it is showing in his success on the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Tour. He ended the 2013 season off with 12 straight rides and being crowned the new World Champion in the tightest race in the 20-year history of the PBR. J.B. Mauney had not been on a bull since November coming into the 2014 season opener in New York City but that did not hurt him in any way as he went 4 for 4 to split the win with Brazil’s own Fabiano Vieira with a 347.50 score for each of them.

CBS Sports Network’s Leah Garcia spoke with J.B. after the second round of competition and he made it very clear that the eye is still on the prize and he plans on continuing to break records in the years to come. He said that now the pressure is off of him after winning the World Championship that has been his dream for 27 years and he can go through this year riding bulls and having fun while doing it. Now, this does not mean that he is not focused and he says his new goal now is to be the first person in PBR history to win the World Championship three straight years back to back.

This new year can take its toll on J.B. Mauney if the first week of the season in NYC is any indication. Being the new World Champ brings a whole new aspect to each stop on the 2014 season. Many media outlets, newspapers, television stations, etc. want the time of 2013 defending American World Champion. This can either hamper and distract a person or make them more dedicated to defending for a second straight year. I have a feeling with J.B.’s new outlook and family additions with his lovely wife Lexie and their beautiful daughter whose name I will not publish out of respect for their privacy I think he will handle it just fine and will be one of the top contenders again in the 2014 season and will be on top for the second straight year after the last bull is bucked in October at the World Finals in Las Vegas!

Photo credit: Lexie Mauney’s cousin Suzy Delaplain … thank you to Lexie for allowing the use of this picture!!

J.B. has had many life changes that have changed his mind frame and how he looks at each weekend on the road. His beautiful bride Lexie and his outspoken daughter he has a complete team behind him to maintain his road to history for many years to come. Next week is Chicago and if J.B. rides his next bull he will set yet another record for the most consecutive bulls rode and will help him continue his hot streak that will make it hard for anyone else on tour to keep up with your defending World Champ!!