Posted on 07/22/2005 5:54:22 AM PDT by Theodore R.
One to watch Trevor Brazile is the biggest name out there
By Robert Gagliardi spt1@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE - Ty Murray, Roy Cooper, Larry Mahan, Jim Shoulders.
Just a few of the big names in professional rodeo through the years.
There are plenty of great rodeo athletes in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association right now, but arguably the best is Trevor Brazile.
"You can't call him the next big name, he is a big name," said Cody Ohl of Stephenville, Texas, a five-time world tie-down roping champion and the 2001 world all-around champ.
Brazile is the biggest name in pro rodeo today because he's won the last three world all-around titles and is well on his way to a fourth.
As of this week, the 28-year-old Decatur, Texas, cowboy leads the all-around race with $87,709. Clayton Foltyn of El Campo, Texas, is a distant second with $58,175.
Brazile competes in three events - tie-down roping, steer roping and team roping. The all-around champion goes to the cowboy who wins the most money in more than one event.
He won two all-around titles at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2000 and 2002. Brazile's 2005 CFD got off to a slow start Wednesday as he recorded a time of 20.1 seconds in tie-down roping and 11.1 seconds in team roping in first go-round action in both events. That won't be enough to win go-round money, but Brazile is still in the hunt for money in the second go-round and perhaps the finals a week from Sunday.
Brazile competes in the first go-round of steer roping this morning in slack at CFD.
Typically, cowboys in the running for all-around titles win most of their money in one event and just a little bit in others.
Brazile is the exception.
He has won $44,270 in tie-down roping, which is 11th in the world this week, and is third in the world in steer roping with $21,504. He is off to a slow start in team roping, as he began heading last month.
But his goal is to qualify for December's National Finals Rodeo in three events.
"It's real hard," said Brazile on how difficult it is to compete in multiple events. "I was talking to some calf ropers who also wanted to start heading, and I highly discouraged it. It's hard, and it takes away from a lot of things. Every dollar you spend could be focused on one event. All of your resources and time you are not spending on that one event could be wasted.
"But it was a choice I made early on. I think it took longer to develop because I was doing three events. Now we're reaping the benefits."
Another goal of Brazile's revolves around the number eight - meaning eight world all-around titles. Roughstock legend Murray holds the PRCA record for most all-around titles with seven. Brazile is the first cowboy since Murray to win three straight world all-around titles.
"I would like to win the all-around eight times. If you don't set your goals that high, you won't get there," Brazile said. "That would obviously be the biggest goal I could ever set."
Brazile's peers think he can break Murray's record.
"He's the next guy who is going to carry (rodeo) somewhere," said roper Joe Beaver of Huntsville, Texas, who is the PRCA's all-time leader in career earnings with $2,541,637 to go along with eight world titles - including three all-around championships.
"You need to have somebody keep coming. He will win the all-around as many times as he wants to. He was real dedicated when he was young. He set goals for himself, and he has a real hard practice ethic. He reminds me of myself when I was young."
Brazile isn't like most professional athletes who are at the top of their game.
He is a quiet and humble man who feels more comfortable in the practice ring or talking shop with his fellow cowboys than being in the media spotlight.
But don't mistake Brazile's demeanor for being soft when it comes to competing.
"He's not a real flamboyant guy winning and not a fit-thrower when he loses," Beaver said. "But he doesn't accept losing or failure. He is always striving to win and get better, and that's why he's good."
Added tie-down and steer roper Cash Myers of Athens, Texas: "You start with a lot of talent, and then you have a lot of work ethic with it. He's right at the top with anybody when it comes to being a horseman."
Brazile has yet to win a single-event world title in his career. Beaver, one of Brazile's good friends, said Brazile at some point will need to choose one of his three events if he wants to win one.
But Brazile isn't thinking that way.
"Not as long as they give an all-around," Brazile said. "If I were to do it, I would do it right now so I could win a single event. But that isn't as important to me as the all-around."
"I get to do what I love for a living. I would hate to know what I get paid by the hour, but that in itself is enough motivation for me, not to mention the fact that if I am going to be out here doing it, I might as well go the extra mile to get there"
At just 28 years old, it would seem the best could be yet to come for Brazile in his rodeo career. But even if his career ended today, his peers think he would go down in history as one of the best.
"Anybody who wins three all-arounds in a row is a great cowboy," Ohl said. "If he didn't win another one, he still would be one of the greatest cowboys of all time. All the timed-event guys know that.
"If anybody could ever break Ty Murray's record, it would be Trevor Brazile."
Attended Frontier Days last summer and I have to tell ya, it was the best I have ever attended.
On to Brazile: not bad for a goat roper, but he hardly compares to Jim Shoulders, IMHO. Big difference between roping and riding bulls, barebacks, and saddlebroncs.
>> I would hate to know what I get paid by the hour, but that in itself is enough motivation for me, not to mention the fact that if I am going to be out here doing it, I might as well go the extra mile to get there" <<
Don't ever tell him that he's not even making $10 an hour. He needs to go back to the old days of sleeping in the horse trailers.
Jim Shoulders is the only cowboy ever inducted into the Madison Square Garden Hall of Fame.
http://www.northtexasequine.com/Archives/ET-LL-jim-shoulders.htm
Shoulders must be nearing 78 or 79 years of age. Here is a glimpse of his fabulous career.
I met Sharon at a cutting show and at the time he had the flu but was still very active. She was there cheering on some youngsters. Great lady!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.