It's All About Experience

PROMOTIONAL SECTION Friday night festivities before, after NFR NFR PAGE 2

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2013 NATIONAL FINALS RODEO It’s all about experience O’Brien Cooper an old hat when it comes to team roping

JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Clay O’Brien Cooper, left, and Jake Barnes compete in the team roping event during the seventh round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Dec. 9, 2008.

By PATRICK EVERSON enough in a season to earn an NFR LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CLAY O’BRIEN COOPER berth. Event: Team roping “When you start out the year, you World standing/earnings: 14th, $65,643 have the expectation of hopefully lay O’Brien Cooper is old Residence: Gardnerville having a good year,” O’Brien Cooper enough to be the father of National Finals Rodeo qualifications: said. “But somewhere along the line, many of his team roping peers. 27 (1981-95, 1997-98, 2000-04, 2006-08, each year is gonna present its obstacles. C Yet Father Time still hasn’t 2012-13); seven world titles (1985-89, You just have to be committed to press caught up to the 52-year-old, who is 1992, 1994) through. competing in his 27th National Finals Noteworthy: O’Brien Cooper, a team “Our year started off where we didn’t roping heeler, is still making hay at the Rodeo, his 23rd at the Thomas & Mack age of 52, competing strongly enough to do really good at rodeos that counted Center. put himself in world title contention. In toward the NFR. But then we won at O’Brien Cooper made his first NFR 2012, O’Brien Cooper roped with Chad Houston, which was good even though in 1981, and he’s bagged seven world Masters and won the NFR average title, that one doesn’t count in the standings. championships in the past 32 years. Last with a total time of 73.4 seconds for 10 Then we had a really good spring, and year, he made another run at the team rounds, and he finished second in the we established ourselves in the top 15 in roping title, working with Chad Masters. world standings with $189,666 — just the standings.” The two won the NFR average — the $1,131 behind Jade Corkill. O’Brien It was a rough summer, and the best aggregate time over the 10 rounds Cooper is roping this year with 31-year- two were in and out of the top 15 in old Justin Van Davis. — helping Masters win the header world their respective standings, but did crown as O’ Brien Cooper took second in just enough late in the season to hang the heeler world standings, just $1,131 on. O’Brien Cooper finished 14th with short of the title. partner, Justin Van Davis, a 31-year-old other for 15 years, but they’ve roped O’Brien Cooper, a Gardnerville making his NFR debut. The two are together only a few times several years ▶ SEE EXPERIENCE PAGE 4 resident, is back this year with a new hardly strangers, having known each ago, and Davis had never tried to rope Going strong at 52 RODEO Family Owned and Operated Complete Auto Repair &Maintenance Home of the $10 Oil Change SALE OFF ANY SERVICE OR REPAIREPAIR OF $200 OR MORE. FullyyFull Functional livemusicperformanceby 30-30! In JimJim((an (anddJ Jimmy)immy) WWeeTTrruustst

Seth Turner andthe Applied to total parts &labor invoice Limit one per customer,may not be combined with any other coupons, discounts or advertised specials. High Desert Drifters Must be presented at time of written authorization. Expires 1/31/14 The Bull Hide - thursday,friday,saturday $ Basic 10/30 Oil GreatGreat 129.95 ParlourBar 6p.m –10p.m. $ 00 -Made in USA &Filter Change Americancaneri Up to 5qts. Plus tax and disposal fee, canister ﬁlters 10 extra, most cars and light trucks. Exp 1/31/14 Cowboyywbo RiflefleRi 20%OFF Watchthe $ 00LOOK NFRLIVEFEED 15 Smog Check Hats,Belts, Includes Certiﬁcate with us CALL Shirts,Accessories. 644-5432 242-5432 FOFORR (Regular priced items only) 4320 E.Craig Rd. 7870 W. Ann Rd. DETAILS 228-5432 877-5432 6104 W. Cheyenne 6765 W. Flamingo TODAY!!AY Visit www.myautoservicelv.com for moreoffers 1-877- WE ACCEPT ALL 702.737.8469 6TH&FREMONT|385-5200 COMPETITORSCOUPONS! 887-4867 Hours: Mon-Fri. 8am-6pm, Sat. 8am-4pm. 1080 E. Flamingo Rd. elcortezhotelcasino.com Must present coupons at time of write up. Coupons cannot be combined with any other offers. (just west of Maryland Pkwy.) Management reserves all rights. www.AmericanLegacyfirearms.cmeri.Awww canLegacyfirearms.com ©2013 El Cortez Hotel and Casino. Page 2 • Friday, December 13, 2013 a Las Vegas Review-Journal NFR

Today’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo events

Brett Eldredge

FRIDAY, DEC. 13 Las Vegas Convention Center 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. — Outside the Barrel Tip of the Day — More than 40 hotel with Flint Rasmussen properties in Clark County show the 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. — Wrangler NFR Wrangler NFR on live satellite feed. Autograph Session (Saddle Bronc Viewing is in high definition at select Riders), Las Vegas Convention Center properties. NFR IN ARENA NFR 9 – 5 6:45 p.m. National anthem singer — 8 a.m. — 27th annual Spurs & Spikes Daryle Singletary Golf Tournament (ticket required) 7 p.m. Ninth Go-Round NFR 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Cowboy FanFest, performance, Thomas & Mack Center Las Vegas Convention Center 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Cowboy Christmas, NFR AFTER DARK

Bill Engvall

6:30 p.m. – 4 a.m. — Rodeo Vegas 2013, 8 p.m. — Sinbad, The Orleans The Mirage 8 p.m. — JayZ, Mandalay Bay 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. — Gary Leffew’s 9 p.m. — Damsel, LoCash Cowboys Legendary Buck ’n Ball, Gold Coast and Neal McCoy, 10 p.m. 9 p.m. – 3 a.m. — Gold Buckle Zone, 9 p.m. — Bill Engvall, Treasure Island MGM Grand 10 p.m. — Merle Haggard, Golden 10:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. — National Nugget Finals Tonight Show, Gold Coast 10 p.m. — Jerrod Neimann, The 11 p.m. – Go-Round Buckle Mirage Presentations, South Point 10 p.m. — Rodney Carrington, MGM Grand ENTERTAINMENT Highlight of the Day — Brett Eldredge 7 p.m. — Aaron Watson with Wolf performs at Gary Leffew’s Legendary Creek, South Point Buck ’n Ball at Gold Coast. Admission is 7:30 p.m. — Shania Twain, Caesars free, doors open at 8 p.m. Palace For a complete listing of events, 8 p.m. — Brett Eldredge, Gold Coast go to www.NFRexperience.com or 8 p.m. — The Black Crowes, Hard follow us on Facebook or Twitter at / Jerrod Neimann Rock LasVegasNFR #WranglerNFR.

�� Las Vegas Review-Journal a Friday, December 13, 2013 • Page 3 NFR Judges relish pressure-packed duty

ports fans love to yell at referees and officials. It’s a hobby for some, who Sblurt out profanity-laced diatribes like they’re going out of style. The practice is much more subdued in ProRodeo, but the sport’s officials aren’t immune to the attacks.

Neal Reid IN THE ARENA

At the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the 14 judges and pro officials who don the black-and-white-striped- vests to decide scores in the roughstock events and oversee the timed events receive mostly good-natured ribbing when fans don’t agree with their marks or calls. Highly trained and specially selected by rodeo administrators, ProRodeo judges and officials are immensely important to the $6.25 million event. They decide whether they think NEAL REID/SPECIAL TO THE LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL saddle bronc riders miss their horses Wrangler NFR judge Mike Todd is one of 14 men tasked with deciding scores and making calls at the 55th staging of the world’s richest rodeo. out of the chutes, determine whether roughstock cowboys make it to the year. “There’s stuff that happens while doing their work, unless they get was made to move the Finals to the eight-second whistle and determine that’s minute that is going to make a run over by an animal, make a tough or “Entertainment Capital of the World” in whether they think the timed-event difference between whether a guy wins questionable call or input a score that the early 1980s. contestants have broken the barrier. a world championship or he doesn’t.” puzzles spectators. They are students of “I was in Oklahoma City when they Judges can’t miss the slightest detail Judging the Wrangler NFR presents the sport who know its history, legacy announced the Finals were moving to or fail to see anything that happens in unique challenges. and traditions and who often come from Las Vegas, and there were quite a few the arena because tens of thousands of “It’s the best against the best, and a long line of rodeo people. people from Oklahoma at the table I was dollars and gold buckles are on the line. there are so many similar animals First and foremost, Wrangler NFR sitting at,” Gibbs said. “They said, ‘It’ll And they often draw the ire of some and rides,” said Steve Knowles, who judges are huge rodeo fans who love never work. You’ll be back here in two of the more than 17,000 fans filling the is judging the Finals for the 15th time. living the Western way of life. to three years.’ And look where we’ve Thomas & Mack Center each night. “So, you have to decipher between “You enjoy watching a great ride gone now.” “We’re going to get booed,” said those and pick a winner, and that’s a lot where an animal really bucks, or a great The two veterans admitted that, George Gibbs, who has been a judge at more difficult here. You don’t have that run in the team roping, tie-down roping even after all these years working the 27 of the 29 Wrangler NFRs held in Las caliber of animals everywhere you go. or steer wrestling,” Gibbs said. Wrangler NFR, they still get butterflies Vegas, including this year’s. “The crowd “You end up being bunched up more, Knowles, who is judging the bareback and an adrenaline rush from doing their doesn’t completely understand our but the best riders still end up coming riding this year, is energized and excited job on the sport’s grandest stage. scoring system 100 percent. Or, you’re out on top. It’s just a little harder to go by the growth of the Wrangler NFR in “It’s very exciting,” Knowles said. going to get booed in the timed events through the process.” Las Vegas. “It’s the championship of the world, and because they don’t know exactly what The men in the stripes take their roles “When I walk around this community, it’s a lot of added pressure on all of us. we’re looking for.” in the world’s richest rodeo seriously I see how big this (event) has become,” The nerves are still there.” It’s a high-pressure job that is as and cherish their time in Las Vegas. Knowles said. “Sometimes, I’ve just A freelance writer based in Colorado Springs, Colo., Neal intense as they come. “This is the biggest thing in the rodeo got to stop and think, ‘Wow, I’m a part Reid spent six years as editor of the ProRodeo Sports “There is added pressure because business, and I’m just happy to have of this!’ I’m very proud to be a part News. His writing has appeared in USA Today, Newsday, the pace of the rodeo is so fast,” said been a part of it for the years I have,” of something that brings this much Western Horseman,American Cowboy and the Denver Gibbs, who is judging the team roping, Gibbs said. “It’s a grand event.” revenue and people to the area.” Post, among other publications. Follow him on Twitter: tie-down roping and bull riding this Most of the time, judges go unnoticed Gibbs remembers when the decision @NealReid21.

FFFRIDAYRIDAYRIDAY, D,DDECEMBERECEMBERECEMBER 131313 Thewestgetswild.

Alexis Bloomer Live “outs“outsideide the barrel” rodeo live unplugg unpluggeded 10:30 a.m. –11:15 a.m. with f flintlint Rasmus Rasmussensen morgan LeighLeigh Boyd Polhamus 12:00 p.m. –1:00 p.m. 1:15 p.m. –2:00 p.m. K.C. Jones Ryan Gray Live acoustic set, plus hear Charly Crawford Aaron Watson Morgan’s inspiration for Shane Hanchey her songs

plus!plus!plus!

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’sFoundation’s CalcuttaCalcutta 11:15 a.m. –11:50 a.m.

celebrity not so ne newlywedwlywed game 3:15 p.m. –4:15 p.m.

classic equine cowbo cowboyy guy mclean mounted shootingshooting horsemanshiphorsemanship 10:30 a.m. –11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. –12:45 p.m.

million dollar ranch sortingsorting bucking bull and 3:00 p.m. –3:45 p.m. rider tournamenttournament mini bucking bulls 1:00 p.m. –2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. –4:45 p.m.

autograpautographh sessions 2013 NFR Saddle Bronc Riders -12:00 p.m. –2:00 p.m. BillEngvall December 6&13 /LasVegasNFR #WranglerNFR in theTreasureIsland Theatre SALOON •DANCE HALL•BAR-B-QUE NFRexperience.com gilleyslasvegas.com treasureisland.com Today’s Sponsor Highlight -Lucas Oil Page 4 • Friday, December 13, 2013 a Las Vegas Review-Journal NFR

▶ EXPERIENCE: Going strong at 52 NFR FUN FACTS & FIGURES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 components.” And O’Brien Cooper would certainly know the winning formula at this stage $65,643 among heelers, and Davis took of his career. Yet anymore, reaching the 15th and final spot among headers the NFR isn’t necessarily the most with $60,936. important achievement. “With anyone, there’s a certain amount “It used to be that the NFR was what of time it takes to kind of get into the it was all about,” he said. “But to me, the flow of knowing what the other guy is NFR is not the only focus and the only doing, how things will set up and how goal at this point of my life. I enjoy going you react to that,” O’Brien Cooper said. to good rodeos throughout the year, I “But that didn’t take long for us. I’ve enjoy the camaraderie with my friends, roped with him before and with others and making friends with the younger with similar styles. generation. But Davis, even at 31, didn’t have the “I’ve seen these kids grow up, I’ve experience of most team ropers, let known a lot of them since they were alone the veteran O’Brien Cooper. born, so I’ve got a friendship with kids “Justin’s kind of a rookie, in the sense I’ve known my whole life. So that part of that he’s never really tried to make the it is really cool, as well.” NFR,” O’Brien Cooper said. “I gave him Also really cool is still being at the top the ins and outs of what we’ll face during of his game after so long — well after the year, told him not to be worried by athletes in most any other sport would what others are doing, to trust in what have to hang it up. JOHN LOCHER/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL you’re doing. That was my job, to have “I’m grateful and feel like God has Bray Armes takes down a steer in the steer wrestling event on the third night of us both on the same page.” blessed me,” O’Brien Cooper said. the 2013 National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday. Davis’ job was to do what youngsters “There are not too many 52-year-old can do. guys who get to compete in the sport Some fun facts about four-footed participants and two-footed spectators: “The thing the young guys bring is they’ve loved their whole life, and still ■ Four-footed participants in the NFR will consume 60 tons of grain during the 10-day the enthusiasm and the excitement of compete with the best. I’m blessed by event. Horses and cattle will devour 180 tons of hay and 70 tons of grass. the challenge of making it to the NFR the opportunity to have good partners ■ It takes 1,200 tons of dirt — at a depth of 12 to 15 inches — to cover the arena for the first time,” O’Brien Cooper said. and good horses and still be able to floor for the NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center. ■ Rodeo fans attending the NFR will consume 75,000 beers and 11,000 hard-liquor “Also, youth brings the athleticism, compete. drinks during the 10-day run. So don’t forget the designated driver! But fans practice quickness and speed — the ability to “I enjoy the thrill, the excitement and some temperance, too, drinking 15,000 bottles of water and 26,000 sodas. do the job fast. This is a timed, speed- the enthusiasm of competition. Life is ■ Over the course of the NFR, fans will purchase 5,000 pizzas, 4,500 orders of nachos, driven event. One partner needs to fun when you can do what you want to 6,800 hot pretzels and 7,000 bags of popcorn. be fast, the other consistent. Usually do. To be able to make a living at it is ■ Thirty-six Las Vegas Valley hotels are airing live coverage on satellite feeds. the good teams have both those icing on the cake.”

Kickin'Kicki It Up!n' Up! BODACIOUSBOD IOUSSIOU ®®® BOOT GIVGIVEAEA WAYYWA AT the DAND GOLDEN GATE

Kick into NFR and win ap a pairair of ladies’ Bodacious® brand Las Vegas boots or men’s traditional cowboy boots everyday. Daily drawings December 6–15 6 – 15 4p.m. at Golden Gate 6p.m. and 10 p. m. at the D Play slots, table games or Keno to earntickets! mUST BE pRESENT TO WIN. Keno available at the Donly. Must be 21 years or older to participate. See Club DorClub 1906 for details.

theD.com GoldenGateCasino.com. 702-388-2400 800-426-1906 Downtown At theworlD FAmous Fremontstreet experience