PROMOTIONAL SECTION Schedule of NFR events outside the arena NFR PAGE 2

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013

PROFANTASYRODEO.COM Fantasy pays big bucks Dodge Ram worth $40,000 goes to entrant who picks best team at NFR

By PATRICK EVERSON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

ome December each year, it really gets down to crunch time for millions of Americans who C participate in fantasy football leagues. But over the next week or so, they’re not alone in seeking make-believe bragging rights or grabbing some real cash. Rodeo has gone fantasy. And in fact, the official online version of fantasy rodeo is celebrating its 10th anniversary at this year’s , where there is plenty of cash on the line, along with the grand prize: a new Dodge Ram truck valued at $40,000. ProFantasyRodeo.com is the brainchild of steer wrestler K.C. Jones — who is competing in his seventh NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center — and business partner Jace Honey. There’s only one “game” in this fantasy league season, though — the NFR. “The National Finals is kind of the Super Bowl for cowboys, ranchers, rural communities,” Jones said. “And our Super Bowl is when you get to watch rodeo on TV. ” Jones said the league went to the Web after years of informal play. “Every year, we kind of had a group of buddies, and they’d pick teams — one K.M. CANNON/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL FILE PHOTO rider or roper from each event. And K.C. Jones of Decatur, Texas, wrestles a steer to the ground during the sixth go-around of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & at the end of the 10 days, we added up Mack Center Dec. 5, 2006. Jones and business partner Jace Honey are the brains behind fantasy rodeo at ProFantasyRodeo.com. how much each team won,” he said. “We thought it would be cool if we put $550,000 salary cap, and each it online. More people could play, and and cowgirl has a salary cap value K.C. JONES we’d have bigger payoffs. based on ranking heading into the NFR. “It’s grown slowly, but we’re in our The No. 1 qualifier in each event costs Event: Steer wrestling 10th year and still doing it.” $150,000, No. 2 is $140,000, and so on 2013 world standing/earnings: Sixth, $69,207 That includes what was a lean down to the No. 15 qualifier at $10,000. Residence: Decatur, Texas beginning. So entrants can’t just load up on No. National Finals Rodeo qualifications: 7 (2002-2004, 2006, “The first four years, we guaranteed 1 qualifiers, or expect superstar roper 2008, 2012-2013 Noteworthy: Jones and business partner Jace Honey run the money, but we weren’t getting and 10-time all-around champion Trevor the official fantasy rodeo contest of the Professional enough entries. We had to borrow from Brazile to pick up all the slack. The key Rodeo Cowboys Association. ProFantasyRodeo.com is the bank to make payments,” Jones is filling out the roster with those lower celebrating its 10th anniversary at the NFR. … Jones’ said. “In the fifth year, we barely made in the standings who present the best top finish in the world standings came in the 2006 enough. Now were getting a little opportunity to win money on a nightly season, when he earned $128,890 to take fourth. He bigger each year.” basis, at a price that’s cost-effective placed in five of the 10 rounds at the NFR that year, ProFantasyRodeo.com has paid out with the salary cap. Winners are including winning the 10th round. more than $1 million in cash and prizes determined based on how much money since 2003, attracting rodeo fans hoping their team’s contestants earn. not only for the big prize at the end of The league awards cash prizes to the NFR, but nightly go-round winnings, the top six entrants in each of the 10 too. The main game covers all 10 nights, rounds, from $2,000 for first to $250 with entrants paying $89.95 to play, then for sixth. And after the 10th round, this year will top $160,000. “People are good, I’m gonna let down all my fantasy drafting a team of eight contestants the entrant whose team has won the rooting for someone in every event. It owners.” covering the seven events: bareback most overall money — the average, in makes the Finals more enjoyable. The For those who missed the deadline for riding, steer wrestling, team roping rodeo parlance — wins the truck, while contestants have a lot more fans now.” the full 10-round competition, today’s (one header, one heeler), saddle bronc second place gets $10,000, and payouts And a little more pressure, too. second round marks the beginning of riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing go down to eighth place ($500). “Fans are saying, ‘You need to do and . “It’s really good for rodeo,” said good tonight. You’re on my fantasy ▶ SEE FANTASY PAGE 4 Entrants are constrained by a Jones, adding total prize compensation team,’ ” Jones said. “If I don’t do any Semi-sleeper for a team is Luke Branquinho 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

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Today’s Wrangler Pro Fantasy Rodeo’s popularity grows, NFR events deepens fans’ interest in all events FRIDAY, DEC. 6

Tip of the Day — If you miss a night of ontestants doing battle at the though Pro Fantasy Rodeo mania can Wrangler NFR coverage, visit Cowboy Thomas & Mack Center at this lead to fans asking in-depth and probing FanFest’s RodeRoundup to grab some year’s Wrangler National Finals questions. C Rodeo are competing for more “It’s real cool and adds another food, relax and watch a replay of last night’s events. Las Vegas Convention than $6.25 million. Neal Reid element to (the rodeo),” Brazile said. “I Center, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Free Thanks to Pro Fantasy Rodeo, the have fans wondering which horse I’m admission. sport’s fans and followers can participate IN THE ARENA riding, and I’m like, ‘Why do you want to in a contest to put together the best rodeo know?’ They say, ‘I’m picking my fantasy NFR 9 – 5 team for a chance to win cash and prizes. team.’” 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Cowboy FanFest, Las Similar to the fantasy football swarm One of the best picks last year was Vegas Convention Center that has enveloped the sports world, Pro barrel racer Mary Walker, who won four 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Cowboy Christmas, Fantasy Rodeo has grown in popularity “It’s real cool and adds rounds, placed in four others and won a Las Vegas Convention Center by leaps and bounds in the 10 years it has another element to (the rodeo-high $146,941 on her way to her 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. — Outside the been part of the Wrangler NFR. rodeo). I have fans wondering first gold buckle. She loves Pro Fantasy Barrel with Flint Building a fantasy team gives fans a Rodeo and what it does for fans. Rasmussen chance to enjoy the sport they love on a which horse I’m riding, and “Last year, I had a lot of people tell 12 p.m. – 2 deep level, giving them added incentive to I’m like,‘Why do you want to me I was on their fantasy team and how p.m. — Wrangler follow every event. excited they were to have me,” Walker NFR Autograph “It’s lots of fun,” 2012 overall winner know?’ They say,‘I’m picking said. “This year, I’ve been getting texts Session (Steer Justin Caylor, who took home a new my fantasy team.’“ and people coming up to me saying, Wrestlers), Cowboy RAM truck for putting together the ‘You’re on my fantasy team this year.’ I TREVOR BRAZILE FanFest, Las Vegas winning team, told ProFantasyRodeo.com. 18-TIME WORLD CHAMPION said, ‘I just hope it works out like it did Gretchen Wilson Convention Center, “Ordinarily, I only pay attention to the last year.’ North Halls. Free roughstock events, but having a team “It really is flattering, and it’s amazing admission. makes you stay involved with every event have just as much fun with it, too. We the fans and people who follow you 1:15 p.m. – 2 p.m.— RodeLive and keeps you cheering your team on. want the fans to have a lot of fun with it.” throughout the whole year.” Unplugged Having a team just makes watching the Considering more than 40 million Caylor’s victory last year was a with Josh Finals so much more fun.” Americans play fantasy football, the welcome surprise for the assistant rodeo Thompson Putting a team together is simple. rising popularity of the game in the sport coach at the University of West Alabama. (Cowboy Every participant begins with a $550,000 of rodeo should come as no surprise. He teamed with his girlfriend, Hannah FanFest) “salary cap,” with top-ranked contestants “It’s fun and gives rodeo fans and rodeo Cooke, and took home the top prize after costing $150,000 and 15th-place people a competitive deal like fantasy picking Feild, saddle bronc rider Jesse NFR IN ARENA competitors going for $10,000. If your football,” reigning World Champion Wright, barrel racer Lisa Lockhart, bull 6:45 p.m. team wins the most money over the bull rider Cody Teel said. “I know a lot of rider Shane Proctor, team ropers Erich National course of the 10-day rodeo, the 3500 people who do get involved in it, and they Rogers and Kory Koontz, Adam Gray in anthem Crew Cab dually is yours. get pretty intense with (fantasy rodeo) the tie-down roping and steer wrestler singer — Second place is $10,000, and Pro and try to use strategy and figure things Bray Armes. Susie Dobbs Fantasy Rodeo will dole out more than out. It makes it fun. “We won some Pro Fantasy money in Josh Thompson 7 p.m. $160,000 in cash and prizes. Nightly “It makes me feel good that they have the third round, but we sure were excited — Second winners pocket $2,000, and fans can win me on their team, and I’ve had a few to find our team came in first when we Go-Round NFR everything from shirts and hats to fire people randomly tell me I am on their checked the Pro Fantasy Rodeo website Performances, pits and Wrangler NFR tickets. team. You want to pull through for them, about 11 the night of Round 10,” Caylor Thomas & The professional cowboys and cowgirls and hopefully I will.” said. Mack Center get a kick out of being part of fans’ Two-time and reigning World Champion The entry deadline for this year’s fantasy teams. Bareback Rider Kaycee Feild is honored overall competition closed when NFR AFTER DARK 9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. — Miss RodeAmerica 8 p.m. — Wynonna, The Orleans 10 p.m. — Ron White, The “What’s fun about it is that, once to be selected for his fans’ teams, and it’s Round 1 began, but fans still can go to 6:30 p.m. – 4 a.m. — Pageant Autograph Session, MGM Grand Lobby 9 p.m. — Damsel and LoCash Cowboys, MGM Mirage people get an opportunity to actually something he thinks about even when he’s ProFantasyRodeo.com and make daily RodeVegas 2013, The 10:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. — National Finals Tonight Grand Highlight of the Day — Josh play and put a team together, they really not in Las Vegas. picks for those prize packages. Mirage Show, Gold Coast 9 p.m. — Bill Engvall, Treasure Island Thompson performs an participate and enjoy it,” said Wrangler “I love it when I hear I’m on somebody’s Caylor’s advice for anyone debating 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. — Gary 11 p.m. — Go-Round Buckle Presentations, South 9:30 p.m. — Billy Childers, South Point intimate, acoustic set where NFR steer wrestler K.C. Jones, who owns fantasy team and that they picked me about playing the game? Leffew’s Legendary Point 10 p.m. — Clay Walker, The Venetian he will explain the inspiration and operates Pro Fantasy Rodeo. “This is over someone else,” said Feild, who “Go for it,” he said. Buck’n Ball, Gold Coast 10 p.m. — Gretchen Wilson, Golden Nugget behind his music during our 10th year, and it keeps getting bigger entered Round 1 in the second spot and A freelance writer based in Colorado Springs, Colo., Neal 9 p.m. – 3 a.m. — Gold ENTERTAINMENT 10 p.m. — Dierks Bentley, Palms RodeLive Unplugged at every year. I really have the satisfaction carried a $140,000 fantasy price tag. Reid spent six years as editor of the ProRodeo Sports Buckle Zone, MGM 8 p.m. — The Farm, Gold Coast 10 p.m. — Josh Thompson, The Mirage Cowboy FanFest at 1:15 p.m. of knowing it really helps the sport of “You’ve got to take it to heart and use it as News. His writing has appeared in USA Today, Newsday, Grand 8 p.m. — Beyonce, MGM Grand 10 p.m. — Rodney Carrington, MGM Grand Free admission. rodeo and attracts the fans. an advantage. It’s a neat feeling.” Western Horseman, American Cowboy and the Denver Beyonce Ron White “It just brings another level of For 18-time World Champion Trevor Post, among other publications. Follow him on Twitter: involvement for the fans. The contestants Brazile, the game is fun to be a part of, @NealReid21.

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▶ FANTASY: Semi-sleeper for a team is steer wrestler Luke Branquinho

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 a daily fantasy contest using the same concept, with an entry fee of $10.95 per round. Fans can sign up and draft their teams at ProFantasyRodeo.com. So would Jones, who was sixth in the world standings heading into the NFR, advise team owners to pick him up? “I see myself on a few teams. I’ve got some people out there believing in me, I guess,” said Jones, who then tossed out a semi-sleeper pick who fans ought to consider: Luke Branquinho, ranked 13th in steer wrestling this year. “He doesn’t cost too much money, and you get a four-time world champion on your team.” Jones alluded to the 2010 NFR, when Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith were eighth in team roping entering the NFR and stormed all the way to first place, earning $120,419 in 10 days. “They only cost $20,000 between them.” Even if you don’t do well in this fantasy league, you can still pocket some cash by being the biggest loser. The person with the worst money total over the 10 days gets $1,000. And shockingly enough, there is a two-time defending champion in that category, Kash Gaikowski from Colorado. “To pick eight of them (who) don’t have a very good week is pretty tough, and he’s done it twice,” Jones said. “He’s trying to pick the best team, and COURTESY PHOTO he ends up picking the worst, but he got This new Dodge Ram, worth $40,000, is the grand prize in this year’s ProFantasyRodeo.com fantasy contest. Entrants picks eight team $1,000 each time.” members, one from each of the seven events at the National Finals Rodeo. There are nightly go-arounds, too.

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