PROMOTIONAL SECTION Schedule of NFR events outside the arena NFR PAGE 2 LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013 PROFANTASYRODEO.COM Fantasy rodeo 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 National Finals Rodeo, 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 cowboy 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 bull riding. “It’s really good for rodeo,” said good tonight. 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Page 2 • Friday, December 6, 2013 a Las Vegas Review-Journal Las Vegas Review-Journal a Friday, December 6, 2013 • Page 3 NFR 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.