Two Cities, Two Days, Two Events, Two Champions

Our favorite cowboys enjoyed some Southern hospitality this past weekend, as the PBR rolled through Tampa, FL, and Atlanta, GA. Some of the best bucking bulls that those two states have to offer were present and accounted for, as well as several young gun bulls fresh from the Classics and Futurities. And the bull's strength and domination was obvious. Only 14 guys made it to the whistle in Tampa, and just 11 in Atlanta. Because of the low ride numbers, extra riders were brought back on something of a lottery system, so that there would still be 15 championship riders. This is actually what allowed for 11 rides in Atlanta, as Ross Coleman bucked off in round one, but was lucky enough to draw in the championship round. Our Tampa winner was none other than the 2005 World Champion, Oklahoma cowboy Justin McBride. He put up a 84.25 in the only long go of Friday night aboard Texas Two Step, and finished off with an incredible 90.25 aboard Smash Hit, the bull that KO'ed Mike Lee in Charolette, in the championship round. Following him was our next winner (Atlanta champion) Kasey Hayes, who covered Patsy's Pet (87.00) and Barbosa (87.25), to be the only other man to cover both of his bulls. Mike Lee came back this weekend to ride Grim Reaper in Florida for a 83.25. Not bad seeing as he was out last weekend because of that concussion. Florida had some great rides, specially seeing as there were so few. Atlanta also showed that it had the bull power to knock off the best riders the world has to offer. Kasey Hayes covered Sunshine in the short go, to win his second go round of the night. And young Shane Proctor covered Just a Dream, a bull that has experienced great success, bucking off all but six of the cowboys who have drawn him.

The PBR's top 45 cowboys are headed across the country next week. They will be tightening their ropes out in Anaheim CA for a 3-day event, from the 9-11, at the Amp'd Mobile Invitational. Good luck to all the cowboys.