Summer Rodeos count

I was wrong! Plain and simple...I had been critical of the $50,000 winners share at Houston for PRCA cowboys...thought it gave them the leg up...and I still believe it does. However, I saw an article in Western Horseman recently, from a Texas writer who said that the world champions in the majority of cases AREN'T the ones who win at Houston. In fact, in the vast sampling, it's those who rodeo well in the summer who go on to win the titles. Now, frankly most of that is because of the money won in Las Vegas at the Finals. And so there is some argument that winning Houston and its sackful of money DOES give you the leg up because it means you don't have to rodeo as hard the rest of the year to make the Finals. But because of the round money and the average, anyone in the top 15 can win the World. My concern with Houston is simply that the PRCA seems to throw out the rule book to allow them to do it anyway they want. Could Cody do it? or Deadwood? probably not.

On a like subject, I was critical of San Antonio, but I believe they may have struck the perfect model for the rodeo of the future. Every event, in every performance is full of NFR type cowboys; the perfect deal for fans. And they charge high dollar for seats, and fill 'em! Good for the promoters...no slack, no turn outs...perfect. And it allows lower level rodeos to compete by drawing the cowboys who are trying to make the elite list at San Antone. For the cowboys, back to back to back, with the chance to come back to the finals makes that a good deal for them as well.

Seems that the Pro Rodeo leadership needs to make a decision once and for all about the A and B divisions in rodeo. San Antonio is the perfect deal. Throw Houston out.