Bucking Tradition, Bull-Riding Fans Cheer for the Beasts

Tuesday, May 25th, 2004

Bucking Tradition, Bull-Riding Fans Cheer for the Beasts reports on a new facet to bull-riding:

Competitive bull-riding, a staple of the Old West, has a new set of stars: the bulls, some of which these days are more famous than their riders.

Professional Bull Riders Inc., which stages competitions, aims to draw in more animal lovers, so it promotes the bulls aggressively. ‘Our philosophy is that there are two athletes in every ride,’ says Randy Bernard, chief executive of the Colorado Springs, Colo., organization.

Just like the riders, the bulls now have their own rankings, statistics, sponsorships, training programs and devoted fans. Top bulls also have their own line of stuffed animals, figurines and T-shirts.

Genius.

It won’t work for bull-fighting until they get rid of the picadores (who spear the bull in the neck before he gets to “fight” the matadore).

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