ProRodeo Sports News - February 19, 2021

PARTNERS: Tie-down ropers King Pickett, left, and Cory Solomon are grateful American pioneers who have paved the way for them to compete in the PRCA. for the African

Clay Guardipee photo

ROYAL BEGINNINGS Tie-down ropers Cory Solomon and King Pickett recently started Royalty I.D., a motivational influencer platform designed to promote positivity to all who come in contact with the team and company. “My goal in rodeo is to see more African Americans at this level, but part of the reason I started Royalty I.D. is that it doesn’t matter what race you are or what you come from, I’d just like to see rodeo for rodeo,” Solomon said. “Just like those guys paved the way for us, I would like to continue to pave the way and let people know it doesn’t matter who you are or what race you are or where you’re from, we all still love to rodeo, and this is the sport we love to do. Watching us do it is my hope to see more do it.”

Stu Hagen photo

CHANGING THE PAST

The gold buckle eluded Dightman, but he did get a measure of satisfaction by tutoring Sampson. The highlight of the mentorship between the two came in 1982 at the NFR in Oklahoma City. With Dightman watching in the arena, Sampson became the first African American to win the bull riding world championship. “It was good when Charlie won it because he proved to the world that a black man could do it,” Dightman said. due to my goals, due to my personality, and just like Myrtis, due to my ability also,” Sampson said in the August 28, 2015, issue of PSN . “All I did in this sport is to show that a black man had just as much ability as a white man or any man in this sport. My ability was just as good as anybody’s in the sport and, fortunately, I wasn’t discriminated against as badly as Myrtis was.” Solomon, meanwhile, has enjoyed his time in the PRCA. “There aren’t very many African Americans at this level of rodeo, but I’ve met some of the best people going down the road,” he said. “It’s a sport we love, and we’ve done a whole lot. When you get to the ProRodeo level there are fewer African Americans, but those guys paved the way and things are getting better.” Sampson also reflected on his gold buckle season. “I think my championship was due to the timing,

PRCA ProRodeo file photo CHAMPION: Bull rider Charlie Sampson gets ready to take in the action at the 2002 National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Sampson won his historic bull riding world title in 1982 in Oklahoma City.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/19/2021

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