ProRodeo Sports News - July 8, 2022

SHORT ROUND

J ames Caan, the veteran screen actor best known as Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather” and his work in “Misery” and “Elf,” passed away on July 6. He was 82. His family announced the death in a statement on his verified Twitter account. What fans of Caan may not realize is he was a PRCA tie-down roper and team roper. Caan earned $2,404 in his PRCA career – all in team roping. Caan loved sports and acknowledged in stories that he found competing in the PRCA a challenge. He became interested in roping when he was on location in Nebraska, filming the movie “The Rain People,” which came out in 1969. “I didn’t really know what I was doing in the beginning, but I’m really a good mimic,” Caan was quoted saying in the 1983 Official ProRodeo Media Guide. “I worked hard at my roping and learned it.” Caan added that he thoroughly enjoyed competing with PRCA cowboys. “Being around the people,” Caan said in a newspaper article. “I like the way they treat me. It was hard to win their acceptance and respect. At first, they figured here comes this Hollywood actor wantin’ to play cowboys. I had to win to be accepted. After you win a few times, they treat you like just another guy out there competing and who can beat them sometimes. You can just be yourself. I don’t know what it is. It is partly being able to act out a kid’s fantasy. But I like being around them. It cleanses my brain.” In 1980, Caan, a heeler, competing with 1974 PRCA Team Roping World Champion H.P. Evetts, won money at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver with a 7.3-second run. “I think the reason the cowboys accept me is because I’m at a rodeo to win,” Caan said in Jan. 14, 1980, PRCA press release. “I’m not some Hollywood guy who acts like a professional roper, Late actor James Caan was a PRCA competitor Rodeo Ties

PRCA ProRodeo file photo

I am one. As a matter of fact, my rodeo accomplishments mean more to me than my Oscar nomination for “The Godfather.” There’s something about rodeo dirt that makes me feel clean – it gets me away from the fakery of Hollywood, and back to the basics.” Caan first found fame playing Chicago Bears halfback Brian Piccolo in “Brian’s Song,” a widely seen 1971 TV movie. The tear-jerking film chronicled Piccolo’s real-life battle with terminal cancer and drew praise for its treatment of the interracial friendship between Piccolo and his African American teammate, Gale Sayers. first week of August, just depending on how much pain a guy can put up with.” A Plantar Fascia tear causes intense heel pain. There may also be a pain in the ball of the foot or pain along the arch of the foot. “There’s nothing I could control (suffering this injury),” Pope said. “The horse didn’t do it on purpose. It’s just kind of one of those deals.” Pope finished third in the world standings in 2020 and second in 2021. He won the average the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the last two years.

Jess Pope sidelined with right foot injury Bareback rider Jess Pope, who is leading the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $121,192, will be sidelined until at least the first of August with a right foot sprain. Pope suffered the injury on July 1 when the horse he was

riding – The Cervi Brothers Grease Monkey stumbled and rolled over on top of Pope and his right foot about three seconds into the ride. “I actually tore my Plantar Fascia in two places,” Pope said. “I don’t know exactly how long I will be out. They are getting a special brace made for me and I hope I can be back rodeoing the

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ProRodeo Sports News 7/8/2022