ProRodeo Sports News - May 15, 2020

DIRECTOR’S CUT SCOTT KANIEWSKI

Thanks to members who’ve provided stories T oday, this space is reserved as a thank you for the cowboys. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous cowboys and members have given their time to help ProRodeo Sports News continue to deliver the latest in ProRodeo coverage. With the help of so many ProRodeo members, we at PRCA photographers – keeping social distancing in mind – to allow the photographers to provide the magazine with fresh art. That’s led to new features in PSN such as “At Home With …” and “Downtime in Pictures.” It’s led to some cover shots we never would have had without the openness and humility of some of our top competitors. Then there have been the Facebook Live videos in which

ProRodeo.com and PSN have had the opportunity to continue to bring audiences information and stories from around the ProRodeo world. Whether it’s been via social media or recording videos on cell phones, plenty of cowboys have provided us with so much content. Competitors don’t have to do that. They could sit at home and work on whatever they have going – and as we’ve seen, a lot of them have plenty to do. Some have been practicing to stay in rodeo shape, while others have been building and creating. They’ve shared all of those instances with us and with you. If you haven’t seen it, check out the many videos on ProRodeo.com or on our social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn). Even when it’s just a 30-second clip, that’s still proof that these guys have taken the time to open their homes to fans virtually. And who doesn’t want to see what these cowboys are up to? Even if they’re bored, it shows they are in the same boat as so many who can’t work. They’re doing the same things. They are homeschooling their kids. They are turning on Netflix and streaming “Tiger King” or popping in Lonesome Dove to watch for the 134th time because, why not. They’ve opened their houses, ranches and farms to local

members have donated more than a half hour of their personal time to field questions from rodeo fans. The Facebook Live interviews have been a huge success. Whether it was Sage Kimzey, TimO’Connell or Justin Rumford, the questions have been plentiful and thoughtful. Some questions have kept the interviewees on their toes, almost like a media day with all questions being directed to one person. And the answers have been honest, not that you’d expect anything less. That’s who cowboys are. In sports journalism, it’s known there are certain sports whose athletes aren’t the most accommodating to media or fans. It’s also known that there are sports whose athletes are incredibly approachable. Rodeo is one of them. PRCA competitors are almost always willing to talk. Maybe that’s the reason ProRodeo fans are so loyal. You can meet a cowboy who just competed and end up walking away thinking you made a friend. Chances are, you have. So, thank you to all the cowboys, timers, stock contractors, clowns, barrelmen, bullfighters, photographers and everyone else who have donated photos and videos and shared stories about what they’ve been up to. #StayHomeCowboyStrong

Scott Kaniewski is the Media Director at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He previously served more than two years as the editor of ProRodeo Sports News. He has nearly two decades of experience in sports journalism, with the last few being consumed by ProRodeo.

ProRodeo Sports News 5/15/2020

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