ProRodeo Sports News - Nov.20, 2020

your mind and body can get used to anything that you condition it to. That’s how it was for me, and I think that is how it is for Stetson, as well. “The NFR is not really something where you have to change your mindset or have a certain mindset. I felt like I better take in the mindset that got me to that point. Nothing really changed and I was always very excited to be able to go and compete at the NFR because it is the best rodeo in the world, and you knew you were going to be getting on really good stock. It was 30 head of fantastic fun.” The physical toll of competing in multiple roughstock events at the Finals would seem to wear on a cowboy, but it didn’t on Murray, who won nine world titles – seven in the all-around (1989-94 and 1998) and two in bull riding (1993 and 1998). “I would generally be a little bit sore around the third or maybe fourth round, but by the fifth round I would have it worked out,” Murray said. “If you don’t have an injury and it is just the day-to-day grind of riding by the time you get to the 10th round, you’re ready for them to load 10 more.” Murray said focus was the key for him to ride in multiple NFR events. “You have to compartmentalize,” Murray said. “You can’t be thinking about your bronc when you’re getting on your bareback and you can’t be thinking about your bull when you’re getting on your bronc. For me it was just trying to really stay in the moment and do the best I could with each one as they came. I would even try to break it down and do the best I could with each jump as it came. “In bareback riding, you’re always staying back, and you are kind of always going against the grain, whereas with riding bulls and riding saddle broncs, you have so much counter movement that can make it easier.” In 1998, Murray became the first cowboy in PRCA history to win seven all-around world championships. Larry Mahan, who mentored Murray, and Tom Ferguson both won six all-around gold buckles. “When I was a little kid, I thought Larry Mahan was like a god,” Murray said. “I thought he was the bravest, toughest cowboy I have ever seen in my life. I was captivated by him. He set a bar for me that I wanted to see if I could top. That’s something that drove me for the first part of my life, and I wanted to be able to break his records. It was so much fun, and I loved every bit of it.” Murray also praisedWright. “I think he’s a very talented young man, a good young man, and I think he can go as far as he wants to go, barring a catastrophic injury,” Murray said. “I can remember when guys like Larry Mahan and Jim Shoulders and Casey Tibbs would say that about me when I first started coming around, and I took it personal – ‘Why do they think I’m going to get hurt?’ I think when you’re 50 years old, you have more of a realization of how dangerous the sport is. You realize as a roughstock rider your chances of getting hurt are 1,000-fold compared to some of the other events. “But the other thing you saw with guys like Larry Mahan, Jim Shoulders, Casey Tibbs and you see with Stetson is that they are very, very good and they have an awareness that helps them avoid a lot of bad injuries.” Murray hasn’t met Wright but plans on doing so at the upcoming Wrangler NFR. “He and I have talked on the phone several times, and I’m very proud of him,” Murray said. “I think I’m going to be at the NFR the first night and I look forward to shaking his hand.” Murray’s words weren’t lost onWright. “It’s really cool and awesome to hear that from him,”Wright said.

Jesse Bail, above, qualified for the NFR in saddle bronc riding and bull riding three times in his career – 2001-2003 – and was the last cowboy to qualify in two roughstock events until this year. Below, ProRodeo Hall of Famer Ty Murray acknowledges the crowd at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Murray qualified for multiple roughstock events at the NFR from 1989-94 and 1998. PRCA ProRodeo file photos

DEC. 3-12, 2020

ProRodeo Sports News 11/20/2020

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