A champion's tale
LAS VEGAS – Billy Etbauer is from Edmond, Okla., by way of South Dakota. He and brothers Robert and Dan have made Oklahoma their homes for the last couple of decades – the other two near the Oklahoma Panhandle burg of Goodwell.
Robert led the way to No Man’s Land, where he attended Panhandle State University on a rodeo scholarship. The others followed suit so they could rodeo with their big brother. Together, the three teamed up with Craig Latham to make what might be a holy quartet of saddle bronc riders. They all obtained sponsorship from Express Ranches near Yukon, Okla., so their matching blue shirts have made them quite recognizable to rodeo folks near and far.
All told, the quartet has dozens of National Finals Rodeo qualifications and seven world championships – Robert got the first two, then Billy’s won five, including the 2004 championship. It was during the final round of last year’s NFR that Billy had what’s been considered the greatest bronc ride in the history of ProRodeo by many insiders. Matching moves with the ProRodeo bronc of the year, Billy and Kessler Rodeo Co.’s Cool Ally scored 93 points (out of a possible 100).
That tied an arena record, and many who saw it said the score was about three points low – a 96 would’ve been a better fit and would stand alone atop in the record book for many years to come.
Billy’s one of the most humble people you’ll ever meet. He’s 42 years old and still rides broncs better than kids half his age ever will.
Heading into tonight’s first go-round of the 2005 NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center, Billy Etbauer is seventh in the world standings. He’s $70,000 behind the leader, Jeffrey Willert, another South Dakotan who transplanted to the Oklahoma Panhandle to ride broncs in college.
But with go-rounds winners earning $15,738 and the cowboy with the best cumulative score at the end of the 10-day event earning $40,360, that ground can be made up quite easily. At last year’s NFR, Etbauer earned nearly $118,000.
When he’s not rodeoing, Billy and his wife, Hollie, have their hands full with two boys, Kord and Treg, and a girl, Jacie. They also raise and train horses.
Billy Etbauer’s all cowboy and despite his excellence in the rodeo arena, his humility carries him through everyday life. His phrases are peppered with “yes sirs” and “no ma’ams” and as soft-spoken as he is, he’s still a great representative of our game.
This afternoon, somewhere in Sin City, Billy Etbauer’s in front of a television camera having a satellite conversation with David Letterman. That’s scheduled to air tonight, so if you want to see a humble man with a tremendous athletic gift, tune in.
It might just be worth your time.
Robert led the way to No Man’s Land, where he attended Panhandle State University on a rodeo scholarship. The others followed suit so they could rodeo with their big brother. Together, the three teamed up with Craig Latham to make what might be a holy quartet of saddle bronc riders. They all obtained sponsorship from Express Ranches near Yukon, Okla., so their matching blue shirts have made them quite recognizable to rodeo folks near and far.
All told, the quartet has dozens of National Finals Rodeo qualifications and seven world championships – Robert got the first two, then Billy’s won five, including the 2004 championship. It was during the final round of last year’s NFR that Billy had what’s been considered the greatest bronc ride in the history of ProRodeo by many insiders. Matching moves with the ProRodeo bronc of the year, Billy and Kessler Rodeo Co.’s Cool Ally scored 93 points (out of a possible 100).
That tied an arena record, and many who saw it said the score was about three points low – a 96 would’ve been a better fit and would stand alone atop in the record book for many years to come.
Billy’s one of the most humble people you’ll ever meet. He’s 42 years old and still rides broncs better than kids half his age ever will.
Heading into tonight’s first go-round of the 2005 NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center, Billy Etbauer is seventh in the world standings. He’s $70,000 behind the leader, Jeffrey Willert, another South Dakotan who transplanted to the Oklahoma Panhandle to ride broncs in college.
But with go-rounds winners earning $15,738 and the cowboy with the best cumulative score at the end of the 10-day event earning $40,360, that ground can be made up quite easily. At last year’s NFR, Etbauer earned nearly $118,000.
When he’s not rodeoing, Billy and his wife, Hollie, have their hands full with two boys, Kord and Treg, and a girl, Jacie. They also raise and train horses.
Billy Etbauer’s all cowboy and despite his excellence in the rodeo arena, his humility carries him through everyday life. His phrases are peppered with “yes sirs” and “no ma’ams” and as soft-spoken as he is, he’s still a great representative of our game.
This afternoon, somewhere in Sin City, Billy Etbauer’s in front of a television camera having a satellite conversation with David Letterman. That’s scheduled to air tonight, so if you want to see a humble man with a tremendous athletic gift, tune in.
It might just be worth your time.
posted by Teditor at 2:12 PM
1 Comments:
UPDATE:
The Letterman episode that aired that Friday night was actually taped the Monday prior, and Billy was in New York for the show taping. I finally saw a replay of the interview this week, and it was pure Billy.
He even got in his well-known plug for Express Ranches, the sponsor that helps keep him rollin' down the rodeo trail
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