New York, New York: Ride Here, Ride Anywhere

So maybe I need to work on crafting headlines, but isn't that an editor's job?? Here is my story on a bull fight in Times Square!

        NEW YORK- Amongst the skyscrapers, flashing lights and billboards of Times Square, crowds gathered around a temporary bullfighting ring to watch the world’s best riders fight some of the toughest bulls Friday afternoon.  

Cowboy hats and boots abounded for a showcase by the nation’s top ten riders on their way to the Professional Bull Riders World Championships in Las Vegas Oct. 20 - 24. New York is the last stop before the championships and many of the riders have been traveling the country for competition the last few months. 

“Being in Times Square on the bull was amazing, definitely the coolest thing I’ve ever done. I’m lookin’ forward to Vegas real big,” said Ryan McConnel, who is currently ranked 5th going into the championships.

J.B. Mauney of Mooresville,N.C. racked up the most points for his ride of 7.3. seconds- a long time in this sport. 

“I feel good going into the finals; I’m real excited,” said Mauney, who is making his third trip to the Championships. Last year he finished 15th and even “hit 90 a couple of times.” 

In bullriding, points are assigned to both the rider and the bull on a scale of 0 - 100. A score of 90 is considered exceptional and may only happen a few times in a rider’s career.

The points were enough to make Mauney the day’s winner and tighten the lead of Austin Meier, currently ranked number one in points for this year with 10,891.75.  

Meier was disqualified from Friday’s competition because a slow-motion replay showed that he slapped his bull, Mac-Nett’s El Presidente.

“It is what it is, I have to look ahead to the finish,” said Meier. He said that El Presidente was one of the toughest bulls at the competition, where the animals are considered athletes as much as the riders are and are also evaluated on a points scale. 

Although bulls are assigned to riders by a random computerized selection system, Meier has ridden El Presidente in his last three competitions. 

“I’ve been riding since I was knee-high to a grasshopper-- my whole life,” he said. “El Presidente is one of the toughest there is. He hardly ever gets ridden.” 

For many of the riders, Friday’s competition was just a taste of the excitement that awaits them in Vegas, where five days of competition will produce five finalists for next Sunday’s world championships. The winner will go home with one-million dollars.

“My goal is to win the world this year. All the guys here are in the top and I plan on winning it. I’m not goin’ there just to mess around and party in Vegas,” said McConnel. 

On Friday the riders fed off the crowd’s excitement and the novelty of being in Times Square for a bull-riding competition. 

“I love being outside and surrounded by all these people,” said Mike Lee, a rider from Cool, Texas. “Who would have thought you could be on a bull and look up and see New York City? It’s different.” 

New Yorkers and tourists in Times Square flocked to the temporary pen, some wearing cowboy hats and boots, as mud and dirt were flung through the air by the bucking bulls.

The riders agreed that being in Times Square was a great experience, although not that different from any western bullring. 

“ In a normal season event, there’s a lot of lights. It’s loud and there’s a lot of people around. The bulls get to see a lot and they’re used to it in an indoor venue,” said McConnel. 

Before the show, New York dance troupe One Ride performed a country dance. The riders also said that most rodeos involve pyrotechnics or fireworks-- not so different from the flashing lights and loud noises of Times Square.

Here are Yvonne's comments:

         This story confuses me a bit because I think the focus should have also been on the people watching the event…it is so odd and crazy! But this is a very well written and reported story for the angle you were going for. Just take a step back when you report and think about your audience…

And a photo:

Not in Kansas anymore 
Justin Flexen, a member of the New York dance troupe One Ride, takes in Times Square after performing a country dance Friday. One Ride opened for the Built Ford Tough Road to Las Vegas Bullriding Showcase in Times Square, showcasing the top 10 ranked bullriders from across the country. By Rachel Ohm.