Bull Riding Legend Passes Away but His Legacy Lives On Forever
Every single bull rider and every fan knew the name 'Bushwacker'. On July 2, what is quite possibly the 'Greatest Bull of All Time' passed away quietly and peacefully. Quite similar to how he lived his life.
For the talent he displayed in the arena and the fierceness of his bucking style, it was hard to believe how gentle the burnt-rust coated bull truly was.
Bushwacker's father was Reindeer Drippin' and his mother was Lady Luck who was sired by Diamond's Ghost. The lineage was nearly enough to make Bushwacker the champion that he was, but those that truly knew him, knew that it was his heart and a man named Kent Cox. Without those two pieces of the puzzle, Bushwacker's lineage may have been enough to make him a good bucking bull, but it certainly wasn't enough to make him the 'Greatest of All Time."
There were only three men who rode Bushwacker for the full 8-seconds. The first two happened when the bull was just a 3-year-old learning the ropes. After he learned how to "feel" what the riders were doing, success for the cowboys was non-existent. Four straight years of buck-offs - 42 in total - made Bushwacker a bull that the crowd loved to watch and the cowboys dreaded to draw. Except J.B. Mauney that is.
13 times. Mauney sat down on Bushwacker 13 times. The bull happened to be branded number 13 as well. The year was 2013. Mauney's successful venture of riding Bushwacker finally happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (In case you're wondering there are 13 letters in Tulsa, Oklahoma.). Mauney finally did it. He didn't last one second - not even a tenth of a second - longer than necessary but he finally got a score.
It wasn't just any score either, it was a 95.25 point ride. The announcer's got it right. "The greatest ever has been bested." He was talking about the bull - although J.B. Mauney may also be the greatest.
The first man to hug Mauney after his successful ride was none other than Kent Cox - Bushwacker's trainer and keeper.
On July 2, Bushwacker took his final breath. At 18 years old, calmly laid down, closed his eyes and went to visit with his old friend Cox who died in 2014. Bushwacker was in the pasture of his long-time owner Julio Moreno.
The PBR awarded Bushwacker as a three-time World Champion - 2011, 2013 and 2014. He had a buck-off record of 64 buck-offs in 66 outs during his career at the PBR.
Moreno compared the bull to Muhammad Ali. He knew he was the greatest, and he wasn't afraid to show that confidence in the arena. He has also been dubbed a "pop culture superstar" enjoying the fame that came with being a stand-out PBR athlete. The bull has been mentioned in Newsweek, ESPN the Magazine and certainly in Sports Illustrated.
Sean Gleason, the CEO of the PBR, said, "Bushwacker transcended our sport. In the arena, Bushwacker was king and he lived that way until the end. He will forever be a symbol of strength, power, determination, raw athleticism and greatness. Rest in Peace, Champ."
LAURA MOTLEY LAMBERT
Laura Lambert resides in Wiggins, Colo. With her husband, Ricky and two sons, Brayden and Boedy. She attended the University of Northern Colorado while studying economics. She is an accomplished rodeo athlete and barrel horse trainer. Over the years, Laura has been active in journalism in a variety of roles. While continuing to cover western sports and country music, she is currently enjoying expanding her reach into multiple sports including MLB, NFL, PGA and LPGA. You can reach her at lauralambertmedia@gmail.com