PBR World Cup puts new spin on bull riding

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, April 16, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

When Sean Gleason, Professional Bull Riding’s chief operating officer, introduced the PBR World Cup idea four years ago, he heard the groans from the sport’s purists.

Bull riding can’t be a team sport, they said. They asked how an Olympic-style competition between countries was supposed to work in PBR, where riders compete individually against each other every week.

Put simply, Gleason said, fans and riders alike “slaughtered” him for the idea.

“Now, we are seeing great celebration of the event,” Gleason said. “They’ve really embraced it.”

The PBR will hold its fourth annual World Cup and first on American soil this weekend at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The United States, which has won the event the past two years, will square off against Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Australia for the world title. The World Cup will last six rounds — two rounds each Friday, Saturday and Sunday — and the points leader at the end will be crowned.

“I look forward to it every year because I get to compete against the best guys in the world from every country,” America’s Ryan McConnel said. “The fact that I’m going out there and riding for my country means a lot.”

McConnel was the hero of last year’s championship team. The United States entered the final day far behind Brazil, which hosted last year’s event.

But McConnel had one of the best rides of his career in front of a packed audience in Sao Paulo to spark America to victory.

“That was one of my biggest moments ever,” McConnel said. “When I got off, you could have heard a pin drop with 80,000 people. I was pretty fired up over the whole deal.”

McConnel said that while he loved being in the World Cup last year, he’s happy for a change of venue. The hostility of the Brazilian crowd was just too much.

McConnel said the American team was peppered with boos and negativity every time a rider hopped on the bulls.

“It was hard to take,” McConnel said. “The fans here in the states cheer just as much for Brazil as they do for us. In Brazil, it was the exact opposite. They didn’t care for us at all. The only time they cheered was when we fell off.”

Once again, USA and Brazil are considered the two teams to beat this weekend. Joining McConnel on the United States team are Austin Meier, McKennon Wimberly, Mike Lee and Travis Brisoce.

McConnel said the team loved being in Las Vegas, which is annually the site of the PBR World Finals in October.

“It’s a destination that fits us well,” Gleason said. “Between us in October and the National Finals Rodeo in December, I think we turn it into the cowboy capital of the world during that time of year. It’s where cowboys come to play.”

McConnel is just glad the United States team will have the support of the crowd. It comes as a welcomed change.

“It’s going to be nice not to hear 80,000 people booing us when we ride good,” McConnel said. “You feel a little warmer when you’re in the United States.”