Beaver doesn’t take a backseat to anyone

Thursday, Dec. 5, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

SPECIAL TO THE SUN

Few rodeo cowboys have been as successful as Joe Beaver over the past decade, especially at the timed-event end of the arena.

Even so, a man named Ty Murray kept Beaver from winning the all-around title he wanted so badly.

Until now.

Murray, the six-time all-around champ seemed to have a lock on the all-around buckle through the end of the century. But, as fate would have it, the famed cowboy from Stephenville, Texas, suffered a knee injury in June, leaving the door wide open for a handful of cowboys who have waited hungrily in the wings the past several years.

Beaver, 30, who finished second to Murray three times in the past four years, jumped at the opportunity. He started as a team roper -- an event he has dabbed in over the years -- while maintaining his full-time calf roping pace.

The strategy and his talents paid off. At the 1995 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, the five-time world champion calf roper claimed the world all-around cowboy title with $141,753.

The Huntsville, Texas, cowboy said he felt sorry for Murray when he learned the three-event roughstock hand had to lay out for most of the year. But Beaver also recognized the opportunity he'd been given.

"There may not be any more changes, Beaver said. "As long as he (Ty) is healthy, you're not going to beat him. This might be the one chance in my carer to do it."

The all-around title has been won by roughstock competitors every year since 1985, the year after calf roper and team roper Dee Pickett claimed top honors.

"I had some chances before and they beat me at the riding-event end," Beaver said. "Now I'm taking it to the timed-event end. It means something to me. I might be the only guy in the '90s to take it to the timed-event end."

Although Beaver did not clinch the all-around title until the eighth round of the NFR, he was favored from the moment Murray dropped out of the picture.

He cruised into Las Vegas with a $30,000 lead in the all-around standings, and was in contention for a sixth calf roping title. The calf roping win didn't materialize, but Beaver did earn $36,928 at the Finals for a 1995 calf-roping total of $122,598. In an extremely competitive field, Beaver finished second to 1991 World Champion Calf Roper Fred Whitfield of Hockley, Texas, by about $24,000.

"Vegas, with its quick set-up and the little arena, has done a lot for calf roping and team roping, as well," Beaver said. "I'd say from 1993 to 1999, calf roping will be as tough as it will ever be."

And if Braver keeps up the pace that has earned him five world calf roping titles, three NFR average championships and a world all-around title the past 11 years, the competition will have a tough time staying with him. During that time, Beaver has earned $1,199,837, fifth on the all-time earnings list.