NFR draws top cowboys to Vegas

Ed Dodrill

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1997 | 5:23 a.m.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE names of the top rodeo cowboys were household words in maybe three or four states, with Texas, Wyoming and Oklahoma hosting most of the big events.

But today, with substantial prize money and increased exposure on television, rodeo has made it to the ranks of a national sport. Names like Ty Murray, Joe Beaver, Marvin Garrett and the Etbauer brothers are known to many more people than rodeo champions of the past.

At the National Finals Rodeo, the names at the top of the list for each event are familiar because they have, in most events, been there before.

The notable exception is the elimination of Murray, the seven-time world champion who missed the 1995 through 1997 seasons as a result of injuries to his knees and shoulders. He has always been followed by legions of fans because of his modest and shy manner that belies his fierce competitive nature.

Murray got back into action after a two-and-a-half-year absence at the American Royal rodeo in Kansas City, Mo., the first rodeo of the 1998 season.

During his first day back, he scored 76 on each of his two bareback rides, winning a third-place share of the day's purse. He also earned a check in saddle bronc riding with scores of 75 and 74. His single ride on a bull was one second short of the eight required for a score.

The top two names in bull riding are also new.

Joe Beaver, the all-around champion in 1995 and 1996, returns to the NFR this year in third place with winnings of $92,569.

Beaver was the world champion calf roper in 1985, 92 and 93.

He's behind Cody Ohl, who won $113,414 during the season. In first place is Dan Mortensen with $151,434. He won almost all of that money, $143,041, in saddle bronc riding, standing in the lead for that event.

Mortensen's winnings in saddle bronc riding are well ahead of Robert Etbauer, who holds second place with $94,033. Last year's champion, brother Billy Etbauer, is in third position with $85,823. The other member of the rodeo family, Dan Etbauer, is in sixth place with $69,579.

There has been a big shift in the bareback riding competition, with last year's world champion, Mark Garrett in seventh place with $56,374.

First place is held by Denny McLanahan, who has nearly a $22,000 lead at $90,109. The second-place cowboy is Larry Sandvick, with $68,225.

The crowd will also be keeping an eye on the 1993 world champion, Deb Greenough, who could repeat that year's come-from-behind performance. He's coming to Las Vegas holding fourth position, with $64,673 in purse money.

Injury upon injury kept the bull-riding champion of last year, Terry West, out of the arena for most of the year, and he failed to make the finals this year. With the same spirit as Murray, he says he will heal and return.

In the meantime, Wayde Joyal, with $63,250, holds first place in bull riding at the start of his first NFR. Mike White, another newcomer, is holding down second place, with $58,106, with Scott Breding breathing down his neck, with third-place money of $57,636. There is only a difference of $1,016 between Breding and fourth-place holder Kelly Armstrong at $56,620. Nearly $1,000 behind him are Johnny Chavez at $55,738, Scott Mendes with $55,349 and Lee Akin with $55,080. The championship could be decided by pocket change.

Veteran calf-roper Fred Whitfield, who has made every National Finals Rodeo since 1990 and won the title last year, is nearly $30,000 behind the lead this year, holding fourth place at $66,961. In first place is Cody Ohl, with a narrow margin separating his $96,464 with second-place Stran Smith's $95,774.

Guy Allen, who won the first of 10 world championships in steer roping in 1977, again leads the pack with a wide margin at $60,399. Allen, last year's champion, is well ahead of the second-place Jim Davis, who won $40,390. Buster Record Jr., at $36,067, is in third place.

New names are also on the program's steer-wrestling page. Last year's champion, Chad Bedell, finished the regular season in 21st place and won't be competing in the finals. Ote Berry, who won the title four times with 10 appearances in NFR competition, did not make the cut.

The leaders this year are Frank Davis ($70,652), Rope Myers ($69,566) and Byron Walker ($62,664).

Davis finished the regular season last year in 10th place, earning his second trip to the NFR. Myers, the 1992 Resistol Rookie of the Year, is making his third trip to the finals, looking for his first championship.

Byron Walker is making his debut trip to the National Finals Rodeo.

Last year's world champion team ropers, header Steve Purcella and heeler Steve Northcott, are returning to defend their titles. Purcella holds second-place money of $59,682, behind Charles Pogue, who has been to five finals. His winnings for this year total $63,900.

Northcott, with $59,682 in purse money, comes to town in second place. The leader is Britt Bockius with a small lead, at $63,900 for the season.