Six-time world champ Murray returns after 3-year absence from Las Vegas

Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998 | 3:49 a.m.

Professional rodeo's richest event and a familiar face return to Las Vegas when the $4.2 million National Finals Rodeo kicks off Friday with the first of 10 sold-out performances at the Thomas & Mack.

Six-time world All-Around champion Ty Murray, sidelined for the past three NFRs due to an assortment of injuries, will be back in the saddle and gunning for not only his seventh All-Around title, but his second bull riding crown, as well.

Murray comes to Las Vegas with the lead in both Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association standings; Murray leads Trevor Brazile by more than $42,000 in the All-Around and Mike White by nearly $18,000 in the bull riding standings.

Defending world bull riding champion Scott Mendes of Weatherford, Texas, did not qualify for this year's NFR.

Murray, of Stephenville, Texas, won six consecutive All-Around titles from 1989 to 1994 and captured his first bull riding title in 1993. He was denied in his attempt to win a record seventh straight All-Around championship in 1995 when a severe knee injury forced him out of that year's NFR.

A subsequent shoulder injury relegated the champ to a commentator's role at the past three NFRs.

The top 15 athletes in each of seven events -- bareback riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, team roping (heading and heeling), bull riding and Women's Professional Rodeo Association barrel racing -- qualify for the lucrative season finale.

Reigning world All-Around champion Dan Mortensen did not compete in the requisite two events this year and is not ranked in the All-Around standings. He is, however, leading the saddle bronc standings by a comfortable $53,703 over Tom Reeves and is in line to capture his fifth world championship in that event.

While Mortensen appears to be the odds-on favorite to lay claim to another gold buckle at this year's NFR, there are several other hotly contested battles that will be settled during the 10-day run.

. The tightest battle for a world championship is in steer wrestling, where Mike Smith of Baton Rouge, La., holds a narrow $946 edge over Rope Myers of Van, Texas. Reigning world champion Brad Gleason is 12th in earnings with $52,661.

. Another close race exists between Charles Pogue of Ringling, Okla., and Speed Williams of Jacksonville, Fla., for the team roping (heading) title. A mere $1,264 separates Pogue and Williams, the reigning world champion in that event.

. In team roping (heeling), Britt Bockius of Claremore, Okla., holds a mere $2,425 lead over defending world champion Rich Skelton of Llano, Texas.

. Two-time WPRA world champion barrel racer Kristie Peterson of Elbert, Colo., holds a narrow $1,928 lead over Sherry Cervi, the 1995 world champion, going into the NFR.

. In bareback riding, Clint Corey of Culver, Ore., leads Rocky Steagall of Sanger, Calif., by $16,355. Defending world champion Eric Mouton qualified 14th with $50,727.

. In calf roping, 1997 world champion Cody Ohl holds a sizeable lead over Fred Whitfield with $123,703 in earnings. Whitfield has earned $95,258 coming into the NFR and Trent Walls of Stephenville, Texas, is third with $76,578.

The 40th National Finals Rodeo will run through Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Thomas & Mack. Each of the first nine performances are scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m. and the Dec. 13 matinee finale will start at 11:45 a.m.