Murray proud of his bull riding title

Thursday, Dec. 2, 1999 | 4:03 a.m.

PRCA

Ty Murray

World titles: 1989-94, '98 World Champion All-Around Cowboy; 1993, '98 World Champion Bull Rider

Hometown: Stephenville, Texas

Date of birth: Oct. 11, 1969

Height/weight: 5-8, 150 pounds

1998 earnings: $264,673 (AA); $164,154 (BR); $76,830(SB); $20,688 (BB)

1998 NFR earnings: $71,328(BR); $20,098 (SB)

Joined PRCA: 1988

NFR qualifications: 8 (1989-94, '98-99)

When history looks back at Ty Murray's record-setting season in 1998, his world bull riding title may be nothing more than an afterthought.

But don't tell Murray that.

"There's nothing easy about winning a world title. There's thousands of other guys out there just waiting for the chance to win one, so anytime you can win a world title it's a special deal," Murray said.

While Murray traditionally makes winning world all-around titles look easy, he found himself involved in the fight of his life in the 1998 bull riding chase.

After entering the 40th Anniversary National Finals Rodeo with a nearly $18,000 lead on the field, Murray bucked off four of his first six bulls and dropped to second in the world standings. By the time the sixth round closed, Blu Bryant held an $8,000 advantage over Murray.

But Murray rode each of his next three bulls, placed in the money on each of them and needed nothing more than to ride his final bull to win the NFR average and his second world bull riding title.

In the 10th round, Murray drew Harper and Morgan Rodeo's Hard Copy. Riding last in the final round, Murray became one of only six cowboys to top his final bull. He scored 79 points to split fifth and sixth in the round with Bryant and secure the world title.

"I've made that ride over and over in my back yard ever since I was a little kid," Murray said of having to make the whistle to win the world title. "This is just a dream come true."

In a year when Murray took one step ahead of legends Larry Mahan and Tom Ferguson by winning his seventh world all-around crown, many wondered why the Stephenville, Texas, cowboy even gave the bull riding title a second thought. But the reasons are simple.

"I want to win everything there is to win," Murray said. "To me, all that stuff is important."

Each year thousands of cowboys begin the new season in Kansas City, Mo., with the hope of winning a world title. And while he's a little more well- known than many in the group, Murray is right there with them.

"If you're competing, this is what it's all about," he said. "I just want to win every time I nod my head in every event."