A few dollars Moore

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2001 | 10:17 a.m.

Mike Moore grew up 45 miles south of Chicago in a rural town called Kankakee, Ill.

As a little boy, he didn't dream of playing for the Bulls.

He dreamed of riding the bulls and living a cowboy's life.

"It was something I wanted to do as a kid," Moore said. "My family never said to me, 'No you can't do that,' even though it wasn't very popular in the community I grew up in."

Moore was so focused on fulfilling his dreams that he never participated in any other sport at any level.

So far, his tunnel vision has paid off.

The 28-year-old bull rider, now of Fort Collins, Colo., is here this week competing in his second National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Moore was bucked off a tough bull named No Can Do in the fourth go-round Monday night and remains fourth in the NFR average with 178 points on two rides.

Jesse Bail, one of only four bull riders to make qualified rides, scored a 92 on Buff Daddy for first. Bail is ranked third in the NFR average with 263 points on three rides and is first in the world standings with $103,323.05. Bail also tied Red Lemmel to win the saddle bronc go-round with 79 points and is third in the all-around cowboy race.

Moore entered the finals a career-best sixth in the world standings with $79,182 and has moved up one spot with $95,612.21.

"I'm doing great so far," Moore said. "It's still pretty early, but I'm having a great Finals.

"I'm healthy for a change, that's something new to me. I'm strong mentally right now and I'm really focused. I want to leave here as the No. 1 bull rider. I want to be the champion."

Moore's interest in riding was stoked by his grandfather, James Woodward, who owned several horses and other animals. Moore began riding Woodward's horses and was instantly hooked.

When he was 16, he began working for stock contractor Mike Latting, the dean of his junior high school.

Moore would travel around with Latting to rodeos during the summer, helping him set up the arenas and take care of the livestock.

When he was 17, he got on his first bull.

"It was something that came pretty quick to me," Moore said. "Something I enjoyed doing and was pretty good at it so I pursued it.

"It was so long ago, I might have been scared, but more excited than anything."

After he graduated from high school, Moore attended Casper College in Wyoming for two years before transferring to the University of Wyoming, where he earned a degree in elementary education.

He earned a scholarship in rodeo and competed in college rodeo all four years. In 1995 and 1996, Moore was the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association bull riding regional champion and the all-around regional champion in 1996.

Being one of the few black cowboys hasn't been a distraction for the amicable Moore.

"All the cowboys here treat me just like they treat everyone else," he said. "I think that it can become an issue if you let it become an issue.

"That's something that I don't. I don't draw on anything negative and I get along great with everybody."

At Moore's first NFR, he tore his groin muscle and managed to ride a disappointing three of 10 bulls.

This time, he doesn't plan to leave empty-handed.

"I'm just living my dreams," Moore said. "I'm lucky I get paid to do something I love to do.

"Being here is a great honor. You're here with the best cowboys in the world and for myself to be considered one of them, it's a cool feeling."