Wacky rodeo fans making highlights

Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

Jared Shaw and Jake Ashworth left their homes in Farmington, Utah, last week and have become celebrities with their own endorsement deals at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The Shaw-Ashworth dance-and-freak show registered third Monday on ESPN's nightly top-10 plays-of-the-day highlights.

"That's why we act like goobers," said Ashworth, who turned 23 today and works in a clothing store in a Farmington mall. Shaw, 21, is a construction worker.

They attended last year's NFR at the Thomas & Mack Center, so they were easily recognized when they pulled their dance-and-strut routines Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Their act came in handy during lulls in the rodeo, and some of their antics proved hilarious. Ashworth has one maneuver in which, standing on his left leg, he grabs his right ankle and acts like a bucking bronc.

When Shaw did a jig and Ashworth pulled off his stationary bronc kick after Frank Graves and Allen Bach executed a 4.1-second round that would win them Tuesday's team roping event, arena announcer Boyd C. Polhamus pointed to Shaw and Ashworth and yelled, "I love you two, I just want you to know that!"

Sunday night, though, the pair had run out of dough, which they weren't ashamed to tell Polhamus and announcing sidekick Bob Tallman at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, where the latter duo serves as nightly emcees for each day's event winners.

Before an audience, Tallman insisted that Ashworth and Shaw remain in Las Vegas for the rest of the NFR, through Sunday. Tallman asked, What would it take? Both wanted rooms comped for the remainder of their stay, clothing, food and other incidentals.

They got everything, and more, after calling their employers and getting a week off. Wrangler, Jack Daniel's, Coors, Dodge and the Gold Coast all chipped in with goodies, and the two were given suite tickets for the rest of the rodeo.

They have been able to exchange those tickets for prime, $250-a-night seats close to the action, the better to be filmed by one of ESPN's many cameras.

"Tell our parents," Ashworth said, "that we're OK and havin' fun."

Reeves' wife, Carmen, gave birth to the couple's fourth child, and first son, a month ago. Upon arriving in Las Vegas, though, little Zane experienced health problems that included a fever of 103 degrees.

He was admitted to Sunrise Hospital, and Carmen Reeves has not seen her husband compete in the NFR. She hasn't been able to watch replays on ESPN, either, because Sunrise doesn't carry the cable channel on its televisions.

A Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association official said Zane's health will be monitored through Saturday, when he is scheduled to be released.

Reeves, 38, has earned $16,842 to pump his 2002 earnings to $128,165.

He owns the famous 16,000-acre Ray Ranch between George West and Tilden, and he has his own brand of tender, all-natural beef that comes with an unconditional guarantee. Ryan's brand is the first American product to have its tenderness and aging process certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The entire time in flight, Chavez had his back to the ground and his hard landing drew gasps from the crowd of more than 17,000. Medical officials checked him over and he was slowly helped to his feet.

Then, very gingerly, he was guided to a trainer's room with the help of an attendant on each arm. PRCA medical supervisor Tandy Freeman said two preliminary X-rays on Chavez's neck were negative and that the bull rider passed a neurological examination.

Chavez, 39, will be cleared to ride Wednesday night if he passes further, more-detailed X-rays and exams Wednesday morning. He has earned $7,074 at his second NFR, boosting his yearly total to $67,816.