Bull riders hit LV looking for payday

Adam Candee

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 | 10:37 a.m.

At a glance

Perhaps country singer Tim McGraw said it best with one simple lyric in his hit song "Down on the Farm": Don't mess with the bull, he can get real mean.

The world's top professional bull riders will be the ones messing with the bulls -- and getting messed with by the bulls -- at this weekend's Professional Bull Riders 2002 Bud Light World Cup Finals at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The $1.2 million event caps off the tour's 29-city, $7.2 million series, with 45 of the top bull riders in the world converging on Las Vegas for the year-end showdown. That money will take an even bigger turn for the better next season, when the 2003 world champion will receive a $1 million bonus on the 10th anniversary of the tour.

The season-long points championship already is settled, as Brazilian Ednei Caminhas holds a commanding edge over the field. The World Cup field is wide open, however, even with defending event champion and tour rookie of the year Luke Snyder in the mix. Snyder, just 20 years old, won more than $250,000 at this event last year.

Others expected to be in contention are Ross Coleman and Justin McBride, both former UNLV Rebels. Defending world champion Adriano Moraes, coming off elbow surgery about a month ago, is also expected to compete.

This weekend's event will be televised on the TNN cable network. Next season, the sport billed as America's original extreme sport will take its act in front of the nation with a handful of events being televised on NBC.

Legendary rider Ty Murray, who won in Las Vegas in 1999, will be inducted into the PBR Ring of Honor at his official retirement party Saturday night at Caesars Palace.

The tour and riders will show a little bit of their softer side on Friday, taking a minute away from the rough and tumble sport to visit the kids of Sunrise Children's Hospital and to support the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation.

"We really enjoy meeting the children who are fans of the PBR, and if they can't come to us, we love going to them," rider Tony Mendes said.

For Thursday and Friday, $20 of every $42 ticket purchased will be donated to Candlelighters, as long as the purchaser mentions Candlelighters when they are buying tickets.

Tickets are available for all four rounds, with lower deck seats running at $67 per night and balcony seats going for $42. The action begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with a 3:30 p.m. start slated for the finals on Sunday.