Family’s influence helps Marvel make rodeo finale

Wednesday, June 11, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

AT A GLANCE

A year ago, Matt Marvel wanted to pound his head against a wall a few times. His rodeo career hadn't taken off as he had hoped, and he burned through the little savings he had just to get to the next event.

"I was thinking, 'Man, is this worth it? Maybe I should go get a real job,' " he said.

In stepped a voice of reason and direction in his father, Mike, who had qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 1974 and '75.

The elder Marvel told his son that he had the ability "to do this and be great at it," that it would come around and all of his hard work would pay off.

Gritty efforts in his past two rodeos -- in Clovis, Calif., and Guymon, Okla. -- have indeed paid dividends for Matt Marvel, who will participate in this weekend's $500,000 ProRodeo Winter Tour Finale at the MGM Grand.

A saddle bronc rider from Battle Mountain, Marvel will be the only person born, bred and living in the Silver State who will compete in the sport's first-half championship.

"That's kind of neat," said Marvel. "It's good that at least one Nevada rider made it, and I'll get to carry the Nevada flag in (each night's) Grand Entry. That will be special. I hope the fans back me up a little bit. I'm excited."

Before loading up his fire-engine red Dodge Cummins Diesel sports pickup, with the camper hitched to the back, and leaving San Luis Obispo, Calif., for Las Vegas early Tuesday afternoon, Marvel said his father's words have served as fuel.

"I think it takes awhile to get into your mind that this is a business, and you have to treat it like a business if you want to be one of the best in the world," said Marvel, 25, who has made $22,049 this season.

"You can go out and have fun, but at the right time."

It's more than riding bulls or broncs. It's about knowing which rodeos to enter, whom to travel with, knowing how and when to spend money and whose advice to trust.

"And knowing when to party and when not to party," Marvel said. "When you're a kid, you travel all over the country and it's, 'wow.' You really aren't taking care of business. You're more interested in going out, partying, chasing chicks and having a good time."

Marvel altered his regimen a year ago. He took a video camera with him on the road, then watched those tapes with his dad for critical analysis. He set his feet harder. He turned his toes out. He charged faster.

He also fielded tips from Uncle Joe, a world champion saddle bronc rider in 1978 whom many veterans consider one of the all-time best.

"You might be one of the best," Matt Marvel said, "but you can always get better."

He wrestled and played football during his first two years at Battle Mountain High, then he concentrated on rodeo and won the Nevada all-around state prep title in 1996.

Then he became soft, he said. After the skull session with his father a year ago, Matt became reacquainted with his local gym and began a regular jogging routine.

"I'm in the best shape since high school," said Marvel, who also switched to a shorter saddle for more control. "I think I feel a lot better, and it's probably why I'm riding better, too."

Marvel cites Dan Mortensen, Ty Murray and Tom Reeves -- as well as his father and uncle -- as cowboys he wants to emulate.

He executed his first moves in their direction in Clovis and Guymon. The top dozen riders in each event qualified for the finale at the MGM Grand, and Marvel was in 16th before Clovis.

At the Clovis Rodeo on April 27, he drew Sandy Bob, notorious for bucking, ducking and swooping. "A couple of guys told me not to even get on him, that he was that hard to ride," Marvel said.

Undaunted, he jumped aboard and rode the horse to a third-place finish in that round. Then he rode Cajun Queen to second place in the short round, which gave him third in average.

At the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo on May 4, Marvel won the long round atop Dirty Girl, an ornery mare -- "best horse I've been on all year," he said -- that helped him again take third in average.

Those two rodeos vaulted him to seventh in the point standings, with 64, and a spot in the Winter Finals. Over the weekend, he took part in a rodeo in Santa Maria, Calif., explored tidal pools, relaxed on the beach and hung out in Pismo Beach.

Tuesday, Marvel loaded up the rig and headed -- solo -- to take care of some business in Las Vegas, not so long after he was wondering what he was doing in rodeo.

It could catapult him toward becoming the third Marvel to ride in an NFR, come December at the Thomas & Mack Center. Unlike some cowboys who only want to ride in an NFR, Marvel has watched two as a fan.

"I've never been that way," he said. "I wanted to see what it's like, thinking it would make me go harder. I saw what it's like, and it made me want it more. I hope I was made for it. What happens, happens.

"It would be very fulfilling to me if I make it to the NFR ... the way things have been going, I think it will work out pretty good."