Brett Okamoto

Professional Bull Riders’ star J.B. Mauney signs autographs for fans at the PBR’s Meet and Greet in the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino Wednesday night.

By Brett Okamoto (contact)

Thu, Nov 6, 2008 (12:07 a.m.)

Professional Bull Riding fans enjoyed an opportunity to meet their favorite riders Wednesday night at the PBR Meet and Greet in the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino.

With the annual PBR World Finals at the Thomas & Mack Center this weekend, the top-45 riders of the Built Ford Tough Series were on hand to sign autographs and take pictures, attracting a large group of fans consisting of all ages.

"She's nine and she's been a fan her whole life," said Las Vegas resident Lisa Ventimiglia about her daughter Jessica. "We come to all the Meet and Greets every year, and this year was the first year we made it to the competition. All these guys are just dolls, ever since we first met them they are just the nicest set of men ever."

The midweek Meet and Greet isn't just a chance for the fans to see their heroes, but it also gives the riders an opportunity to thank them for their support.

"It's what's great about the PBR, our fans get to interact with us," said rider Clayton Williams. "We don't hide ourselves from them and get complete access to us. The more we interact with them the more we're going to get out of the sport so we enjoy every minute of it."

In addition to socializing, the PBR added a blackjack tournament to Wednesday's schedule. All the money taken in from the tournament went to Riders Relief, an organization that helps injured riders get healthy and back on their feet financially.

"I know I've been injured a few times, everybody has," said Austin Meier. "To know we have an organization us is great because sometimes the injuries are so bad that insurance won't cover it all. The fact that there's somebody there to help us means everything."

The World Finals resumes today with the fourth round of competition in the Thomas & Mack Center at 6 p.m. Trying not to look forward in the week, many of the riders were happy to play in a blackjack tournament with no money on the line Wednesday.

"I've probably played 15 hours of blackjack every day since I got here," Williams said. "I've lost enough money to buy a pretty nice Mercedes."

Riders to watch this weekend

1. With first place finishes in two out of the first three rounds, J.B. Mauney is ahead early to win his first World Finals. A World Finals win would be huge for the 21-year-old who missed the Finals in 2005 with the worst injuries of his career – broken ribs, a lacerated liver and bruised kidney and spleen.

"When you come here that first bull sets you off on how you're gonna do," Mauney said. "If you do good and it can really get you rolling. So far it's working out for me this year. Ever since I was little I wanted to ride in the PBR and in Vegas. It's really cool being here."

2. Kody Lostroh is recently one of the hottest bull riders in PBR, already racking up over 500 points in the first three rounds with a third and fifth place finish, and has moved up to third overall in the Series.

"Just like all other sports you can get in a zone," Lostroh said. "Us bullriders do that too and you just keep it going for as long as you can."

3. Everyone might have been saying it all month, but the bottom line is Guilherme Marchi winning his first World Champion Title is as big a deal as they say it is. After finishing second place for the past three years in a row, nothing will stop one of the most consistent PBR riders today of taking the $1 million prize home this weekend.

"You know three years in a row in second place, that will piss a feller off I guess," Mauney said. "He's rode more bulls than anyone else this year and he deserves it. It's been a long time coming."

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.