Back Porch Rodeo

Junior Seau is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer who, at age 40, is enjoying his first year of retirement. And while most retirees wouldn't find taking on a 2,000-pound bull relaxing, most retirees aren't Junior Seau.

In this final video component from FanHouse's trip to the 2008 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Shane Bacon and myself take a closer look at all of the action that took place away from the dirt in Las Vegas. We talk to some fans, we go inside the locker rooms, Shane tries on a Kevlar vest (then has a staring contest with 2,000 pounds worth of snorting, pawing male bovine), and I get a quick lesson from pro bull rider Wesley Silcox on how to successfuly get tossed from a (mechanical) bull.

If it sounds like a mixed bag of activity, it's because it was. But that doesn't lessen the impact the overall experience had on this first-time rodeo-goer from Brooklyn. In fact, if I had to sum up my rodeo experience, these would be my top three bullet points (which I won't actually bullet for you; I hate unnecessary lists): Bull riders are insane, bronco-busting is an art, and cowboys are extremely friendly dudes. Line item 4a would probably be "chicks dig cowboys," but then I'm sure you didn't need me to attend a rodeo to tell you that.

Anyway, thanks to Wrangler for setting us up. See you at the Garden in early January.

As has been blogged about capably and enthusiastically by Shane Bacon, Wrangler was recently good enough to get us out to Las Vegas to attend the 2008 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Here's another video from our trip; in this one we get a lesson on how to rope from champion cowboy Trevor Brazile. Brazile then goes up against Bacon in a game of "PIG", which is basically like "HORSE" on a basketball court, except the twine's a heck of a lot thicker. Bacon hails from Texas, but he comes up short against Trevor. Go figure. Oh, and I stick my first toss after the dudes are done going mano y mano. Hey, just sayin'.

It isn't easy to snag the best athlete in his or her respective sport, but that's just what FanHouse was able to do last week at the 2008 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, as we got the chance to hang out with six-time champion Trevor Brazile and discuss all things rodeo.

We talked to the champion roper from Texas about everything from the long list of injuries he's faced, to how hard it is to make it on tour, to whether cowboys are the toughest athletes in pro sports. So kick back and enjoy a few minutes with one of the most personable (and successful) athletes around.

This week, FanHouse headed out to Las Vegas for a little rodeo fun at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Some cowboys taught us how to rope a steer (well, a fake steer), how to ride a real, live bull (except, the bull was mechanical) and how the rodeo really works. The videos of this experience will be up soon, but for now, we'll keep you updated on the real action.

It's on part with golf's Green Jacket, college football's Heisman Trophy, and baseball's Commissioner's Trophy.

In the rodeo world, taking home a gold belt buckle is what you practice for all your life.

Saturday in Las Vegas, eight cowboys were announced as World Champions after their incredible performance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and all joined an elite group that is lucky enough to sport that golden buckle.

The winners of the 2008 WNFR are after the jump.

This week, FanHouse headed out to Las Vegas for a little rodeo fun at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Some cowboys taught us how to rope a steer (well, a fake steer), how to ride a real, live bull (except, the bull was mechanical) and how the rodeo really works. The videos of this experience will be up soon, but for now, we'll keep you updated on the real action.

Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Michael Phelps and ... Trevor Brazile? Who?!?!!

That is exactly what we thought when we headed out to Las Vegas, but after a roping clinic that Brazile gave us, we realized he might be rodeo's dominant force.