Our New Hero. Heroes.

Photo copyright PBR, 2014; all rights reserved.

We've long been fans of bull-riding. 

[Yeah, I know about the animal-rights objections, but you can make the same objections about dog shows and barrel racing. Unlike racehorses, bucking bulls are treated like the powerful athletes they are, with the kind of care the average bull only dreams of getting.]

So, yesterday was the final day of the 2014 Ty Murray Invitational, held annually for the last 18 years at The PIt at UNM in Albuquerque as part of the Professional Bull Riders [PBR] tour. One of these years, we'll actually make it down to Albuquerque to see it live. After all, probably next only to the Oklahoma events, it's the biggest top-level bullriding event for Indians.

Some of the best amateur bullriders are Indians. But it's much harder for them to get on the pro tours, where the money and fame are: Again, it's another example of how, in this society, you have to have money to make money.

Unsurprisingly, I disagree with Ty Murray on a whole host of things. But I give him great credit for his continued efforts to bring Native American riders into the sport at the highest levels. For years now, one of the hallmarks of the "Invitational" that bears his name has been inviting the top Native American bullrider in the country to compete, even if he's not a part of the PBR tour already (and they generally aren't).

So this year, the top Native bullrider is 22-year-old Guytin Tsosie of the Navajo Nation. The kid is good; very good. But on Saturday, he got bucked off before the 8-second mark, and there was speculation about the impact of the bright lights of the PBR tour, and what we used to call "Pit Fever" for the state basketball championships.

No matter. His overall score for the weekend was high enough for him to make it into yesterday's championship round. He draws what's known as a really "rank" bull, one that is fast and powerful and bucks hard and performs "belly rolls" in his attempt to get the rider off his back, which, of course, he eventually does.

And while I'm screaming at the TV, demanding to know where the fricking clock is, Ty Murray and the other announcer, Craig Hummer, are lamenting the "fact" that Mr. Tsosie was "so close" but didn't make it, and already dissecting everything that was allegedly wrong with his "out," as they call it.

I'm still screaming at the TV over the lack of a time clock.

And sure enough, whether it was judge/timekeeper error or mechanical malfunction, there was no working time clock in the arena for one ride: that of Guytin Tsosie. Two judges break out stopwatches, and lo and behold: Guytin Tsosie made the 8-second mark.   For a score of 88.75. [Shoulda been more than 90, but I think he's probably happy.]

And for a few brief, glorious minutes, a Navajo bullrider was the event leader.

He was knocked out of position by, predictably, a Brazilian rider. Next to the Indians, the Brazilians are our favorites, partly for their own indigenous blood, partly because in this country they're underdogs despite their superior skill, partly for the way they treat the animals, partly for their incredible prowess in the sport.

Guytin Tsosie finished 7th in the event. Top ten, and with a high enough score to earn him an automatic spot in the next three PBR tour events.

When he came out of the ring after his ride, Brazilian former PBR world champion Guilherme Marchi was waiting for him with an eye-watering show of support: He threw his arms around Mr. Tsosie in an enormous, congratulatory hug that exemplified a warm welcome to a brotherhood and genuine excitement about his presence and performance.

And it touched us both straight to the heart.

Today, Guytin Tsosie is a hero for our peoples. Come to think of it, so is Ty Murray. And so is Guilherme Marchi.

Thanks, guys.



Copyright Ajijaakwe, 2014; all rights reserved.