2008 Woodie Awards
Leave it to Lubbock to mess up a rodeo
Chris Kellerman
Issue date: 4/3/07 Section: Opinions
Saturday night, I had to choose between going to the Texas Tech Jazz Festival and celebrating my friend's birthday at the 65th Annual ABC Rodeo. I went to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo with my family when I was a kid, so I thought it would be nice to reconnect with those childhood memories.
At the end of the night, I left with a sick feeling in my stomach. Leave it to Lubbock to mess up a rodeo.
Every year since 1949, the Beutler & Son Rodeo Company has served as stock contractor for the event, which is a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club. Talking to KCBD-TV, rodeo chairman Mike Redeker said when the Beutler family comes to town, it is "kind of in control of the rodeo." He said besides bringing all the stock, the Beutlers "also help us with production of the rodeo and the way the order and things go."
Don't get me wrong. I may be a bleeding-heart liberal from Arlington, but I love a good rodeo. I love the culture of the West. I love the landscape, the horses, the cattle, the food and all the music, movies and books that have romanticized it. Within the past couple weeks, I have practiced my John Wayne impression in the mirror - but don't tell anyone.
Unfortunately, "Brokeback Mountain" had a better connection with American cowboy culture than the ABC Rodeo had Saturday night.
Before the show, as the lights dimmed and the audience grew quiet, a girl carrying an American flag rode a horse around the arena. The announcer saluted the troops in a speech tinged with the "They're in Iraq so we can have this rodeo" philosophy. Then, a man took the microphone to pray. The prayer thanked Jesus, who spilled his blood at Calvary, for giving us cowboys and cowgirls and ended with a shout: "Father, let's rodeo!"
I'm a Christian, and I'm all for honoring the troops in Iraq, but the opening was a little on the tawdry side. Anyhow, I stifled my cynicism and got pumped up for some bull riding and bronco bucking.
Well, let's not kid around, the ABC Rodeo has some pretty good cowboys and cowgirls. There was plenty of cheering from me during the evening, and don't worry, I'm not going to go PETA on you and talk about animal rights, because thankfully, I'm not that liberal.
At the end of the night, I left with a sick feeling in my stomach. Leave it to Lubbock to mess up a rodeo.
Every year since 1949, the Beutler & Son Rodeo Company has served as stock contractor for the event, which is a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club. Talking to KCBD-TV, rodeo chairman Mike Redeker said when the Beutler family comes to town, it is "kind of in control of the rodeo." He said besides bringing all the stock, the Beutlers "also help us with production of the rodeo and the way the order and things go."
Don't get me wrong. I may be a bleeding-heart liberal from Arlington, but I love a good rodeo. I love the culture of the West. I love the landscape, the horses, the cattle, the food and all the music, movies and books that have romanticized it. Within the past couple weeks, I have practiced my John Wayne impression in the mirror - but don't tell anyone.
Unfortunately, "Brokeback Mountain" had a better connection with American cowboy culture than the ABC Rodeo had Saturday night.
Before the show, as the lights dimmed and the audience grew quiet, a girl carrying an American flag rode a horse around the arena. The announcer saluted the troops in a speech tinged with the "They're in Iraq so we can have this rodeo" philosophy. Then, a man took the microphone to pray. The prayer thanked Jesus, who spilled his blood at Calvary, for giving us cowboys and cowgirls and ended with a shout: "Father, let's rodeo!"
I'm a Christian, and I'm all for honoring the troops in Iraq, but the opening was a little on the tawdry side. Anyhow, I stifled my cynicism and got pumped up for some bull riding and bronco bucking.
Well, let's not kid around, the ABC Rodeo has some pretty good cowboys and cowgirls. There was plenty of cheering from me during the evening, and don't worry, I'm not going to go PETA on you and talk about animal rights, because thankfully, I'm not that liberal.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
TK
posted 4/03/07 @ 12:14 AM CST
Wow! I wasn't there, but from what you describe, you are totally correct. That kind of "entertainment" has no place in a family event and one that is supposed to be God-honoring. (Continued…)
sandeep
posted 4/03/07 @ 7:55 AM CST
Lubbock sure has changed. You want a family friendly rodeo? I suggest you head down to Houston. Sure, there are a lot of wannabe urban cowboys. But, overall a great show at a great value. (Continued…)
Mark Williamson
posted 4/03/07 @ 10:04 AM CST
I'd give this article five stars out of five. This sort of thing disgusts me. I don't particularly support such humor in general, but I'm alright with other people having it in places that are easy for families to avoid. (Continued…)
Jeremy Whalen
JW
posted 4/03/07 @ 1:43 PM CST
How ironic that Hooters Girls would have a banana eating contest at a Lubbock, Texas Rodeo. For years, it was rumored that Lubbock would not allow Hooters to come in. (Continued…)
Christian M
posted 4/03/07 @ 2:06 PM CST
What scares me a little: chainsaws. What scares me more: clowns. What scares me most: clowns with chainsaws. Sounds like a family event that wasn't so family friendly. (Continued…)
GH
posted 4/03/07 @ 11:41 PM CST
I cannot believe this was allowed. Did anyone in the crowd object? As long as people don't complain --and complain to the right people-- then this stuff will go on and on as they will think this is what people want to see and hear. (Continued…)
Angela
posted 4/04/07 @ 5:44 PM CST
Shouldn't we be teaching our children about the mistreatment animals?
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