Thursday Cardinal Couple -- Common Myths About Bull Riding

.
THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-No bull about bullriding here...


-Cardinal Caravan in Louisville today!


-A busy fifteen minutes


(CARDINAL COUPLE writer Mark "The Commish" Schneider continues his look at the PBR today. We feature an article that dispels several myths about Bull riding and the participants. We've got him scheduled next to investigate Area 54, Elvis's death and why the Cubs are the worst team in baseball. The "Commish" is on top of it!)

Most people love animals.  Dogs, Cats, Horses, and even BULLS.  However, sometimes animal rights groups seem to go too far.  Nothing wrong with wanting to protect animals from cruelty.  I'm all for that.  But to distribute false information without getting all the facts in order to advance their cause is another story.  At first glance when watching a Bull Riding event some may think, "How cruel" or  "The animals are being hurt."  (Watch more closely and more often than not the riders are the ones getting hurt).  Maybe there should be an organization called AETH. ("Animals for the Ethical Treatment of Humans").  All kidding aside:

PETA has been touting two myths about Bull Riding/Rodeos in general.

Myth #1

"Electric prods, spurs, and bucking straps are used to irritate and enrage animals used in rodeos. Before entering the ring, cows and horses are often prodded with an electrical "hotshot" so that the pain will rile them."

This is simply not true.  Especially in the PBR. That is not to say it has never happened in a small town rodeo, but as far as the PBR?  I do not think so.

During countless events broadcasted on TV the cameras are directly in the chutes.  Every move anyone makes is shown up close.  The bulls are not coerced into bucking.  It is simply what they like to do.  A bull bucks because it is in their blood. Just as race horses are "born to run", bucking bulls are "born to buck".

As far as the spurs hurting the animal, the fact is the spurs are "dulled" and are not sharp.  Also, a bulls skin is 7 times thicker than a humans and when a bull is "spurred",  it does not harm the animal.  No marks are left and no blood is drawn. Does one think the owner of a bull worth $35,000 or more (A bull named Little Yellow Jacket was worth $150,000) would allow a cowboy to "spur" it if he thought for one moment it would harm it? Owning and raising bucking bulls is an expensive proposition. Just like our pets, a stock contractor treats every bull like one of his family.  For example, when World Champion bull MOSSYOAK MUDSLINGER recently died, his owner H.D.Page had this to say: "He's irreplaceable, there's no doubt about it.  I missed him a bunch when I had to retire him from the arena, and now I'm going to miss him even more as a sire. He was part of our family. He's done more for our family than any person."

Myth #2

"The flank (or "bucking") strap is tightly cinched around the animals' abdomens, causing them to buck vigorously in an attempt to escape the pain. The flank strap can cause open wounds and burns when the hair is rubbed off and the skin is chafed raw. Former animal control officers have found burrs and other irritants placed under the flank strap."

Again--not in the PBR. The flank strap is tied loosely around the flank, usually by the stock contractor/owner. Again, if this hurt the bull, would he be doing this? As a matter of fact there are times it will fall off during the ride.  The flank strap is a rope made out of cotton which is tied around the bull's flank. Contrary to popular belief, the flank strap is not tied around the bull's testicles. Without being too graphic--this is a family friendly website--this point must be made:  If a rope is tied around the bulls testicles, I do not think it would encourage him to buck. As one stock contractor said," What would a human do if it was tied around theirs?"  I don't think it would encourage "bucking".  I believe one would see a human lying on the ground crying in a fetal position.  And when a bull is bucking, one can actually see that the strap is nowhere near or tied around it's "privates".  This rope is to encourage the bull to use its hind legs more in a bucking motion.  If tied too tight, the bull would not buck very well.  It has to be loose to cause the bull to want to buck it off.  Sometimes the strap falls off during a ride. When that happens, the bull will usually quit bucking. 

Former CEO of the PBR Randy Benard (now CEO of The INDY Racing League) had this to say about Animal Welfare and the PBR:

"In the 1970s and '80s, PETA did a pretty good job of informing people that bull riding hurt bulls in all kinds of different ways. All those are completely false. We encourage and welcome any animal rights groups to come in and look at how we treat our animals. It's very important to the sport and to the industry that our animals are taken good care of. The other thing is, people are so surprised when they come to an event and see the type of fan base that's there. It's so much more than a western sport."

Here are the PBR's Animal Welfare Facts:

Bulls receive 25-30 lbs of a special blend of mixed grain per day. Blend varies depending on the bull’s needs and the stock contractor.

Bulls receive 20 lbs of Alfalfa or Alfalfa-grass blend per day.

Bulls receive a B-12 complex vitamin shot every two weeks.

Bulls receive a health inspection any time they have to cross state lines.

Bulls are only allowed to travel a maximum of 8 hours per day. After 10 hours, the bulls are rested for 12-14 hours.

Bulls are standing in 6-10 inches of sawdust shavings during transport.

Each stock contractor has a local veterinarian on call for their bulls.

To be fair, as with any sport there are injuries.  This includes the bulls.

According to the PBR these are the facts about bull injuries:

There are approximately 60 bulls at a one-day event, 90 bulls at a two-day event and 110 bulls at a three-day event. A bull bucks only one time per day and no more than two times at a typical event. Approximately 30-40 of the bulls at a typical two-day event will buck only once at that event.

One bull will suffer a minor injury (muscle pull, scratch) every 8 events or 786 outs.

Bulls that are determined to have an injury are not allowed to compete again until fully recovered, which is generally one to four weeks.

One bull will suffer a career-ending injury every 100 events or 9,833 outs.

Bulls that suffer a career-ending injury are retired to stud and live the balance of their lives as healthy, fully capable breeding bulls. Their injuries do not impede the quality of life or ability to function, but do prevent them from competing at the PBR level as a bucking athlete.

Four bulls have been euthanized as a result of injuries sustained over the 960 PBR events held since 1992, which translates to 1 out of every 23,735 outs.

The bulls that have sustained life-threatening injuries at PBR events have been taken to large animal hospitals for treatment and care. Three of the animal athletes that have sustained life- threatening injuries received hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical treatment and lived for extended periods of time (up to two years) before the injuries required euthanization.

A bucking bull has a .004% chance of sustaining a life-threatening injury at a PBR event.

Raising and owning bucking bulls is a full time job.  It is very expensive and time consuming.  Because of this, I seriously doubt a stock contractor would want any harm to come to his bulls.   The following video Breeding and raising bulls for the PBR will drive these points home. Watch as PBR stock contractor, Greg Simano, explains the various aspects of being a stock contractor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7HwzWA6fRE

Commish Mark 


( From the look of things, these bulls are leading a better life than the CARDINAL COUPLE Co-Owners. Good job, today!)


***********************************************************

Thursday brings the CARDINAL CARAVAN to Louisville with an appearance at Captain's Quarters on River Road. Meet the owners and writers of CARDINAL COUPLE at the event...which begins at 5:30. 


You'll get a chance to meet with coaches, players and Cardinal Fans at the annual event...the final stop of a three-day whirlwind tour that takes the participants to Owensboro, Bowling Green and other stops in the state. 


I know, it's supposed to be another scorcher outside on Thursday, but the event is a great chance to hear about the upcoming teams and events for UofL sports and have a little fun in the process. 

Softball coach Sandy Pearsall, women's basketball coach Jeff Walz, the LadyBirds, UofL Cheerleaders, Louie the Cardinal Bird and the pep band under the direction of "Iowa" Al Greener will also be in attendance. We're trying to arrange a three-point contest between our staff chimp Co-Co and Shoni, but UofL isn't responding favorably to the premise...so far. 


Fish, cold beverages and Cardinal Nation! Sounds like a pretty good Thursday! See you there.  No rain, no rain, no rain, no rain...(we hope).

***********************************************************


The stat line for Angel McCoughtry against Great Britain made us do a double take. Talk about a busy fifteen minutes!


--  Two for three on shots
--  Three for four from the foul line
--  Seven points
--  Six rebounds
--  Three assists
--  Five steals
--  Three fouls
--  One turnover


Obviously, she wasn't standing over in the corner signing autographs during her time on the court. #35 representing! 
..
...

Sunday Cardinal Couple -- Cardinal Caravan rolls along

.
SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Cardinal Caravan to make five stops in July

Cardinal Caravan, the yearly summer stops for the University of Louisville sports programs, has announced five stops over three days in July. UofL coaches and players address the crowds and the LadyBirds, UofL Cheerleaders, Louie the Cardinal Bird and Al Greener and the UofL Pep Band are expected to appear. 


Louisville head women's basketball coach Jeff Walz is schedule to appear at the caravan stops...along with football coaches and members of UofL's men's basketball team. Sandy Pearsall will represent the 55-win softball team. Here's the schedule:


TUESDAY, JULY 17th:


Frankfort, KY. - Buffalo Trace Distillery. 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.


Newport, KY. - Newport Aquarium. 4:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.


WEDNESDAY, JULY 18th:


Bowling Green, KY. - National Corvette Museum. 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.


THURSDAY, JULY 19th:


Owensboro, KY. - River Park Center. 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.


Louisville, KY. - Captain's Quarters. 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.


You can RSVP your intent to attend to: 


CARDINAL CARAVAN   (LINK)


www.uoflalumni.org/caravan2012  (WEBSITE)


Looks like Southern Indiana doesn't get a stop this year. Never attended the ones at Huber's or by the Ohio but heard they were a good time. Maybe later? Maybe it's time to hold one in Lexington. Calipari's front yard would be a idea. 


************************************************************************

I can't help but wonder what will come out of all these women's basketball recruits that are suppose to be showing up in 2013 at UNC?  Seven, so far, and they are still chasing after Mercedes Russell. That, coupled with recent academic scandal on campus, have Chapel Hill ready for a reality series on TV. Russell won't (or will...depending on which news source you check) attend the UNC skills camp that is taking place before the one-day Louisville elite skills camp on the 28th. 


Louisville had six recruits show up at the same time a couple of years back. It was the 2008-09 season and Louisville had Gwen Rucker, Becky Burke, Monique Reid, Janae Howard, Mary Jackson and Tiera Stephen on the roster as freshmen. 


We all know how that turned out. 


Hard to believe that Mo is the only one left on the 2012-13 roster that went to St. Louis for the final four. I wonder if her teammates will call her 'grand ma-ma' or 'the old lady' this year? Becky was one of the ones who made it as well. She's busy studying up on her Polish. Gwen settled on just one net after her sophomore year. Turned out pretty well for her, too. 


Last we heard, Janae Howard was playing for St. Catherine (KY) College. Mary Jackson was at Memphis for awhile but we've lost track of her. Tiera Stephen ended up at Wisconsin. 

Walz probably felt like Happy Gilmore (right)
at times during the 2009-10 season.

One wonders if any of the three that left would have had a helpful impact on the 2009-10 season. the Cards went 14-18 and had a short roster. Howard had a pretty good outside shot and Jackson might have been helpful inside. Stephen's guard play might have spelled Burke, Harper, Rachel Story and Raddie.


It's all conjecture, of course.


Injuries played a huge role in that season. Dez Byrd, LaToya Johnson, Nikki Burton, Chauntise Wright, Laura Terry all on the shelf. Ashley Rainey left. The hard work, dedication and effort that those who contributed to that season...against great odds...will never be forgotten. Shelby Harper, a walk on freshman, took on the best that the BIG EAST had to offer night after night. 


I don't doubt that UNC will have similar outcomes with the seven that arrive in the fall of 2013. Especially when you're already calling the class the "Fab Five."


Have a nice Sunday!


-Sonja
.
..
...

Softball splits, Hoops tonight Part Deux

(We thank you readers for patiently awaiting the daily CARDINAL COUPLE dribble and drool for Monday, Feb 28th. Gremlins are gone...)

-Sandy Pearsall's UofL women's softball team went 1-1 in the final day of the Red & Black classic at Ulmer Stadium on Sunday. A tough outing against the Miami of Ohio RedHawks in the first contest...leading 3-0 early, seeing Miami grab a one run lead and then the Cards battling back to tie it up at 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Couldn't prevent the RedHawks from putting two on the scoreboard in the top of the eighth due to a UofL fielding error and had a chance to win it in the bottom half of the inning with a run in and Taner Fowler at first...but Miami's Jessica Simpson retired three in a row to shut down the Cardinal rally. Carlisa Connell (2-2) with the loss and two hits each from Fowler, Maggie Ruckenbrod and Katie Keller (way to represent freshmen!) in a 6-5 losing effort.

.

The Cards jumped all over second game opponent Wright State early and led 2-0 after one when Alicja Wolny's double scored Chelsea Bemis and Keller. It went to 3-0 when Bemis single and scored on a Wolny double. The bombs continued when Louisville plated seven runs in the bottom of the sixth...keyed by a three run Fowler fence clearer and a three RBI double for Bemis. Tori Collins pitched the 10-0 shutout for Louisville, allowing just two hits and striking out eight. Collins (6-3) has four shutouts so far this season.

The Cards head to Cookeville, TN this weekend for action in the Tennessee Tech Combat classic.

*************************************************************************************

The charter has landed and Jeff Walz's Lady Cards are in Providence, RI for tonight's 7 p.m. game against the Friars in the Dunkin Donuts Arena.

(Homer Simpson would approve...donuts....yuuummm.) This is far from a pastry puff for the intrepid Cards, though....despite Providence's 5-10 BIG EAST record and worst shooting percentage in the league. Providence can rebound with anyone in the nation and Teya Wright is first in BIG EAST in offensive rebounds and Mi-Khida Hankins second in defensive grabs. They also prevent the three really well. Scoring isn't one of their strong suits...they average 57 points a game, compared to Louisville's 72 a contest. They do hold their opponents to 59 a game, though and Louisville gives up 59.8 on an average..so let that tell you whatever you need it to. They probably won't overflow the court if they win and decide to storm it...the Friars average a woeful 404 fans per game...worst in the league.

We see it and a case of Louisville needing to do several things well tonight to avoid the upset. They must go to the boards well against the Friars and block out on both ends of the court. The three point specialists on Louisville's roster need to find a smooth shooting game outside the friendly confines of the KFC YUM Center and the Cards absolutely, positively need Reid to show interest in this one and create in 'inside the paint' wizardry. Will the road (where Louisville rarely plays well) and the board prowess of Providence paint a portrayal of punishment for the power-challenged Cards? We can see a win here...not by much...but we can also see the Cards throwing in a clunker as well...CARDINAL COUPLE will review the action upon the completion of the game tonight. Tip-off is 7 p.m. and Matt Andrews and Liz Sherwood (yikes... two freshmen!!!) will have the call on 790 AM/101.7 FM WKRD...Cards Radio.

.

************************************************************************************

.

The jumble for fourth place in the league standing comes down to the final night of regular season league play and the picture is a bit clearer. If Marquette wins and Louisville loses, the Golden Eagles get fourth because of the head on win by Marquette. A Louisville win and Marquette loss give it to the Cards. Rutgers could sneak up and grab fourth if they beat Seton Hall tonight and Louisville loses. They own the regular season win over Marquette. If Louisville, Marquette and Rutgers all win...call in the chimps and let them slug it out..because:

Louisville beat Rutgers and lost to Marquette

Marquette beat Louisville and lost to Rutgers

Rutgers beat Marquette and lost to Louisville

Joanie loves Chachi and I Love Lucy.

.

(Who's on first?)

.

*************************************************************************************

.

What about the end of the Cards vs. Pitt men's game yesterday? It's overtime...Cards up by three late, grab a missed Pitt shot and Peyton Siva finds Kyle Kuric for a pass and dunk. Five point lead with 0.03 on the clock. But, the now infamous male cheerleader runs onto the court, tosses the ball up in the air with a sissified two-handed, underhand toss and.....BOOM!...technical foul on Cards for delaying play. They reset the clock to 0.05 (still don't understand that...) give Gibbs and Pitt two free throws...which he sinks....and the ball out of bounds. Fortunately, the desperation three falls short and Cards win by three. If it had been good (to tie it) and Louisville had gone on to lose in the second overtime...there'd be one less male cheerleader on the UofL squad most likely. If Pitino didn't get him...a fan would have.

.

Championships await Ladybirds and Cheerleaders

The University of Louisville Ladybirds go for their 4th straight national championship next week in Daytona.

We all like to cheer, right? On Monday, you have a chance to go out and support the groups that lead us in cheers and perform the top notch dance routines we get to see at Cardinal sporting events.

The UofL Cheerleaders and Ladybirds dance team will be hosting a Nationals preview on Monday, April 5th. at Manuel High School's main gym. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is only $5.

Talk about a track record of success...the UofL Spirit groups swept the competition last year in large co-ed cheer, small co-ed cheer, all girl cheer and dance divisions. They are the only Division 1-A school to ever do this in the NCA/NDA competition. They're going for a repeat this year and also competing in two additional dance events.

The large co-ed cheerleaders team is attempting to win their 8th straight national title and the Ladybirds hoping to take their 4th straight championship. Both are records. Take that UConn women's basketball Huskies! (I know, the terminology sounds weird...they aren't actually LARGE cheerleaders...it refers to the group size).

Unlike the women's sports teams at UofL, the spirit groups have to raise their own funding to take part in events. They work tirelessly to raise this money all year long...including selling calenders, face tatoos and holding preview events. Just like the scholarship athletes, they take full class loads, go thru demanding practices and make countless apperances around the community to support Cardinal Pride and Cardinal Spirit.

If you've ever watched and enjoyed one of the stunning dance routines that the Ladybirds perform at a basketball game or marvelled at the amazing backflips, running forward flips, pyramids and jumps that these students perform for your pleasure...you know what to do. Get out there and support your spirit groups Monday and spring for a face tattoo or Cardinal calender the next time one of these hard working student atheletes approaches your tailgate party or seat.

Paul still wears his black "Go Cards" rubber wristband that he purchased in Memphis from one of the cheerleaders before the final game of the Conference USA tournament in the Fed Ex Forum. We all remember that game...a certain cocky Memphis hoopster had the chance to win it at the free throw line and couldn't find the net. Must have been the wristband. Beating Calipari can be so much fun, can't it?

Written by Sonja
4/2/10