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Dilemma III….   The Plot Thickens…..

Okay…. if you haven’t read Dilemma 1 @ 2… don’t bother with this.  Even if you have I appreciate it if you don’t read it.  Get a life. But even crazy people should be allowed to express their opinions… shouldn’t they?    A reader who have to be crazy to read something a crazy person wrote, wouldn’t they?

If you are a stock contractor (who recently infiltrated our site, printed out 1 @ 2, and did a mass mailing to members of the stock contractor association and was thoughtful enough to send 23 copies to the PRCA Commissioner) quit eating paste for a moment and have someone read this to you.  Seems to me that whomever is in charge of the attacking band of whatevers ought to be trying to help their people rather than trashing me.

But then… who really cares? 

All this is just MY OPINIONS based on MY EXPERIENCES… might be totally wrong.  Everyone in rodeo is GOOD and have EXCELLENT character and integrity.  I’ll have MY lawyer call YOUR lawyer…. again. Guess we need some sort of an amendment written down somewhere about being able to say what you think. Sue me AGAIN and I’ll be in the contracting business and some of you won’t.

Okay… PRCA board meeting has been set for November 28 in Las Vegas.  One of the agenda items (most likely the only one) is the reorganization of the PRCA Board of Directors.  The proposal made by the stock contractors and committee directors is to change the voting board from an 11 member board:

2 Stock Contractors:  2 Rodeo Committee Directors, 1 Contract Personnel Director, 2 Timed Event Directors,  2 Riding Event Directors; and 2 Independent Business Directors

to a 14 member board:

3 Stock Contractors, 3 Committee Directors, 1 Contract Personnel Director, and 7 Contestant Directors (BB, SB, BR, CR, SW, TR, SR)…  with ties being broken by the Commissioner.

Why do they want the change?

Several reasons….. some out in the open and some on a hidden agenda.  

First of all, they figure the board is at a checkmate when it comes to anything important regards rules and ground rules.   They can’t get much done in regard to important things like turn outs, slack, turnouts, etc.   The Independent Business Directors are thought (by them) to balance each other… one being pro management and the other pro contestant.  I’m not sure the voting records would indicate that is the case but that’s what they think (I’m guessing). 

OBJECTION:  “The witness is leading the jury”

sorry—been watching too many TV lawyer shows.

The reformers also do not like the idea of someone who doesn’t have a vested interest in the rodeo business… deciding key issues.   Can’t argue with that…. but actually they haven’t.   They get blamed for other people’s ineptness. It’s a lot easier to go “boo, hoo… we can’t get anything done because of the bad old Independent Directors”… than to get off your butts and get something done.   Some contestant directors use the same excuse.

The second reason is to cut the number of people at board meetings…. less travel and lodging… less slime--EE lunchmeat… fewer bodies—more oxygen… fewer Mouseketeer ears….whatever.    Cowboy hats cover up lots of flaws.  The lids come off and it can be pretty ugly in there.

But what they REALLY want….. is to get rid of timed event slack.   How come?  Well, what they SAY is that rodeo needs to get the best-timed eventers in performances competing before paying audiences.   Really can’t argue with that either.   Even at some of the biggest rodeos, the best guys trade around and compete in the slack then go somewhere else—leaving the committee with circuit cowboys—and no big timed event names they can advertise.   In many markets if the cattle are good and the top contestants are up—the timed events make a significant contribution.  There are some markets where some timed events aren’t well accepted but then there are just as many where rodeo itself isn’t that well accepted.   Lagging ticket sales will verify this.

But even though they make the “let’s get the good guys up in perfs” argument… I’m guessing that the real deal is that they are sick of slack.   Costs them money—doesn’t sell any tickets.   Most rodeos have volunteer labor who have real lives and real jobs and asking them to spend two days helping with slack or stay up to 4 AM then have to go to work is just too much to ask.

The timed eventers have very good business reasons why they need two headers and slack competition (they have more invested, cattle are drawn 1 ½ hours before the competition, they survive on the entry fees of the lesser capable cowboys, and the best competitive opportunity is often in the slack.)    The timed events tried seeding the best guys (think it was in the Steer Roping) but one of the prominent contestants got a lawyer and got it stopped because the best competitive opportunity is often times in the slack.   The Event rep was trying to help save his event and got shishkabobbed by is own guys.   I also seem to remember that someone sued over limits in the timed events one time.

None of those very good reasons matters to many committees and stock contractors… all they see is a major pain in the butt and COST: cost of buying or leasing more cattle, trucking, feed, stalls, ambulance, labor (0-29 cents per hour UNLESS it is an indoor facility with union labor—then it can get real expensive).   Anyway… having slack costs them either time or money and usually doesn’t benefit them directly.  Yes,  300 timed eventers in town for two or three days can really benefit a smaller community’s economy… but many times-- particularly in the larger markets—the rodeo itself doesn’t get a significant bump. In fact …. 150 bull doggers hitting the local buffet restaurant three days in a row can put them out of business not to mention the lawsuits over all the locals who got trampled.  

Large timed event contestant numbers also benefits the PRCA… more dues… more 3%….more user fees… etc.   Even the riding events benefit by large numbers of timed event members because they pay insurance premiums that are mostly paid out to riding event guys—especially bull riders). You do the numbers.   4,000-5,000 time-ees paying a couple hundred bucks each for insurance they usually don’t need.   If bull riders as a group had to by their own insurance it might cost them $60-$80 per OUT.    100 outs a year = $6,000-$8,000 per NFR runner.   OUCH.   I’m thinking that the PRCA had maybe $1,200,000 in claims last year…. mostly paid out to bull riders… then horse riders and bull fighters.

Rodeo management (contractors and committees) have tried to get limits in contestant numbers but haven’t been able to.  Why? 

MONEY.    EL DINERO.

The timed eventers want management to replace the lost entry fee dollars from the limited out contestants. 

That ain’t going to happen—EVER.   Management isn’t going to kick in a $350 entry fee when their cost per run (depending on the event and venue) may be $15-$50.   On the other hand, the timed event contestants can’t take that big of hit and survive.  At least they don’t think they can.  It really is a chicken and egg type of thing and for a year or two there sure might be some skinny chickens.   Checkmate, mate.

Rodeo management has tried to come part way but the timed event guys want dollar for dollar.    The chance of that happening are about the same as Ralph Nader winning anything higher than third place in any state.   Just ain’t gonna happen.

So should the board be reorganized? 

Probably. Will it?  Probably not.

How Come?

A voting process similar to Florida’s except no matter how many times you count the votes you probably won’t have enough. It takes 9 out of 11 votes to change it.

And… I don’t think the stock contractors and rodeo committees are serious enough to push it.

And… two of the current contestant board members who have votes would be voting themselves off the board.  They must absolutely love lunchmeat (specifically OLIVE LOAF).

And…. the Independent directors would be voting themselves off the board.  

And…. the timed events are rightfully wary of any changes because currently (unless the riding event directors side with Management) they can at least hold their ground.

Don’t think the votes are there.  

BUT MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE….

First of all…. every event rep should support it because they are getting their event (the people they represent… a vote BACK).   The significance of that cannot be understated.  They are also increasing their percentage of the board composition upwards to 50%.  Their legacy should be… “we got every event a vote”.   

If I were a timed event director particularly in a couple of events—I damn sure would want a vote.   Their future is tenable at best.  At least you are giving them a chance to help determine their own futures. Actually, for a couple of events, they are probably screwed whatever they do.  Changes are going to happen. Guys like me who have always supported every event rep with my vote and will continue to do so—will get replaced.

The original concept where the PRCA would have two boards (one executive board who handled BUSINESS matters and one rules board) NEVER developed.   What they have ended up with is 20-30 people in a room trying to figure out which breath mint handles salami the best… listening to the same old competition and rules arguments that have been there for thirty years.  Same issues… only the names and faces have changed.  

Rodeo hasn’t changed and it needs to.    Shoot… it needs to so something besides just lie there as other people with more courage run off with the best pieces of it. Shoot… it needs to so something besides just lie there as other people with more courage and motivation run off with the best pieces of it.   And the crazy thing is… it doesn’t really have to change that much.   Just make a few adjustments… concentrate on the product for a change.

The idea that event reps should get experience before being voting board members is one I support.  The problem is that the PRCA meets so infrequently and for such brief periods that there IS NO EXPERIENCE.  You could at every meeting for five years and never learn anything except how inept the governing system is.   BUT… if you ever work at a grocery store, you’ll be an expert in spoiled lunchmeats.  (You can tell my mom offered up a lot of bologna sandwiches during my formative years. Don’t get me started on the MAYO/Miracle Whip issue... ) 

The idea behind having Independent Businessmen directors was to add business expertise to the Executive Board.  Both of the current guys have such knowledge.   They seldom get a chance to use it.   Management sure doesn’t involve them and the board seldom addresses such issues.  Originally, the Association had some financial issues… which were resolved partly through rule changes and mostly by hired management.   But now all the Independent directors have become is referees… trying to keep the board from exploding over competition and other rules.  That’s not fair to them or to rodeo.   They were put on the board to do BUSINESS—they aren’t allowed to—so “HASTA LA VISTA, BABY”.    

Unfortunately, they are the only two people in a roomful that I can stand.    I’d trust either of them with my vote. (Probably didn’t work—they are going to hate me anyway.)

Oh yeah, I REALLY like the attorney. (Think it worked?).

Yeah… the contestants should all vote to reorganize….

OR MAYBE THEY SHOULDN’T….

I doubt that the timed event reps can take a chance on the Commissioner having the tie-breaking vote.   If he’s trying to sell rodeo he needs the best timed event guys in performances—at least at certain rodeos.   He needs limits at televised rodeos in order to get the best guys on television on a consistent basis.   The jerk down rule would also probably be changed and expanded to include televised rodeos and rodeos where the event isn’t well accepted.   If you have the best guys—timed events are often more exciting than the horse ridings.  (Winston Tour and the NFR).  They have some very recognizable stars that WILL put behinds in seats or have people tuning in for the telecasts.

I don’t think you’d have to limit all rodeos… maybe only those who have specific problems. It might only be 100 out of 600 rodeos.   Maybe even fewer.  Some rodeos like to have the guys in town and actually try to keep them there spending money.  I think rodeo is well past the era where it tries to write one rule to cover ALL situations (or at least it should be).   They should go one rodeo at a time and the event reps and that committee and contractor cut a deal.  DO BUSINESS.  I did it (do it) in the bull riding.   It’s a grown up concept.

I’ve come to agree with the PRCA attorney that it might be ill advised to give a COMMISH the tiebreaker. THIS dude might be okay (trusted) but like all Commissioners—he’ll move on.   They are kinda like Gypsies ( in more way than one ).  You can’t be sure who the next one would be.  In fact, if the Commissioner had the tie breaking vote, I doubt that the board could ever agree on a candidate. This might be the last Commissioner.

See the problem is… and has always been….. is that the changes really need to be made BY the board.  That can’t happen because they can’t keep a board together and protected from their constituents long enough.   Too much outside pressure.   Everyone SAYS they want rodeo to get better but in reality they don’t mean it unless it benefits them right away.   A Commissioner needs to market the sport at a much higher level but geez—you have to give the guy something better to sell. The product we are putting out there is pathetic in more cases than not.

Second, inexperienced event reps may be taken advantage of by the older, more experienced and politically smart Committee and Stock Contractor reps-- who are appointed by their respective councils.  They would have more knowledge and more continuity.   Event reps have short terms in a lot of cases particularly if they try to put rodeo’s best interests ahead of their event’s.    Every two years (or lately it’s been every couple of meetings—since reps quit) new guys would come in cold, make mistakes that were irreparable, and then be on their merry ways.  “Sorry,  I didn’t mean to murder you guys”.   Guess we could call it manslaughter. The sorriest things I’ve ever seen done to cowboys hasn’t been at the hands of the management end of the board or from Ranch headquarters … it’s been cowboys (events)  screwing other cowboys (events).    Jealousy, pettiness…. just plane horse**it.    And it’s fixin’ to start again.   The bull riding has been taking hits ever since PBR started kicking butt.

I’m of the opinion that contestant reps are going to be taken advantage of anyway.   Most are younger, have little business experience, their minds are rightfully absorbed in their events and day-to-day problems, long term planning isn’t included in their itineraries,  and their communication skills, although loud and colorful (like me), aren’t fully developed.   You can rodeo for years and even get lots of babes and only have to say “yep” and “nope”.   Throw in a few “F” words and you can be a leader of men.   Worked for me, anyway.

It doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t be sincere and are stupid and illiterate (like me)… it’s just tough to throw a new guy in there and expect him not to makes mistakes.  Who’s lying… who’s telling the WHOLE truth… it’s tough unless you’ve been there long enough to realize that certain people lie ALL THE FRICKIN TIME.  

I think they must have to take an oath.  “I swear NOT to tell the whole truth, so help me  …  uh…  er… uh…...….. .”     They have trouble getting that last word out except to take the LORD’s name in vain. Hello HELL… got any extra seats in your grandstands?   If you don’t… put on a Tour rodeo in Mesquite.

The problem is that the rodeo management part of the board could “work” the contestants in order to get rid of contestant board members and get them replaced by someone they can have influence over.   If you make your living as a contestant and have to do so in a sport where success is largely dependent on the animals you compete on—obvious leverage exists.  New slacks could get added on, the best riding event stock might show up in certain performances, flanks might get missed, good ones might get left home or have hard to see injuries, or thumbs on stopwatches might get arthritic.

Sneaky suckers.   I could call them snakes but I have a pet Python and don’t wish to tick him off.   He’s great around Christmas time… fewer gifts for the rug rats.   “Have you seen little Bobby?”   

If you are trying to find the perfect Christmas gift for certain un named individuals …. how about those suction cup bathstanderupper mats they put in bathtubs?  I understand that they have had a few major back sprains from guys sliding off board room chairs.   Slime….EEE.    As the meetings progress they get sitting lower and lower until they resemble low riders.   If they could sit on one of those mats… it would really help.    Thoughtful, aren’t I?

What to do… what to do??????

Or maybe what NOT to do….

Whether the reorganization occurs or not….. one thing that you can’t let happen is let the timed events and the riding events go to fighting and siding with the stock contractor and committee directors just to screw the other side of the arena.   Right now the riding events think they are safe.   Boy, are they wrong.   They might even have MORE things that could get screwed up.   And if those things got screwed up enough it could result in “Bye, Bye RODEO”.

Lots of things that make sense and are really important to one side of the arena make absolutely NO SENSE to the other side.   But the thing that EVERYONE (even non contestants) needs to think about is that NOTHING about rodeo makes any sense to the outside influences who are trying to kill it.  They are out there and on the offensive.

At this point in time, giving THIS Commissioner the tiebreaker may be the ONLY way for rodeo to move forward.  The Board apparently isn’t capable of making decisions of this type.

Me? 

If I had a vote….. I’d have to….. let’s see…. uh….

I’d have to….

dump the Independent guys… give every event a vote (chance) and see what happens. 

Hopefully, someone would think enough of rodeo to inspire compromises and agreements between the adversarial parties.

If not… let someone from the outside (Commissioner)  make the calls (tie breaking vote) and then hang with him.  

Or hang him.  

It’s a win-win situation.

You can’t just keep sitting dead in the water. 

Yeah, it’s the old… “#&*# or get of the pot” deal.

And there are some VERY BIG behinds on those pots who have feathered nests.