Toughest Cowboy
Toughest Cowboy presented by Jagermeister
News Release
Contact: Ann Bleiker - 719-226-2009 (office)
March 9, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Proctor becomes new owner of Jager Ranch after being crowned 2008 Toughest Cowboy Champion
COLUMBUS, Ohio. - The Championship Round of the 2008 World's Toughest Rodeo featuring Toughest Cowboy presented by Jagermeister was held at Nationwide Arena in Columbus , Ohio , and officially brought the 2008 season to an end. In a true test of toughness on this one-of-a-kind rodeo revolution Tour, the four finalist had to compete on six head of stock - two bareback horses, two saddle bronc horses and two bulls - all in the same night to determine the 2008 Toughest Cowboy and to answer the season long question, "Who will win Jager Ranch?"
In the end, it was Washington turned Wyoming cowboy Shane Proctor who was awarded the deed to Jager Ranch and the iron glove trophy for being crowned the 2008 Toughest Cowboy Champion. Proctor, who currently resides in Powell, now has a new place to call home at his ranch outside Pueblo , Colo.
"It is definitely a dream come true," said Proctor following his victory. "It is every cowboy's dream to own a piece of America and now I am the proud owner of Jager Ranch."
It wasn't an easy route for Proctor in Columbus as he was pushed to the limit in both matches. In his first three-head match, he battled head-to-head with the third ranked cowboy Erik Wolford of Clinton, Mich. Proctor jumped out to an all important 2-0 lead after winning the bareback and saddle bronc riding. Proctor scored 78 points in the bareback riding compared to Wolford's 76 and in the saddle bronc riding Proctor tallied 86 points, while Wolford finished with 84 points.
With the format of Toughest Cowboy, those two wins guaranteed Proctor a spot in the final head-to-head match no matter the outcome in the bull riding and total points category. The reason being is that the best Wolford could do at this point was tie Proctor. In this case the tiebreaker rule reverts back to the overall points collected in the Playoffs, and Proctor tallied five more points than Wolford had, so Proctor advanced to the final round.
The Proctor-Wolford match ended with Wolford scoring a season best 89-point ride in the bull riding giving him a total of 249 points, while Proctor posted 80 points bringing his total to 244. Wolford picked up the win in the bull riding and total points for the match tying him with Proctor but the result of the tiebreaker ended his hopes of owning Jager Ranch.
"My hats off to Erik for a great match and luckily for me the tiebreaker went in my favor," said Proctor following his semi-final match of the night.
In the other semi-final match of the night matched Chad Eubank of Cleburne, Texas, against Trey Broussard of Estherwood, La. Eubank, who knocked off the season leader Bandy Murphy in the Playoffs, faced another tough challenge in Broussard, who was the 2007 Toughest Cowboy reserve champion.
With about 20 family members in the stands, Broussard had his eyes on the final round and he proved that in his match against Eubank. Broussard swept the match after edging Eubank by two points in the bareback riding, five points in the saddle bronc riding and then 16 points in the bull riding. Broussard advanced to face Proctor for the title, while Eubank matched Wolford in the consolation round.
It was a see-saw match between Broussard and Proctor for the title. Proctor got the first "W" after outscoring Brossard by seven points in the bareback riding. However, Broussard got revenge in the saddle bronc riding after Proctor was thrown to the ground well before the eight second whistle.
With the score tied 1-1, the whole season came down to one-eight second bull ride for both cowboys. Whichever cowboy won the bull riding would not only be crowned the 2008 Toughest Cowboy Champion but would also win the deed to Jäger Ranch. In a dramatic photo finish it was Proctor edging Broussard by four points.
"Tonight there were a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but I am glad it ended on the upside for me," Proctor said. "This is definitely the highlight of my career. I am so happy to own a piece of America and I plan to be back next year to defend my title and see if I can win a spread right next to this one."
Wolford made quick work of Eubank in the consolation match sweeping the match and finishing the season ranked third.
In just its second season, Toughest Cowboy presented by Jagermeister is revolutionizing the sport of rodeo by introducing an exciting and innovative format to audiences across the United States . Unlike other rodeos where riders usually compete in just one discipline, Toughest Cowboy is an unprecedented test of endurance as all competitors must compete in three disciplines in one night (Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding and Bull Riding). The events feature head-to-head matches throughout the season leading to the playoffs and championship...ultimately crowning someone the Toughest Cowboy Champion.
Jagermeister, the country's best selling shot brand and top selling imported liqueur, was the first presenting sponsor of the Toughest Cowboy rodeo competition and tour in 2008.
Be sure to catch the bonus episode of the Championship Round from Columbus , Ohio , next week on Fox Sports Network (FSN) starting at midnight March 15 with rebroadcasts weekdays in primetime. For more information on this one-of-a-kind event and for television dates and times in your area visit www.toughestcowboy.com.
Tournament 9 Results
Columbus, Ohio
Match 1 - Semi-finals
Trey Broussard, Estherwood, La. vs. Chad Eubank, Cleburne, Texas - 4 wins to 0 wins; 200 points to 177 points; Broussard advances to the championship round
Match 2 - Semi-finals
Erik Wolford, Clinton, Mich. vs. Shane Proctor, Powell, Wyo. - 2 wins to 2 wins; 249 points to 244 points; *Proctor wins the tiebreaker to advance to the championship round
*Tiebreaker reverted back to Playoff points
Match 3 - Consolation round
Chad Eubank, Cleburne, Texas vs. Erik Wolford, Clinton, Mich. - 0 wins to 4 wins; 142 points to 217 points
Match 4 - Final Round
Trey Broussard, Estherwood, La. vs. Shane Proctor, Powell, Wyo. – 2 wins to 2 wins; 166 points to 145 points; *Proctor wins the tiebreaker and captures the title
*Tiebreaker revered back to total points in the semifinal round (Broussard – 200 points; Proctor – 244 points)
2008 Toughest Cowboy Champion: Shane Proctor
Final four standings for the 2008 Toughest Cowboy Series:
1. Shane Proctor, Powell, Wyo.
2. Trey Broussard, Estherwood, La.
3. Erik Wolford, Clinton, Mich.
4. Chad Eubank, Cleburne, Texas
About Grit Rock Rodeo
Grit Rock Rodeo is one of the largest producers of live and televised rodeo events in the world. Grit Rock Rodeo owns the World’s Toughest Rodeo, a national touring rodeo that consists of World’s Toughest Bulls and Broncs and Toughest Cowboy. Toughest Cowboy, a revolution in the sport which featured 8 cowboys riding 3 times in a performance, was carried in 2007 on Fox Sports Net nationally on Sunday nights. Grit Rock Rodeo also owns the license rights to the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour, which is the premier Tour of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The 2007 Wrangler ProRodeo Tour and the Ariat Playoffs of the Tour aired nationally on Fox Sports Net and CBS Sports.
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www.prorodeotour.com
www.bullsandbroncs.com
About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, Toyota Sports Center, Toyota Park, NOKIA Theatre Times Square, NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie, Hollywood’s El Rey Theatre, Seattle’s WaMu Theatre, Minneapolis’ Target Center and the just opened The O2, a 28-acre development located in the eastern part of London along the Thames River which includes a 20,000 seat arena and over 650,000sf of leisure and entertainment use; sports franchises throughout the world including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Los Angeles Riptide (MLL) and three MLS franchises in addition to overseeing privately held management shares of the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA). AEG developed and operates The Home Depot Center, a $150 million national training facility on the Campus of California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, California designated as an “Official U.S. Olympic Training Site” by the United States Olympic Committee that includes major facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling, lacrosse, rugby, action sports, beach volleyball, basketball and other sports.
The company's live entertainment division, AEG LIVE is one of the world's leading concert promotion and touring organizations that has recently promoted national tours on behalf of artists such as Prince, Bon Jovi, Kenney Chesney and Cheetah Girls as well as producing "A New Day…" starring Celine Dion appearing exclusively at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and the international museum tour of King Tut's artifacts.
AEG is overseeing the development of L.A. LIVE, a 4 million square foot / $2.5 billion downtown Los Angeles sports, residential & entertainment district featuring NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, a 7,100-seat state-of-the-art live theatre, a 54-story, 1001-room convention center "headquarters" hotel, Club NOKIA at L.A. LIVE, a 2,200 capacity live music venue, a 14-screen Regal Cineplex, "broadcast" facilities for ESPN, along with entertainment, restaurant, residential and office space and additional arenas, O2 World, on a 45-acre site in the heart of Berlin, Citizen’s Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri and in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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