How ‘bout it? As I expected, that two-loop rule is giving them guys a rude awakening. In fact, their expressions and demeanors make me think they haven’t woke up to its reality. Hel---lowww… Instead of going an extra step and making a slam dunk they’re shooting for threes and coming up short. The shock and confusion in their expressions is like, “What’d I just do? I went off and it didn’t work. Sh%$! That was it; all she wrote.”—I find myself yelling at my TV to those guys who are shaking their heads in disbelief about their results “You’re not thinking! Instead of Roping Smart, and working the run you’re letting the clock dictate your throws, knee-jerking blink-shots and then falling out, that fast. Done!” This is when I suggest the need for a coach. This year’s blood will flounder through every round because they aren’t roping outside the box nor do they have an inkling of a clue how. Sometimes a good soldier needs the direction of a good general to win the war, you know?
Patrick Smith is in dire need of a revamp. He doesn’t seem geared for fresh steers. He needs to get something on his rope rather than assuming the steer’s honesty and just firing, but I’m not sure it’s in his make-up. The worst case last night was Petska. They placed strong on their first steer, then when their second-night’s steer didn’t expose an immediate shot, was not in a heel-able frame, Cory threw anyway. What the hell? Now, I don’t care how great you are, if there’s no shot there’s no shot! What in the sam-hell are you doing? I don’t even consider that a low-percentage shot. It’s an absolute ridiculous, no-shot-at-all shot that has no rhyme or reason, let alone, place in NFR roping. At this point, even roping one leg is better than throwing a wild wad of sh%$ and missing.
This group doesn’t know how to kick in and hover over a steer with authority—I’ve got you ya son of a bitch!—and stitch him tight. Two-loops will force guys to rope with discipline. The expression I use around here on my rookies is appropriate for the ’09 NFR class, “It’s time to ‘pro-up’!” Get serious and rope responsibly or go home. We get tired of watching nonsense.
The two-loop rule will resurrect the sport’s integrity. I don’t expect we’ll see any style or strategy changes this year, not even next year or any near-future NFRs until them new-agers figure out—or somebody comes along and shows them—how to win under those conditions. How to Rope Smart where they can rope very solid with control and confidence that they can be 4 or 5, yet refrain from taking a low-percentage chance (bad) shot at a steer in haste that you very likely might miss.
At this point, the one thing I see, is that Chad Masters ain’t fooling around. He changed horses right after the first steer and realizes that he has one of the best heelers of all time behind him, so he just has to give him a shot each night. That team is just laying there in the weeds (like a lion) waiting to pounce on that opportune chance. Their patience and confidence in that upcoming opportunity will prevail.
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