Liz Writes Life
December 16, 2020
Last Thursday, my brother, Steve Dillman, called and asked if
I was watching the National Finals Rodeo. Aw, nope, I had forgotten all about
the annual finals held the first week of December. I was surprised it was on
RFDTV, the agricultural channel. In fact, Patrick Gottsch, the founder of RFDTV,
vied for the opportunity to film and broadcast the NFR and was given the
contract just this year.
In interviews with Patrick and stand-alone comments, we
learned the big television companies complained that RFDTV was a small
(hicks-from-the-sticks) channel and wouldn’t be able to do the NFR justice.
Well, this was the best presentation of the NFR I have ever watched. Patrick
said he and his crew had grand ideas for the opening ceremonies and they came
through! It was flashy and quickly featured the previous nights’ event winners
and showed-off all the countries and 20-plus USA states that were home to
contestants participating in the Grand Entry and rodeo.
What touched my heart were the opening prayers each night,
even though I only caught the last three nights. Prayers thanked God for the
rain, the talents and skills of the cowboys, cowgirls, horses and livestock.
Tears came to me, when prayers asked for blessings over our veterans, soldiers,
our country and family.
Everyone proudly stood for the National Anthem. Old Glory was
touted as “colors that never run!” Felt like days of old -- without the more
recent controversies plaguing patriotic citizens because of their love of the
United States of America. Yep, covid-19 is not the only plague affecting
people.
Talk about fast-paced – I couldn’t do anything else, but
watch or I would miss something. Commentators Butch Knowles, Jeff Medders, Joe
Beaver and Donny Gay knew their cowboys and cowgirls providing current information
along with background. Commercials were at a minimum. I wished I would have
caught the first seven nights.
Patrick praised the rodeo organization for going ahead with
what is really a world rodeo finals event. With the covid-19 restrictions, lots
of hoops had to be jumped through. Since 1986, the NFR has been held in Las
Vegas. That wouldn’t work this year. So, luckily, it was the MLB Texas Rangers
that came to the rescue and offered the use of its Globe Life Field in
Arlington, Texas. There was enough room in the stadium for social distancing,
even though there were a significant amount of rodeo fans rooting for their
favorites. Masks were a mainstay – even the gals carrying flags and leading
victory rounds of event winners on horseback wore a mask.
A young man from Utah, Stetson Wright, won the Bull Riding
and the All-Around Championship gold buckles and saddles – along with a lot of
money: $337,725.
Stetson’s younger brother, Ryder Wright, won the Saddle Bronc
Championship. This was the first time two brothers won championships the same
year. It was also the second year in a row that Stetson won the All-Around. Rusty,
a third Wright brother was also competing in the NFR. There were some names I
recognized in the competition, but the younger generation was making its debut
in a big way in all the events.
Just for general information, Blacks were certainly included.
A 20-year-old Shad Mayfield won the Tie-down Roping Championship gold buckle
and saddle. Country singer, Coffey Anderson, sang the National Anthem on
Saturday night and a silent minute of tribute was paid to Country singer,
Charley Pride, who passed away last Saturday. Charley is beloved and crossed
racial and political lines in a variety of ways. He blazed trails as a Country
singer back in the 1960s and was an avid fan and part owner of the Texas Rangers
having played baseball in the Negro League in the 1950s.
We, in rural America, appreciate our roots. We respect our
country. We are proud of the Cowboy Way. It was so wonderful to see such a
joyful celebration. Well done, NFR. And congratulations to Patrick and the
RFDTV for a quality televised production. For sure, I am going to check and see
if RFDTV shows reruns of the 10 nights of the 2020 NFR.
Doug LaMalfa
CA. Dist. 1 Congressman, Doug LaMalfa, saw his lead increase
in the election after California certified its 2020 General Election results.
As the last votes were finally counted, Doug won with a 57 percent over his
Democrat opponent Audrey Denny. He faced a well-funded Denny, who outspent Doug
by $1.5 million. Our congressman commented about the relentless attack ads and
false accusations and was grateful the “voters were able to see through it all
and rallied around the common sense message of limited government, individual
freedom and rebuilding the North State. I’m grateful for the continued
confidence and support,” he said.
And I gotta say that our congressman has guts and is willing
to walk into the fires of Hell. His staff person, Erin Ryan, called me on
Friday and said Doug was going to be on CNN Chris Cuomo’s show at 6 p.m. No, I
don’t watch CNN and would have missed it. I recorded the show and watched it
later and was impressed with how well Doug held his temper in the face of
hurling accusations and opinions from a hard-hitting Cuomo.
The segment was
about five minutes long and centered on Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court’s dismissal
of the State of Texas lawsuit regarding results of the General Election in four
other states. Cuomo was elated that Pres. Trump had lost this case and demanded
Doug concede that Joe Biden was president-elect and to show proof of election
fraud. Doug held his own and said there were other discrepancies that were
still under investigation and litigation.
Cuomo acknowledged
that Doug was the only House Republican willing to go on his show that night.
Cuomo said his staff invited 126 Republicans. In his response, Doug touted his
heritage saying that he is “Sicilian” and had to show up.
Liz Bowen
began writing ranch and farm news, published in newspapers, in 1976. She is a
native of Siskiyou County and lives near Callahan. Columns from the past can be
found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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