Bernies Opinion...(cont.)
B
E
R
sustained by the numbers. For even some blood spilled and bones athletes performing in attractive,
managers, success depends on how broken. sporty attire on talented horses, big
N many entries they have in how many purses and huge crowds. If we could
I
rings in a day, and how many stalls KK. Possibly we have to take a make something like that work, it
E
they can sell. This formula works for different approach to selling our sport would be enormously beneficial for
them. As expensive as it is, we keep to T.V. and commercial sponsors here our top athletes. It could allow them
S coming back and the horse shows are in America. We’ve had lots of events to financially sustain themselves in
full. For me, that is only a reflection televised but we can’t sustain it. Most the International sport and would
of our love for the sport and what Americans look at it as an elitist open the door to ongoing commercial
O
some of us will sacrifice to be part of sport. Should we continue to follow opportunities.
P
it. Not a reflection of the correctness in the traditional footsteps of show
I
of this formula. Therein lies the jumping in its entirety? Is it working? KK. Do you really think the sport of
problem! Or should we consider some special, show jumping can be “sold?”
N
nontraditional show jumping classes
I
KK. Perhaps it’s time to view our geared for T.V. and commercial BT. Everything is possible in
O
Grand Prix sport with an eye to sponsorship? Show jumping is a America. Look at the growth and
developing it into an entity that highly athletic, extremely dangerous popularity of the televised sports like
N provides our top athletes the rewards and exciting sport. We must ask tennis and golf. Our sport is exciting,
they so greatly deserve, rewards that ourselves if dressing up in a tie and dangerous and exhilarating. I’m so
are so widespread in many other red jacket is projecting that image tired of the skeptics telling us for
sports. to the American viewing audience. the last 35 years that we can’t sell this
I can’t think of too many athletes sport to the American public. If you
BT. Well, that’s easily said, but maybe that put on a tie and jacket to play can sell them chess, poker, bowling
not so easily done. or perform. Are we promoting it as and arm wrestling, you can sell them
the “sport of kings,” or the athletic, our sport.
KK. Maybe we should have a close dangerous, exciting sport that it is?
look at how the Professional Bull It’s a bit like Global Warming. We
Riders (PBR) took the bull by the BT. As long as I’ve been in the sport, can put our heads in the sand and
horns and went about promoting tradition has been the approach..... pretend we don’t have a problem, or
their sport to what it has become tie....coat.....velvet hat. At least that we can react and address it. Due to
today. It’s one of the fastest growing has now finally changed (laughs). the incongruity of rewards versus
spectator sports in America. In 1992, Somewhere in the mid 70’s a expenses in our sport, we could find
twenty accomplished bull riders small group of riders, along with ourselves out of the traditional sport
joined together and took a business International Management Group sooner than later.
risk to try and make bull riding, the (Mark McCormick’s group) and Budd
most popular event in traditional Stanner, suggested an attire change America, we’ve got to figure it out.
rodeo, into a stand alone sport. Each from the waist up. This apparel would
rider chipped in $1,000.00 to help allow for sponsorship decals and KK. Thanks for taking time Bernie.
launch his dream of someday seeing promote the sport in a more athletic I hope you’ll keep us updated on the
bull riders recognized as mainstream vain to the American public, thereby activities throughout the course of
professional athletes. Today they are making it more commercially viable. the year.
owned by their athletes with over 700 Back then, this idea never got off the
bull riders from the U.S., Canada, ground. Tradition won. Perhaps now BT. Thank you Kenny.
Brazil, and Australia. The Ford is the time to revisit that issue.
sponsored series that started with
eight events and offered $250,000 is Make no mistake, I am not suggesting Bernie Traurig is George Morris’s Associate
now a 29-city, $10 million tour that or insinuating that we abandon the Chef d’Equippe and was recently appointed
has an estimated 100 million viewers traditional dress codes dictated by Co-Chairman of the USEF
annually tuning in to watch televised the FEI in the International arenas. High Performance Committee
PBR events on NBC Sports and the I am suggesting that we explore the with Anne Kursinski. If you
Outdoor Life Network. possibility of developing an offshoot would like to contact Bernie,
of Grand Prix jumping here in the please email califshowbiz@
BT. But, the argument for the success U.S., intended to attract television,
aol.com and include “For
of the PBR will be, with bull riding, commercial sponsors, and sports fans. Bernie” in the subject line.
there is non-stop action, it’s fast, there Creating extravaganzas that have T.V.
are thrills and especially spills, and coverage, commercially sponsored
Photos Courtesy Bernie Traurig
18
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