Saturday, October 26, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

BULL RIDING: Rookie Sasse hanging tough

Twenty-year-old tied for fourth after two rounds in Finals

By MARC DAVID
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Of the 12 rookie bull riders in the 2002 Bud Light Cup World Finals, none has less experience than Craig Sasse.

Even though he's competing in only his fifth Bud Light Cup event, Sasse rode like a veteran Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center, scoring 88 points aboard Midnight Madness.

"He had me a little tilted at the beginning," Sasse said. "I hustled and got back up, and then I felt good."

Sasse tied for seventh Friday, earning $2,500. He is one of only five riders to post a score each of the first two days of the World Finals, having scored 79 aboard Chili Hopper on Thursday.

"I'm happy to have two rides," Sasse said. "I wish I could have rode the first one a little better. But at least I got a score on him."

Sasse, with 167.5, is tied for fourth and trails leader Cory McFadden by 10.5 points in the overall event standings.

McFadden tied for 10th on Friday with an 87.5-point ride on a bull named Oscar De La Hoya.

Mike White had the best ride of the night before 12,500 fans. His 91-point effort aboard Moody Blues earned White $22,000.

It was the last ride for Moody Blues, who will be offered for sale today with the stipulation that he not be bucked again.

"The bull has been a great bull for so long," White said. "This is the fourth time I have ridden him, and he did things a little differently. I don't know how long he's been bucking, but it is before I got on the PBR."

Sasse, a 20-year-old from St. Peter, Ill., is the only Illinois rider in the 45-man field. He grew up on a farm 100 miles east of St. Louis, where the PBR has an annual event.

Sasse has been a spectator at the St. Louis event the past three years. His goal is to compete there.

To get that chance, he will need to stay in the top 40 through the first 10 events of the 2003 season.

Sasse was turned on to bull riding at the neighboring farm of Kevin and Ronnie Crain, who had a practice pen.

"I went over one day and liked it," said Sasse, whose $38,072.33 in earnings rank 40th. "I was 11 when I saw it the first time. I liked it ever since and knew that's what I wanted to do."

Sasse's parents have 13 bulls on their farm, so he gets plenty of practice. In fact, he is a mentor of sorts.

"Every Tuesday, the kids from the area come over," Sasse said. "I teach them how to ride. It's a lot of fun."

Sasse, who admits he was nervous at the start of the PBR season-ending event, is making the best of his first world championship. Although he may be a long shot, Sasse isn't shy about his goal.

"I want to win every time out,"Sasse said.