Saturday, December 04, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

OPENING NIGHT: Etbauer hard to buck

Saddle bronc rider begins his 16th consecutive Finals by tying for second

By JEFF WOLF
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Billy Etbauer rides Bath Bubbles to an 84-point performance in the first round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack. Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Billy Etbauer's 16th consecutive National Finals Rodeo appearance started Friday night when he was honored as the most popular saddle bronc rider since the rodeo moved here 20 years ago.

It didn't end too badly, either, as Etbauer finished in a three-way tie for second behind winner Mike Outhier in the opening round of the 46th annual NFR in front of 17,503 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Two months ago, it looked as though the saddle bronc world championship would be a two-man race between reigning champ Dan Mortensen and Glen O'Neill. But injury forced both to withdraw from the Finals.

Now the world title is up for grabs.

"The injuries that took Glen and Dan out really opened the door for everybody," said Etbauer, a four-time world champion whose last crown was in 2000.

"I don't know if you can necessarily say the door was absolutely slammed shut, but it sure opened up a lot farther than it was before they got hurt. It might have only been open by a crack before then."

Outhier, of Utopia, Texas, scored 86 points on Big Bend's Smokeless No Dice. Etbauer, of Edmond, Okla., Rusty Allen, of Lehi, Utah, and Bobby Griswold, of Geary, Okla., each scored 84.

Outhier won $14,777, and the three runners-up earned $8,898 apiece to chip away at Mortensen's lead in the world standings -- which is about $26,000 over third-place Cody Demoss, who placed fifth Friday. Etbauer is fifth, $15,000 behind Demoss.

"That was a nice horse," Etbauer said of Burch Rodeo's Bath Bubbles. " Hopefully we can stay healthy and keep things going."

While Etbauer, 41, is low key, the 27-year-old Outhier is off the scale on the high-strung meter. He started getting cranked up well before the round started at 6:45 p.m.

"I got here at 4:30, and Billy got here at 6:15," Outhier said with a smile. "I like the excitement of being nervous; I think I ride better. It gets my motor running."

It sure did Friday.

"I had a great horse and knew I had a good shot to take first if I didn't mess up," he said, adding that he had a parking attendant move a barricade when he arrived at the arena so he could park in a spot labeled No. 1.

"The pressure's off now. I won $14,000, and that's a pretty good week. Christmas will be good already."

But he wasn't about to start celebrating until Etbauer had completed his ride.

"They wanted me to get on the victory horse early, but I wasn't going to get on until Billy rode," Outhier said. "You're dodging bullets if you get by him. He's one of the greatest bronc riders to ever pack a saddle. Every time he nods his head, you've got a darn good chance of getting your butt beat."

Not only is Etbauer the oldest among the 15 saddle bronc contestants, he's three years older than anyone competing in the NFR's roughstock events, which includes bareback and bull riding.

"I don't figure you're any older than how you act and what your body's willing to let you do," Etbauer said. "Hopefully we can stay young and keep acting young."