WOLF’S EYE VIEW FROM THE T&M CORRAL

A HAT IS NOT JUST A HAT

Blasphemy!

For 10 years I knew it was time to rodeo when an announcer signaled to the contestant during the grand entry ceremonies to salute the greatest rodeo fans with a tip of their Resistols.

If you don’t know, a Resistol is a western hat. But if you didn’t know that, you’re not reading this anyway.

I always wondered why female barrel racers never tipped their Resistols. Or, if your hat was made by another company, did you still have to tip it?

Well, it was shocking Thursday night when the announcer at the Thomas & Mack Center said: “A heart-felt tip of the HAT to ...”

Not sure what he said after “to” because it was hard to believe that the world's greatest rodeo doesn’t have a hat sponsor.

Maybe I should have bought a Resistol the last time instead of one made by Justin.

LIDDELL AS A BULLDOGGER

Mixed martial artist Chuck Liddell was at the NFR, and it’s good he left his front-row seat after bareback riding, the opening event.

Because next up was steer wrestling, and the “Iceman” might have hopped the railing to throw a rear naked choke on the steer.

Liddell didn’t leave the building; he just moved higher in the arena.

Now he won’t make a cool bullfighter.

TICKETS AVAILABLE

Trust me, you can get tickets for the NFR even if it is sold out.

And you don’t have to use a ticket broker.

Go to the Ticket Exchange at Cowboy Christmas being held each day at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Ticket holders who own ducats they won’t be using put them up for sale. You pay face value plus $2.

DON’T DRIVE

Las Vegas Events is providing free — as in it doesn’t cost you a penny — transportation to the NFR from various locations on the Strip corridor and Downtown.

You can find the list at lvrj.com/rodeo.

If you live in Southern Nevada and don’t want to pay $10 to park at the Thomas & Mack or deal with the traffic, just park any a resort like the MGM Grand and walk to the nearest pick-up point.