Thompson: Old rodeo publication gives a wealth of information

By Jim Thompson, Special to the Journal | Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

Cody Morris called recently to ask if I'd like to have all the old Rodeo Sports News papers that his dad has saved up for so many years. I always answer "yes" to that.

There's little monetary value to these items today, but gosh, the information is priceless.

I spent a weekend sorting out those papers recently and it was like going through an attic! I was immersed in news about rodeo. I was especially taken with the amount of deaths recorded, in the arena, on the highway, murders, unexplained deaths. Wow.

Were cowboys just accident-prone 40 years ago? I was also reminded how much controversy there has always been in our sport. Letters to the editor complaining about one thing or another, and answers from those complained about.

The old saying is true isn't it? The more things change, the more they stay the same!

n News about friends ... I read in the Ekalaka Eagle that Dan Leatherberry died in August. His brother Jim, I announced many many times in the bull riding at rodeos.

And the brother-in-law of another long time friend died in September. Tait Teigen was from Capitol, Mont. His sister is married to Jim Tetrault of St. Onge.

Jim was riding barebacks when I first started announcing and I still count him as one of my dearest friends.

Condolences to both families at their loss.

n Allen Good told me that his Extreme Timed Event Challenge in Rapid City on Oct. 29 will feature over 40 contestants in a two-header in four timed events: bull dogging, heading and heeling and calf roping.

Notables already entered include Garrett Nokes, Paul Tierney, Bill Gallino, Doug Cox, and Paul David Tierney, as well.

Doug Cole at Star Performance Hitches will provide the $2,500 added money. It's a two-header with the top 10 back for the finals.

I'll announce. It should be good. It starts at noon on Oct. 29 - that's a Sunday - at

the Equine Events Center in Rapid City.

n I finally got to talk to Brian Fulton. After what seems like an eternity since I heard of his brain tumor and surgery, the old familiar voice was on my phone on a Tuesday morning:

"Jim, how the Hell are ya?" Brian was his same old self, telling me of the two-inch tumor (but with no fingers) taken from his brain in the Omaha surgery.

He told me that he and Lisa and their sons were doing well, had plenty of insurance to cover the need for now, and best yet: Hope.

Brian still hadn't found out his regimen for chemo or whatever the docs plan to do to fight this, but one thing was very clear: Brian Fulton has a plan ... to keep on with his life. That was good to hear.

Friends are welcome to call.

n On Sept. 19, the WPRA filed for an injunction against the PRCA for starting their own barrel racing association. The saga continues.

See ya somewhere down the road!

Jim Thompson, a veteran rodeo announcer, can be heard on the daily network radio talk show "Live with Jim Thompson" across North and South Dakota each weekday at 1 p.m. Locally he can be heard on KBHB 810 AM in Sturgis.