NFR 2011: Final Thoughts.

Another year and another all-around buckle for the world's greatest all-around cowboy Trevor Brazile. The roper is could be on track for $5 million in career earnings!

Brazile was one of 11 champions crowned this year in the prca Pro Rodeo and Xtreme Bulls tours in 2011, joining the likes of Luke Branquinho (steer and a crowd favorite), Lindsay Sears (barrel racing) and Shane Proctor (bulls) as those crowned champions in the prca in 2011.

Speaking of Proctor, the PBR veteran suffered a horrendous injury on the final night on Saturday. Black Attack stepped on his back and had to be carried off by the world-renowned Justin Sports Medicine team (now doing medical work on the PBR tours as well!). He was able to show up at the banquet on Sunday night. 

Overall, another year of greatness in this, the Super Bowl of Rodeo. What I didn't like was the GAC coverage. After all these years on the ESPN family of networks (including ESPN8 the Ocho), prca and production company Winnercomm of Tulsa (the people who produced the prca broadcasts not just on ESPN, but also on CBS and FSN) announced that beginning this year, the NFR will move to GAC. If you have digital, cable or satellite, you should have GAC. GAC is what ye olde TNN and CMT used to be (and ought to be). The main problem was delays in the broadcast. I think this was to basically get to see every contestant without missing out on one that was going whilst on commercial break (see that ESPN?). Other that that, keep in mind, the same people who were commentating for GAC, same people who were part of ESPN's NFR telecast the past few years (same company too). As a result of the delays, radio was heaps ahead. If you wanted spoilers, listen to the radio broadcast as it happens.

The solution is to have two boxes during break. One to see the contestant and the other one for ads or just wait until after the event is over to take those breaks. But in todays world, every sport does have to take as much ad breaks for monetary support. This is how the business works. Watch the NFL for example, especially the night games on NBC or ESPN. 

Overall, a pretty fair but exciting NFR to commemorate the prca's 75th anniversary. GAC will have the Xtreme Bulls beginning on February 14. Keep an eye out on it!