Think of how little occurs in eight seconds. Clear one’s throat, sip a cup of coffee, read this sentence. Pick up a paper and walk across the living room.

For most people, eight seconds is nothing.

For a bull rider, it is a lifetime.

The magic number eight resonates throughout the Thomas and Mack Center for the Professional Bull Riders World Finals, the sport’s national championship, November 1-4. It takes an eight-second ride on a 2,000 pound Brahma bull for contestants to score major points in this rugged, fan-friendly slice of Americana. Ford sponsors the tour’s 31 yearly events, most of which are televised on the Versus network, before Las Vegas crowns the national champion.

The coronation occurs in two steps. PBR’s top 45 point-earners invade the Mandalay Bay Events Center October 26-28, before wrapping up the season at Thomas and Mack. Contestants vie for the championship and their slice of a $3.2 million prize pot.

Rodeo? A major financial hitter?

The championships form another testimony for Las Vegas. The city was founded on gaming and wrapped around companion sports like boxing and, most recently, mixed martial arts. Yet the PBR flexes the city’s diverse economic muscles. The national finals will bring gamblers to Las Vegas, cater to a loyal fan base and summon the wild wild west atmosphere.

By Dave Bontempo

Casino Connection Sports Editor Dave Bontempo is an award-winning sports writer and broadcaster who calls boxing matches all over the world. He has covered the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs, as well as numerous PGA, LPGA and Seniors Golf Tour events, and co-hosted the Casino Connection television program with Publisher Roger Gros.

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