Bushwacker, the bucking bull many consider the greatest of all time, calmly laid down yesterday, closed his eyes and passed away. He was 18 years old and had been enjoying the past decade in retirement on Julio Moreno’s ranch in California. Before that, there was of course a truly legendary PBR Brand of Honor career including three world championships (2011, 2013, 2014), 64 buck offs in 66 outs, and the infamous 42-out buck-off streak finally broken by JB Mauney.
He was a smart-ultracompetitive heavyweight. In fact, Julio compared him to Muhammad Ali. He knew he was the greatest, and strutted around the arena as such. Off the dirt, no bull before or since has received as much attention...or relished it as much. The proud chocolate bovine who never met a camera he didn’t like was a mainstream pop culture superstar — certainly the most popular PBR athlete during his reign.
Newsweek likened him to Michael Jordan. ESPN the Magazine made him the first animal featured in their popular “Body” issue. He transcended our sport. In the arena, Bushwacker was king and he lived that way until the end. He will forever be a symbol of strength, power, determination, raw athleticism and greatness. Rest in Peace, Champ.
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Shit, this video snuck past me until Sunday. I didn't even realize Bushwacker had died.
I think my uncle Ricky Don was the best PBR athlete ever. He could pound Pabst Blue Ribbon like nobody's business.
ReplyDelete--Tennessee Budd
Thanks for the video. It was great.
ReplyDeleteRIP Bushwacker. You were the best.
I didn't realize Bushwacker was bred and born at the Flying U Rodeo by Cotton Rosser, a Marysville, CA legend. Cotton just passed away a couple of years ago at 93.
Neither did I, nor did I know Reindeer Dippin was his daddy.
DeleteAfter spending 38 minutes watching the video I probably spent another hour and 38 minutes reading about Bushwacker, his breeder and his owner. It was time well spent.
DeleteBetter than Bodacious?
ReplyDeleteI imagine there's a bunch of bull riders lined up for The Bushwhacker Barbecue.
ReplyDeleteWooo!
ReplyDeleteThazsalottabull!
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Got to see Bushwacker live. Massive bull. He sure was fun to watch. Also got to see Little Yellow Jacket buck here in Idaho. He was the best other pure bucker I ever saw. Haven’t seen Cool Whip yet, but cowboys here say he’s pretty rank.
ReplyDelete