Mac Rodeo Magazine Vol.2

Mac Rodeo Magazine Vol.2

Written by Makoto Sekido
Translated by Randy S. Reese Jr.

JUL 28, 2000

Howdy! It's Mac again, and Mac Rodeo Magazine is finally revived!

I entered Salt Lake City on the 19th and had intended to meet-up with David, but have yet to make contact. Takamura, a football buddy of mine from college who is also into cowboys and such said he was coming to Ft. Worth, so I hoped on to a Greyhound and headed to Ft. Worth. With plane and bus, I spent a whole two days in travel.

Now, as for the bullriding, I entered in the bullriding at Billy Bob's Texas that night at nine. However, I made the entry over the phone from Japan, to an answering machine. On top of that, my bags were put on the wrong bus and I didn't get my gear until just before the show, and with no mental preparation I had to ride first on JJ.

Perhaps it was good I rode with an empty mind, because my body just seemed to move naturally, and I managed to hang on for six seconds. My best so far at Billy Bob's.

The next day, I went to Mesquite with Takamura and watched the PRCA rodeo there, as well as see other things, getting my full of Texas. Sunday, I parted with Takamura, got on another Greyhound and headed for Austin. This week I am renting a car, travel around every day, and intend to ride all I can.

'Till next time.

JUL 31, 2001

Howdy! Mac here again, with a report on a very hard week.

Tuesday I practiced at the Gibbs Arena in Jarrel, TX. I rode three, and managed 8 on my last one called Butter Bean. The stock contractor Wayne Gibbs and his wife Polly, as well as Hess, one of the guy working there seemed to take a liking to me, and the next day I went to the Armstrong Arena in Belton with Hess. But they weren't holding practices that week, so we went back and the Gibbs fed me a mighty fine dinner.

Thursday Hess and I headed to the Johnny Borrn Arena, also in Belton for practice. I rode Peanuts, my second head, but failed on Tomtom, my third. I rest again at the Gibbs after that.

Friday, Hess, his friend Chicken Hawk and I headed to San Antonio for a bar bigger than Billy Bob's Texas called Far West Rodeo for a buckout there. The bulls, I was told, were all PBR level.

As the show began, each rider was called and entered the arena by coming out of the chute. They called me last, which made me a nervous wreck. PBR bulls are no joke, and all I managed was one or two seconds before I was pulled down, kissed the bull and came off. Needless to say, a no score.

Saturday, I went with Hawk to Kerrville, TX for a jackpot there. And I finally did it! I finally made an 8 second ride in an event! The crowd seemed to cheer for me in a different manner than just because I am Japanese.

I received a score of 67, and took 5th, but the payout was only to 3rd. I didn't quite make it to first, but it was definitely a big step for me.

The next step is to make the money.

Next week, I finally get to ride in a long awaited PRCA event, when I ride in the Bastrop Homecoming Rodeo.

Stay tuned for results!

OCT 28, 2000

Mac here again. Sorry I've been out of touch for so long.

I was forced to return home early as a result of an event at the PRCA Barstrop Homecoming Rodeo.

On the night of August 3rd, I headed out to Austin, TX by Greyhound from Martin, TN where my friend Kitagawa lives.

The bus was scheduled to arrive at 2:00pm, but arrived three hours late, and the rodeo was scheduled to start at 7:00pm. Bullriding is usually the last event at a rodeo, but this rodeo split the event in two, and I was to ride in the first half at the beginning of the show. I quickly rented a car and headed for the arena, getting there after seven. The opening ceremonies had begun, and the other riders had already started preparing to ride.

Being that this was my first PRCA show, I had no idea which way was up or down and little time to prepare, I thought of just sitting down to watch instead, but because I was able to grasp a lot last time this happened, I quickly got my gear ready to go. With just enough time to put my gear on and none to stretch-out or mentally prepare myself, I climbed over the gate onto Slip Knot of the Terry Walls Company.

I go over everything I had learned in my mind as I get ready in the chute. I yell "OK!" and the gate opens. I was able to grasp the rhythm at first, but started getting behind about four or five seconds out and came off soon there after. As I looked up, my eyes met with the bull's, and sooner than I could realize the situation, I was being trampled on with breaking noises coming from my left chest. The zipper on my vest was broke, and I even ripped the shirt I just bought. Out of the arena I went, headed for the hospital in an ambulance.

After extensive tests, I was told I had four broken ribs, and there was bleeding from my spleen.

Even after a week in the hospital, I was told I was not well enough for long plane travel, so I spent another week recovering at the Gibbs' home. I flew home first class on the ticket the insurance company purchased for me.

I began working in October to start saving for next year. I have been told I can't rodeo for another six months, but little by little I have started training again. The results are not pretty, but I feel like I am close to grasping something, so stay tuned in 2001.

'Till next time.

Written by Makoto Sekido
Returned in August of 2000, and is currently recovering from injury.

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