PUEBLO, Colo. (June 22, 2016) — This year, the PBR’s (Professional Bull Riders) Heroes & Legends Celebration will honor the bucking bull widely considered to be the greatest in the history of the sport, three-time PBR World Champion Bull Bushwacker.
A part of PBR Finals Week in Las Vegas (Oct. 29-Nov. 6), the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration will take place at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa on Tuesday, Nov. 1. This year’s ceremony will induct the 2016 class of honorees: Bushwacker will be bestowed with the Brand of Honor; 1996 PBR World Champion Owen Washburn will be enshrined in the Ring of Honor; Dr. Tandy Freeman will receive the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award; and LeAnn Hart will be honored with the Sharon Shoulders Award.
The Brand of Honor is awarded to a bull for his exemplary performance throughout his career.
Bushwacker bucked onto the PBR scene in 2009 as the ABBI (American Bucking Bull, Inc.) Reserve Wild Card Champion, then picked up $250,000 the following year as the 2010 ABBI World Champion Classic Bull. After allowing one Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) qualified ride in 2009 by Markus Mariluch, the 1,700-pound champion competed for four years on the BFTS, consecutively bucking off 42 cowboys, setting a new PBR record that holds to this day. After Mariluch, only long-time rival, J.B. Mauney was able to cover him, bringing the highly publicized streak to an end in 2013 for 95.25 points. It is the highest-marked ride of the two-time and reigning PBR World Champion’s career to date.
Bushwacker, the most popular PBR athlete during his reign, was lauded by numerous media outlets, including an appearance in ESPN the Magazine’s The Body issue in 2013 as “Unridable.” Newsweek likened him to Michael Jordan; he was also covered by USA Today and the Wall Street Journal, and featured on CBS This Morning and ESPN’s E:60.
The champion bovine recorded 64 buck offs in 66 BFTS outs, ranking him eighth all-time in buck offs to date. His career BFTS buck off percentage was 96.969 percent. He also earned an average bull score of 46.162 points. Bushwacker retired in 2014 after collecting his second consecutive, and third overall, PBR World Champion Bull title.
“This is very exciting,” said Julio Moreno, PBR stock contractor and owner of Bushwacker. “It’s very flattering to be able to say I have a bull that is receiving the Brand of Honor, especially since it’s Bushwacker.”
The PBR Ring of Honor was created in 1996 to recognize those who have had the most profound impact on the sport of bull riding, both inside and outside of the arena. Its 42 members share a common bond of courage, strength, and victory and have played a significant role in helping professional bull riding grow to become one of the ten most popular sports in the U.S. while now competing in five countries globally.
———
Fans can enhance their PBR Finals Week experience by buying tickets for the 2016 Heroes & Legends Celebration starting Wednesday, June 29th. For $75, fans will receive tickets to the PBR Heroes & Legends Reception offering complimentary beverages and admission to the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration and Induction ceremony, followed by live entertainment. The package also includes passes to the VIP pre-parties of the 2016 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 2 and Thursday, Nov. 3. Tickets can be purchased at the South Point Showroom Box Office or by calling the PBR Customer Service department at (800) 732-1727.
South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa is the Official Host Hotel of the PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration. Special room rates and packages, starting at $65 and $115 (plus taxes and resorts fees), respectively, are available to fans at South Point by using the code PRO1102. For reservations and information call 866-791-7626.
PBR Finals Week begins with the PBR BlueDEF Finals Saturday, Oct. 29 – Monday, Oct.31 at South Point Arena & Equestrian Center. The week also will include Ultimate Freestyle Bullfighting, concerts, VIP parties, ABBI World Finals, charity outings, PBR Finals Week Fan Zone, and the PBR World Finals taking place at T-Mobile Arena, Wednesday, Nov. 2- Sunday, Nov. 6, culminating with the crowning of the 2016 PBR World Champion.
Be the first to comment