Alright, so I’ve been meaning to put together a list of the top 10 bull riders of all time. This was not a simple task. I mean, you got so many legends in this sport, it’s like trying to pick your favorite kid or something.
First, I started by just brainstorming all the names that came to mind. Guys like Lane Frost, of course, that’s a given. Then J.B. Mauney, he’s another that came to mind pretty quickly. I jot them all down on a piece of paper, just stream of consciousness, you know?
Then I hit the internet, looking for some inspiration. I mainly looked at the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) website, and some fan forums. I want to see who everyone else was talking about, see if I missed anyone obvious. There’s a lot of opinions out there, let me tell you. And some of these fans, they’re hardcore, they know every stat, every ride.
After getting a bigger list, I started to narrow it down. I decided to look at some criteria, and things like, world championships, event wins, 90-point rides. Those are the big ones. It’s not just about who’s tough, it’s also about who’s consistently winning, right? And it’s about who’s putting up those monster scores, the kind that make you jump out of your seat. Those are the rides people talk about for years.
Once I had my criteria, I went back to my big list and started sorting. It’s kind of like putting together a puzzle. I moved names up, I moved names down. Some guys, it was easy. J.B. Mauney, for instance, I just knew he’s going to be at the top of that list. He’s got the wins, he’s got the big scores, and he is just a legend in the sport. Other guys, it was tougher. You had to really weigh their accomplishments, you had to consider the era they rode in, the competition they faced.
I spent a good few days on this, going back and forth, tweaking the list. Finally, I got it down to ten names. And I felt pretty good about it. It’s a solid list, I think. Of course, people are going to disagree, that’s just how it is with these kinds of things. But I think it’s a fair representation of the greatest bull riders to ever do it.
Here is my final list
- 1. J.B. Mauney
- 2. Lane Frost
- 3. To be continued…
I will continue to add to the list next time, so stay tuned. Also, I know you might have different opinions. Let me know in the comments. This is just my take, based on what I’ve seen and what I’ve researched.
