Feelin' Fine For '09

Whew! We survived the '08 PBR World Finals, and I'm already starting to look ahead to '09.

It feels good to have a little time to step back and see that "real life" is still going on outside of the arena. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a lot of down time. I am headed back to Vegas in a couple weeks where I spend 10 days performing my "Outside the Barrel" talk show at Cowboy Christmas, the official gift show of the National Finals Rodeo.

My arena job is exclusive to the PBR, but I love to take my stage show on the road and share it with the people at the NFR. After all, that is where my career really took off. I also host the nightly go-round awards in the showroom at my second home, the South Point Hotel and Casino.

It seems like I have a lot to talk about, so hopefully I won't ramble.

First of all, Gizmo Marchi is a great champion! He will be a great face of the PBR, and he has, hands down, been the best bull rider in the world the last four years if you look at consistency.

The best thing about him is how great of a guy he is.

He gave a great speech at the awards banquet on the final Sunday--obviously working very hard on perfecting his English. He talked about how this is his American Dream, and thanked our country for the opportunity. He is a pure class act.

It was also a bittersweet Finals as we watched Adriano and McBride call it a day. They are the two extremes in drama and emotion.

Adriano has always worn his emotions on his sleeve, and has never been afraid to express how he feels publicly. He is completely sincere in everything he says and does. He was on my stage show one day and made a very profound statement. He said to keep stressing education in this country because uneducated people are easily controlled.

Hmmm... What a great statement. I consider him a good friend and will miss seeing him and his family.

On the other end of the emotional spectrum is the great Justin McBride -- reserved, quiet, kind and hilarious. Did I mention arrogant? NO WAY!

I've mentioned before that sometimes I read blog comments to come up with ideas to write about. Maybe I shouldn't do that or maybe I just take them to heart too much.

Anyway, I can't speak for Justin, but has anyone thought about the fact that retirement sounds appealing because he just doesn't want to deal with the constant pull of people anymore? He's a country boy and a great bull rider, but autographs, fans, and constant media requests were extra.

I'm not here to tell people how they should feel about someone, but it reminds me of something that happened to me once.

I was in a restaurant at a tour stop somewhere with a couple friends. I was relaxing--very mellow--and not paying attention to much going on around me when a fan said, "What's wrong with you? This isn't the Flint that I know." I instantly responded with, "But you don't know me at all."

Maybe it was the wrong thing to say, but it really opened my eyes to how one is perceived in the public eye.

McBride has been judged by many as arrogant when I see him as a guy not completely comfortable around mobs of people he doesn't know. He also was on my stage show, and expressed a sincere appreciation to all the fans and how they are the ones that have made his career possible.

Believe me, he gets it.

Probably the most interesting conversation I have had all year was with Justin talking about how exciting the gymnastics all-around competition was at the Olympics. We then shared stories of our own daughters and their gymnastics classes.

We have also discussed which shows we enjoy most on the Disney Channel.

I don't mean to go on and on, but, dang it, these two riders aren't going to be around any more and I'm running out of people to talk to. Do you really think Brian Canter or Reese Cates and I have a lot in common?

I will give you this opinion and you can't argue because it is my opinion: In my years of rodeo and PBR, Justin McBride was the greatest pure bull rider that I ever saw. No offense to anyone else that's just what I saw.

By the way, Marchi might change that opinion if he keeps it up!

I hope J.B. kicks off next season like he ended this one. That guy is a stud. We are not lacking for young stars to take over the reins of the PBR. I think we will see his popularity just skyrocket in the near future. He's got the talent, the look and the confidence – nothing wrong with a touch of arrogance – to run with this thing.

Watch out for him in '09.

Speaking of '09, I think the schedule looks awesome. As we approach the New Year, I can't help but wonder how today's economy will affect our tour--hopefully not at all? What do you think?

My goal is to work hard and put on a great show so people just can't stay away. We shattered our attendance record for the World Finals this year so I guess we're doing something right. I'm looking forward to places I've never been like Tallahassee and Springfield.

I really do want to thank all the fans of the PBR.

The Finals was, once again, the most rewarding week I have all year. I looked up from my autograph table at the Fan Zone and couldn't help but shake my head at the fact that people were waiting in line to get a signature from a country boy from Choteau, Montana.

All those days of practicing my signature on my notebooks in study hall at Choteau High finally paid off.

Remember what I said in a previous blog...If one of us walks by with our head down and doesn't sign an autograph we probably just have somewhere else to be in a hurry. Sorry if it comes across as rude. We really do appreciate all of you. You're the ones paying the bills!

By the way, I'm glad you enjoyed my little song I wrote and performed. I have no idea if it will ever get recorded because I just don't have access to that sort of thing. Let the PBR know what you think, and maybe they'll take the initiative on it.

Laugh Always My Friends, Flint!