"PUEBLO, Colo. (May 18, 2009) - Winner of 21 Sports Emmys® in 14 years, HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” will feature the Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) in their 146th episode. The segment, Thrill Ride, will feature correspondent Jon Frankel as he explores the world of professional bull riding and takes a closer look at why PBR’s superstars are the toughest athletes on earth. "

The above was taken directly from the News Release about the PBR being featured on HBO.

I can't help but feel that some of you may have missed the point of the show. The sole purpose of this segment was to showcase how, and why the PBR and its athletes are tough. What better way to prove this point by showing the wrecks that take place? How many of our beloved Bull Riders have seriously injured themselves for love of the sport? I do not feel that the drive of this show was to promote the PBR in a negative way. Also, in 15-20 minutes, how could they accurately describe the details involved in bull-riding?

I am not discounting or trying to lessen anybody's point of view, because you most definitely have ACCURATELY described why we ALL love the PBR so much.

When one poses an argument for or against something the most interesting and persuasive information must be presented. In this case, the segment showcased and talked about how fierce the sport truly is by providing evidence. *IE. wrecks, fierce bulls, and fierce riders.* You all have also seen our marketing, the comercials do show wrecks, the highlights do show wrecks; rides are shown too, however, they are not shown as prevalently as the wrecks. Look at our signage: The bull-riders are depicted as dirty, and tough-rugged looking, and with blood on them in some shape. Perfect example: Pictures in the 8 Seconds Program 2008. That's right, check it out.

I am in agreement with you that it would have been nice to see the SPORT uplifted and given more air time in which to aptly describe all the intricacies of bull-riding. However, to do that, we would have needed more than 15 mins. Ideally, a reality show that chronicles these bull-riders in full detail would be great.

Also, bottom-line : Bull-Riding is a brutal sport. Not all people are drawn by violence, but many are. New people to the sport, unless unique, are not going to be immediatly drawn and excited by details of technique, rider stats or bull stats. They are drawn by the idea of an average man taking on a 2000 lb + beast. This is a cl!@#ic and timeless struggle, themed throughout the decades.

Bull-Riding is SO MUCH MORE than what was showcased the other night. However, if you were being given a trailer or a spoiler to a great novel or movie, what parts would you share?

I agree with the other fans, I was very disappointed in the segment on the PBR. It really did show it in a very bad light. They took the injuries and the advertisements on the PBR and made it look like the PBR sensationalizes the wrecks.
I think it is great that other sports programs are broadcasting more on the PBR but that show just picked out the worst in the sport. I was sorry to see that.

Hmm...I didn't watch the HBO broadcast, and after reading the reviews here, I probably won't. But I have to say that the PBR does sometimes seem to promote itself as a watch-and-you'll-see-guys-get-hurt sport. I should qualify that statement -- I'm thinking mainly of the way the PBR is presented on Versus. The announcers themselves I don't have a problem with, as they seem genuinely concerned whenever an injury takes place. Perhaps it's the production crew or something.

What I'm thinking of are the repeated, slow-motion replays of each and every wreck, including a freeze frame on the bull's hoof connected with Ryan McConnel's head. The commercials promise "bone-crushing action." That's not just an adjective -- that's a too-often real occurrence. The intro music and images at the beginning of every broadcast feature a rider not just getting bucked off, but being stomped in the midsection like Brendon Clark was.

I agree with you guys that there are many PBR fans whose attraction to the sport isn't blood-thirsty. It's hard to imagine anyone so deranged as to be entertained by the pain of others. But, although I haven't watched the HBO special in question, I too am sometimes disgusted at the way the PBR markets itself/allows itself to be marketed.

Well I was looking forward to this show and was very disappointed. I have to agree with TWTX, the focus of this show seemed to be wrecks and injuries and exploitation of the cowboys. I was looking for an objective balance of reporting about the level of skill, courage and determination needed to succeed along with the dangers and injuries that are part of the sport. Instead it was all one sided reporting that made the fans seem to be people only looking to see wrecks and the riders crazy fellows who travel non-stop from one event to another and get injured everytime they leave the chute If I was someone who had never seen a PBR event and only had this report to go by I'd never want to see an event at all. They never even explained fully the rules of the sport or showed perfectly executed and judged ride. It could have been so much better. I am sure that the PBR never could have seen the final product that they intended to show. Just my opinion, but this did not impress me as being the kind of publicity that we need.

I have to say that i was totally disappointed in the segment and thought it
protrayed the PBR, the riders and the fans in a very bad light. I don't think
anything positive was ever shown. It seemed to protray the PBR as money hungry
business people who are exploiting the riders, using injuries and bad wrecks as
the major selling point.

I was a little offended by the way the fans were protrayed. Fans were made out
to be people that watched the sport to see blood and gore and couldn't wait for
the next wreck. I myself, am a huge PBR fan and have grown to love each and
every rider and the last thing I want to see is any of them get hurt.

Nothing positive was mentioned about the skill and technigue and dedication the
riders have. NOthing about great rides, the way the riders treat the fans and
help out the community.

I don't see how this segment would encourage anyone to start watching the PBR.
This may seem a little harsh, but it is my opinion.

I do not however, blame the PBR. I would !@#ume they were not expecting the
sport to be protrayed in such a negative way.

I was very excited to see some media attention given to the PBR. I thought the segment with Jerome Davis was excellent. However, I was very disappointed with the way Randy Bernard handled himself on the interview. I thought his answers and demeanor were uncharacteristically meek and vague - not at all the image of a cowboy. Yes, we need a helmet rule (common sense) - and yes, we are moving toward it (as the new generation of riders replace the old, the number of helmets will increase). It is obvious that as the sport grows, more stringent rules will come into effect. But either way, I was surprised he didn't take a stand or show more cowboy spirit in his answers. Why be so hesitant to spar a little during the interview? Makes me wonder if they beat him down with more aggressive questions early on.

Wildhorses4 is a little behind the PBR has always been a top notch sprot!!!!!!

This is great. Guess I better check the PBR site more often so I'll have more notice of what's going on. Gotta sign up for HBO before 10pm tonight.

Can't wait to see it!

It looks like Ty's mission on Dancing with the Stars paid off. It's nice to see the PBR
on the radar as an actual sport. Way to go guys!

It just gets better and better for the PBR getting world attention. I am so glad to see it happening from the beginning. All of my friends that have thought I was nuts for liking the sport and pushing the sport so much are going to see just how popular this sport is now and how fast it will be growing.
The PBR bull riders are certainly showing all fans and now a new growing fan base that they are superstars and the toughest athletes on earth.

WOW Guys! I love that show! I will be watching.