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Vegas calling Griswold back to the NFROklahoma Bobby Griswold is drawn by the City of Lights. It's not the casinos or elaborate shows. It's not the mammoth resorts or the desert weather. No, for Griswold--one of the elite saddle bronc riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for 19 years--his December venture to Las Vegas is the culmination of another tremendous year riding bucking horses. He has earned his ticket to the National Finals Rodeo by finishing the 2008 season among the top 15 broncbusters in the sport with more than $63,500 in earnings. "My goal out there is to win rounds and at the end of it win the average," said Griswold, making his fourth appearance on ProRodeo's biggest stage. "If I do enough, there could be a gold buckle at the end of it." In rodeo, dollars are points, and the contestants in each event at the conclusion of the season-ending championship will win the title and the wearable trophy that comes with it. And at the NFR, the biggest money of the season awaits the list of top-notch cowboys and cowgirls. There are 10 go-rounds that take place at the Thomas & Mack Center on the University of Nevada-Las Vegas campus from Dec. 4 to 13. Each round will have a payout of about $17,000, which is a major drawing factor for cowboys and cowgirls who travel the rugged rodeo trail throughout the season. "We took the mindset of making the finals from the beginning of the season," said Griswold, a certified equine dentist who rides bucking horses for a living and makes his business decisions with his wife, Lynn, and three daughters in mind. "From the get-go, that was the goal, and having that mindset makes all the difference in the world." Griswold had previously competed at the NFR in 1999, '04 and '06. He recognizes the special nature of ProRodeo's grand finale, especially since the NFR is celebrating its 50th year. "At age 40, I'm looking at slowing down a little bit, and with this being the anniversary, my goals are to have the best year of my career and the best NFR," said Griswold, born and raised in Washington state but moved to the Sooner State in the early 1990s, where he was part of the champion Southwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team. "I'll have a huge following from the Northwest, so that'll be a big deal." Over the next couple of months, look for Griswold to be putting in a heavyweight workout routine. He will also continue his work as an equine dentist, which is a workout itself. "The biggest deal for me is working on my agility and being in shape, being physically fit," he said. "Cardio is one of the biggest things, and you want to get in as much abdominal work as you can handle. It takes it all when you're getting on 10 head in 10 days." While Griswold's regular season is complete, he will get a chance to get on quality bucking beasts from Oct. 23 to 25 when he competes at the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo during the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo. Griswold is among the top 12 bronc riders in the circuit, made up of contestants and rodeos across Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. "The circuit's important to me, and being at the finals will give me a chance to get on some quality bucking horses," said Griswold, who has won championships in both the Great Lakes and Prairie circuits. "The key is staying healthy, but with the money that's up at the circuit finals, you've got to take a shot at it. "Plus, winning the circuit or the circuit finals has always been important in my career." In today's market, there's so much to being a cowboy. Rodeo is Griswold's business, and his website--BobbyGriswold.com--is an important step in his marketing maneuvers. Not only is it a tool to showcase Griswold, but it also provides an outlet to sponsors who invest in Griswold. After all, when his athletic talents are on display at dozens of rodeos a year and on national television throughout the National Finals Rodeo, the exposure for sponsors is unlimited. And make no bones about it, Griswold is anxious to make 2008 his most magical season ever. He knows the roller coaster that is the NFR, where he'll get on the best horses in the sport or the ones that will put you in the dirt in a heartbeat. "I look forward to riding the eliminator pens, because most guys don't," said Griswold, who has one round win in 30 go-rounds. "If you've got a handle on the mental side of it, you have the advantage, because there's always somebody who talks themselves out of riding an eliminator. "I don't like to be conservative. When I'm trying to for the round, that's when I'm at my best." 11/3/08 Date: 10/24/08
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