At the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, a fan sits in their seat on Jan. 10. The big lights turn off and neon lights turn on, “PBR” spelt out in flames and the loudness of the pyrotechnic display excites the fan. The fan sits up in their seat excitedly watching everyone going on. The announcers start listing names off one by one with claps following. After the announcers stop listing out the names, they say a prayer. The riders and fans take off their hats and some of the riders take a knee.
The Professional Bull Riders, or BPR, are an international bull riding organization which is also the largest in the world with multiple events spanning across North America, Brazil and Australia. PBR was established in 1992 by a group of 20 bull riders who wanted to break away from the traditional rodeo scene.
“PBR has rapidly transformed one of the fastest growing sports in America into a worldwide phenomenon,” PBR says on their website. “Capitalizing on the popularity of bull riding around the world, and the growing appeal of cowboy values, the PBR has attracted many international athletes who travel to the United States to compete in the world’s elite individual bull riding tour and newly launched PBR Teams.”
Now, PBR currently has over 800 bull riders spanning from multiple parts of the world. These riders get the chance to compete in over 200 events which are also located all over the world, including tours and in separate teams. Ultimately riders goals are to compete in PBR World Finals, the biggest bull riding event in the world. Champions in this event win a World Champion Belt Buckle as well as a one million dollar bonus.
According to PBR, each ride is worth up to 100 points, 50 points for the bull and 50 points for the rider if he successfully runs for eight seconds. Judges look at the bulls for speed, power and body movements, while they look at riders for constant control and good body position.
PBR’s “Unleash the Beast” and PBR’s teams are nationally televised by CBS and many other news sites. According to PBR’s website, PBR’s broadcasts reach more than 405 million households in more than 91 territories and have millions of followers across social media. PBR has generated billions of impressions online which was clearly shown during PBR’s “Unleash the Beast” in Chicago.
PBR’s “Unleash the Beast” in Chicago at the Allstate Arena sold out for Jan. 10-11 and started at 7:45 both nights. PBR has held their Chicago area competitions in Rosemont for the past 15 years. In honor of this, Rosemont’s Mayor Brad Stephens and the Village of Rosemont held a media lunch event on Jan. 10 hours before the start of PBR’s “Unleash the Beast.” At this event, Stephens presented PBR with an official proclamation from the Village of Rosemont.
The location of this event held significance to one rider out of the forty. Jake Morenic, an Illinois native, is from Mokena Illinois about 73 miles south of McHenry. Morenic found his love for riding at a western themed campground and resort in Michigan where he rode sheep. Once he started getting older is when he realized he wanted to try bull riding.
“I ended up trying bull riding and got slammed on my head,” Morenic said. “I liked the challenge of it and I ended up getting on more and more bulls over the next year or so. After about two years I kind of liked dipping my toes in the water and meeting more people. I ended up making the decision that that’s what I wanted to do and then started to pursue it full time.”
This event was exciting for Morenic because, “A lot of my family can’t really make it out to let’s say Houston or something, it’s cool to be able to be in that hometown area where all my friends and family can come out and be able to watch and just enjoy the sports.”
When preparing to ride, Morenic does a warm up, stretches, and gives his body time. Morenic also shares that he always prays before getting on a bull and ask God to give him the ability to glorify him whether its success through the arena or failure to be able to trust his timing and continue to work hard.
“I think a lot of it is trustings God’s time,” Morenic said. “There’s a verse in Isaiah 60:22 and it’s at the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen. It sticks out to me because it’s not at the right time. I will help it happen, it’s I will help you make it happen, so it’s comforting just to know that as long as I give 110% if the timing is right God will make it happen if the timing is right. If the timing is not right it’s not going to happen. So all I can do is try my hardest and God will take care of the rest.”
At PBR Chicago Morenic placed 21st overall with a score of 84.75 and 8 total points with a ride percentage of 50%. Though Morenic did not make it to the championship round and made zero earnings, he was still the crowd favorite. Morenic said that, “There’s times where I get frustrated but at the end of the day, just getting back into the word and remembering that God’s timing is always going to be perfect and that through thick and thin Jesus still loves me and that’s more important than any earthly thing.”
Morenic’s first event with the PBR was in 2021 for the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour in Sioux Iowa. Morenic ended up placing 6th with $1,144 in earnings as well as a ride percentage of 33%. Morenic followed some big names at the time including Adriano Salgado, Conner Halverson and Bob Mitchell.
All riders range from multiple parts of the world, many from the Americas and Brazil but many still coming from other parts. Some big names at this event were John Crimber, Dalton Kasel, Brady Fielder, Anderson de Oliveira, João Ricardo Vieira, and many more.
On day one of PBR Unleash the Beast Chicago during round one 40 riders were scored and judged. The top five of round one were Brady Fielder, Claudio Montanha Jr., Dalton Kasel, Austin Richardson, and Cort McFadden.
Fielder had a score of 89.25 with a bull score of 43.25, the bull he rode was DirtyBru from Universal Pro Rodeo, Montanha Jr. rode Rorschach from Universal Pro Rodeo, Rorschach got a score of 43.50. Kasel got a score of 88.00 and rode Blackstone from Clay Struve/Dakota Rodeo, Blackstone got a score of 43.00. Richardson had a score of 87.50 with a bull score of 42.45, he rode Chuck from LH Cattle/Broke Spur Ranch. McFadden rode Mouse Trap from Nothin’ But Try Ranch/’Diggers Bucking Bulls, Mouse Trap had a score of 42.50 while McFadden got a score of 87.25.
39 riders made it to round two, The top 6 of round two were Anderson de Oliveira, John Crimber, Brady Fielder, Alan de Souza, Dawson Branton and João Ricardo Vieira.
De Oliveira rode Fringe Minority from Sterk Bucking Bulls, De Oliveira got a score of 89.50 and Fringe Minority got a score of 43.50. Crimber, Fielder and de Souza tied for 2nd-4th place with scores of 89.00. Crimber rode Bugatti from Phenom Genetics/Dragonetics, Fielder rode Bucking Bill from Lucas Manning Bucking Bulls, and de Souza rode Rank Frank from Rafter G Rodeo. Branton and Ricardo Vieira both tied for 5th and 6th they both scored 87.25. Branton rode Bam Bam McCoy Rodeo and Ricardo Vieira rode Redwing from 3B Cattle Co.
Before the end of the night, the professional bull riding team Nashville Stampede competed against the Carolina Cowboys. The Nashville Stampede ended up beating the Carolina Cowboys with a score of 251-0.00. At PBR Chicago only 12 riders advanced into the championship round.
Day two of PBR Unleash the Beast Chicago held the championship round.12 riders including many listed above competed in the round. Brady Fielder ended up taking home the belt buckle and jumped from number 19th in the world to third in the world after the win.
Fielder is a 25 year old from Clermont, Queensland, Australia. Fielder showed up in the PBR in 2019 in PBR Australia in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Ever since then Fielder has been in multiple PBR Events and has gotten 8 90 point wins. Fielder rode Tulsa Time from Kelly & Cami Heath/McCoy Rodeo, Fielder got a score of 89.75 and Tulsa Time got a score of 43.25.
Other names that stand out are John Crimber and Anderson de Oliveira, Crimber ended in 5th place with a score of 85.50 and de Oliveira ended with 4th place with a score of 87.25.
As the opening ceremony concludes, the fan stands up brushing shoulders against others around them. The lights dim and the sound of the announcer comes on. “In the name above all names, Amen,” the announcer’s voice boomed in the whole arena with that, everyone raises their head and the arena erupts with a round of applause. After the announcers announce that the national anthem will be sung. “Ladies and Gentleman, PBR Unleash the Beast has begun.”