Rope Myers, Steer Wrestler

Rope Myers was already a star. But it's not until you do something really incredible that you become a superstar. Rope Myers did that -- and more.

Two months ago, Myers may have been the only one who believed that he could qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Two weeks ago, Myers may have been the only one who believed that he could win a world title. Two hours before the final round, Myers had made a believer of everyone.

Prior to the Copenhagen Cup/Wrangler Pro Tour Finale last October, Myers was not even among the top 20 steer wrestlers in the country. So, with a determination to make "the Show," he went to the practice pen, running some 80 steers through the arena on horseback to sharpen his fundamental skills. In all those runs, he only failed to down two practice steers.

That made Myers solid and confident, and the cowboy went on to dominate the action in Dallas, claiming a $12,000 check to secure a berth among the 15 best steer wrestlers in the world at the $4.6-million, championship-deciding Wrangler NFR. But when he arrived in Las Vegas on Dec. 7, Myers was 14th in the world standings, with more than $22,000 separating him from the first-place leader, Bob Lummus.

"Besides me, my wife, and God, I don't really know if anyone else thought I'd be here," said Myers on the eve of the final round. "I can honestly say, I never had any doubts."

It was that confidence that elevated Smith to the first world championship of his career. On no less than two occasions in the past, the world title was Myers' to lose. And lose it he did. In 1997, he was actually overtaken in the world standings by his own father, Butch Myers, the 1980 world champ. But this year, Myers felt none of the pressure or expectations that had dogged his past trips to Las Vegas.

"In the past, I've made the mistake of treating (the NFR) as a competition between myself and somebody else. This week, it's me competing with myself to make the best runs. That has made all the difference. I am really enjoying myself, and I have even taken time out to go bowling and play video games with my two boys," said Rope.

Oh, and smash the record for the fastest 10-round time in NFR history: 37.4 seconds. For Myers, that accomplishment meant as much, if not more, than the world title itself.

"My dad set the average record in 1986, and he surpassed his own record in 1997. Except for the two years that Mickey Gee held the record (1999 and 2000), that record has been in the family for 16 years. It means a lot to have brought that record back home," said Rope.

"This one is gonna be tough to break," said his proud father. "I think Rope's name is gonna stay in the record books for years to come."

All told, the cowboy cleared $117,774 dollars over the 10-day rodeo, including the $34,977 bonus paid to the contestant with the fastest cumulative time. Myers secured his world title with $176,584

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