No bull: New Mexico knows PBR, founder Ty Murray says

Not only is the Ty Murray Invitational one of the longest-running events on the Professional Bull Riders circuit, it’s also one of the most prestigious.

That’s in large part because of the connection the riders feel with the New Mexican fans, who are as knowledgeable as they come.

Founder Ty Murray competed back when the invitational was held at Tingley Coliseum, and the man known as the “King of Cowboys” has nothing but praise for the spectators who continue to frequent the event as it enters its 27th year.

“I think something that makes it very special is there’s no bigger rodeo or bull riding fans than the Navajo Nation,” said Murray, who is also the PBR co-founder. “And whenever you’re able to compete in an arena and you have a packed crowd that has an understanding and appreciation for what they’re seeing, that feels like home-field advantage to a bull rider.

“You compete in places where they love it, but they don’t really know a great ride from a nice ride, or they don’t know a rank bull from an easier type of bull. There’s certain places where you feel like they don’t have the understanding and appreciation that they do have in New Mexico.”

The Ty Murray Invitational will head to the Pit on Friday through Sunday, with entertainment designed to captivate experienced and novice fans alike.

Opening night will feature a team bull-riding challenge between the Texas Rattlers and the Austin Gamblers before transitioning to individual competition the following two days, where riders will attempt to improve their position in the overall PBR standings.

L.J. Jenkins, who went to high school in Texico, won the Ty Murray Invitational twice. He retired from bull riding in 2015 due to a neck injury but remains involved with the sport as a stock contractor — he’ll own a few of the bulls that will be on hand this weekend. Even though Jenkins isn’t an active competitor, the Ty Murray Invitational holds a special place in his heart.

“It’s a totally different atmosphere than anything that you go through all year. The crowd is just so much louder — or it seems it is anyway,” said Jenkins, who now resides in Oklahoma.

“Being a hometown guy, it always helped me do better. And now that I’m a stock contractor, it’s still good to go back and just see it,” he said.

Jenkins echoed Murray’s sentiments regarding the knowledge of the fan base.

“I’ve been retired for 10 years, but I go to Albuquerque, there’s little kids that weren’t even born when I was riding knowing who I am,” he said.

Colby Yates, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, won the event in 2006 at Tingley. The 43-year-old is currently a coach for the PBR’s Arizona Ridge Riders, who will have several athletes competing in Albuquerque. While the list of favorites in this year’s field includes Brady Fielder, John Crimber, Dalton Kasel and Sage Steele Kimzey, the Ty Murray Invitational also represents an opportunity for fresh faces to make their mark.

“Fortunately, the talent pool is increasing, and it’s a great thing for this sport because it’s gonna have to in order to stay up with the bull power that’s also increasing,” Yates said. “That event is very special when you think about it because it’s not just the top 35 guys in the world (that participate). It’s a pretty big event for those (new) guys because it’s a step into the big leagues and a way for them to put their name in the hat. If they do well, they keep their name in the hat, and that’s a big thing.”

While there will be plenty of veteran fans in the Pit crowd, Murray points out that there’s also plenty for newcomers to enjoy.

“If you pluck anyone off the street and take them in there and sit them down, they’re gonna have a great time for two hours,” Murray said. “And you can’t say that about other sports. The rules in this are pretty easy to understand: It’s man against beast and they’ve got to stay on for 8 seconds — and the best ride wins.”