Mike Lee was excited to be getting on Bushwacker. In front of the first Touring Pro Division sellout crowd in Salinas in the 14 years this bull riding-only event has come to town, Lee put one of the most courageous efforts, though not one of the most successful, Wednesday at the Salinas Sports Complex in front of about 12,000 rodeo fans. At stake was a $10,000 jackpot if Lee, who already ridden more than 100 bulls this season for the ninth year in a row, could last the required eight seconds. Bushwacker came literally flying out of the chute, at times with all four legs were off the ground. Lee started strong, but about four seconds into the airborne ride couldn’t hang on any longer. Winner and still champion, Bushwacker. No one has ridden him this year in 10 tries. Lee rides bulls full time and has a small trucking business as well. His wife and baby boy were with him last night. He was entered in the event twice and had a reride, so he had been on a total of five bulls before he got on Bushwacker. Julio Marino owns Bush Wacker. THe bull was out of Raindeer, who was a grandson of Oscar and the cow was Diamond Ghost. This ride makes nine attempts in 2014 to make a qualified ride – and nobody has done so yet. Thanks to WT Bruce for the information for this article.
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