“It just doesn’t seem like dreadlocks and cowboy hats should go together, does it?” joked Professional Bull Riding (PBR) fan Gwen Young as she showed off the twists protruding from underneath her western-style cap. Gwen and her husband, Joe, were among the thousands of PBR enthusiasts that swamped the Savvis Center last weekend for the tour’s festivities.
Gwen explained what draws her to PBR. She said, “My husband is really the motivating force behind the bull riding. Initially, I was not drawn to it, but now I am. The excitement and the challenge of the ride in the short period of time are amazing.”
Joe agreed, saying, “I am amazed at the idea of a 125-pound man getting on the back of a 2,000-pound animal. I’m mesmerized by the fact that they would even try to ride one of these animals.”
As black folks, Gwen and Joe were easy to spot in the packed crowd. There were several other aspects of the event that might have caught others off guard. In between each bull ride, the loudspeakers blasted the likes of Nelly, Chingy and Little Joe.
While black artists could be heard over the Savvis Center’s loudspeakers, there was only one black bull rider who ventured into the ring to attempt to master one of the 2,000-pound beasts: Lee Akin, the only African American on the PBR tour.
Akin had a tough weekend at the Savvis. On three attempts to qualify for the event finals, he found himself bucked before the clock struck seven seconds. With his poor performance, Akin finds himself ranked number 46. Only 45 riders are able to remain on the tour.
“I’ve got one event left to get back up. At the next event, I have to earn enough points to be 35th or above. Basically I’m going to have to do something big,” Akin said.
“If I don’t make the rank, then that means that I’m cut. I’m no longer on the PBR Tour. I have to go back to the lower level to earn money to get another shot. If that happens, then that is something that I will get over. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be a world champion, buts it’s just a matter of time. I’m just going to use this to get the firer hotter.”
Perhaps the hardest part of the weekend for Akin was having to call his fiancé to give her the bad news. “Right now, she does not travel with me because it’s just not feasible n we would have to get two rooms. I have to call her now and tell her that I got bucked off another one n man, I hate doing that n but she will be supportive. Once we get married, she will come to some events.” Akin and his fiancé will be married May 21.
Despite his setback at the Savvis, Akin is not deterred from his quest to become the worlds’ top rider.
“Getting bucked off all three bulls is about as bad as it gets, but that’s been the story of my career over the last year. I have had a couple times where I would start riding good, but then I would get hurt,” Akin said.
“I’m just going to keep my head up, because I know that it’s just a matter of time. I know that I have the talent, so I’m going to stick this out and keep believing.”
