In May 1972, the documentary “Black Rodeo” debuted in New York. Narrated by the late actor Woody Strode, it featured the first performance of an all-black rodeo in Harlem in 1971 and focused on those that attended and the cowboys who displayed skills in bull riding, calf roping and “bronc” riding.
Strode shares the overlooked stories of black cowboys, law men and others that played integral roles in the Old West.
Black rodeos are still going strong and the Southeastern Rodeo Association Black Rodeo will ride into Chaifetz Arena at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6.
Like the film, the barnstorming rodeo show seeks to illuminate the work of black cowboys – and how it is virtually invisible in history books, novels and movies.
Todd Morris, SRABR communications director, told the Post-Dispatch, “When you think about a real rodeo, think about a lot of action in the professional life of the real black cowboy.
“When you come to the rodeo you will see real cowboys competing (in bronco riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, team roping and bull riding.)”
Black and Latino cowboys of both genders will participate, with more than $9,000 in prize money available to winners.
While the prize money pales in comparison to what major rodeo stars in America make, rodeo is far from an all-white endeavor.
The world’s top bull rider, competing on the Professional Bull Riders Tour which visits St. Louis, is Eduardo Aparecido of Brazil. Another Brazilian, Kaique Pacheco, is ranked No. 2.
Getting back to the movie “Black Rodeo,” the late Muhammad Ali is featured chatting with black cowboys and fans in a way only The Greatest could. He also rides a horse down 125th Street and dons a pair of chaps and rides a bull.
Unfortunately, I must share two comments on the story at stltoday.com – just to demonstrate once again that some St. Louisans can be a horse’s rear end.
“I wonder how they would feel about a ‘white’ rodeo?” asks Debbie Reece.
Michael Salant from – yep, Ferguson – wrote, “Just keep poking that dog I’m guessing Blacks want segregation again.”
Giddyup.
KC Mahomes’ new home
The Kansas City Chiefs made a bold move by sacrificing 2017 and 2018 draft picks to move up 17 positions in the first round of last week’s NFL draft to select quarterback Pat Mahomes II out of Texas Tech.
His raw talent and booming arm made him a target of Chiefs coach Andy Reid, and Reid didn’t hesitate in making sure he landed the talented quarterback.
“He’s intelligent, he has great skill, and I just think he’s going to be a great player when it’s all said and done, Reid said.
“Right now, Patrick isn’t absolutely ready to play. He’s got some work to do. But he’s coming into a great room, he has an opportunity to learn from Alex (Smith), which will be a great for him. We have to have some patience with him, but he has tremendous upside.”
Mahomes threw for 5,052 yards with 41 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.
Here’s the part that makes me feel old – I met Mahomes II’s father, Pat Mahomes, before he was born. It was back during my days with USA TODAY Baseball Weekly.
Mahomes was what has become a rarity in today’s Major League Baseball – a black pitcher.
He pitched for six Major League teams (Minnesota, Boston, New York Mets, Texas, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh) over an 11-year career that began with the Twins in 1992.
While the senior Mahomes could be labeled as a “journeyman,” a pitcher who had a lengthy career that included pitching in the postseason as a member of the New York Mets in 1999 was surely talented. He was also on the Mets 2000 team that lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series. He knew how to make big pitches when they were most needed.
“The thing I’ve always told (my son) is players make plays,” Mahomes told kansascity.com.
“Now, there’s a lot of stuff he’s going to have to learn. He’s still relatively young as a quarterback, but I know how hungry and eager he is and I think he’ll pick it up pretty fast.”
Mahomes II said his father “gives me advice about how he transitioned into becoming a pro athlete and the work that you actually have to put into it.”
“Not a lot of people see that when you’re growing up. You don’t get to see that people really have to work hard to become as good as they are. So, for me seeing that as a young age as I’ve grown up, has shown me that I have to work just as hard to get to that level.”
Mahomes feels Kansas City is a great destination for his son.
“Kansas City is just far enough away from home (Tyler, Texas) that he can keep some of the people away,” Mahomes said.
“It’s a good city, and I know how this fan base is here. It’s crazy. I remember playing against the Royals. It was like, ‘wow,’ so it’s a good fit for him.”
Mahomes II is being groomed to be Smith’s successor, so the phone call Smith made to the incoming rookie impressed his father.
“It was awesome to hear from (Smith),” Mahomes said.
“Me, being a former professional athlete, I’ve had people I’ve had to teach that were probably going to take my job and did take my job. That’s just part of the game.”
The Chiefs are planning to heavily market the St. Louis area in the coming season and beyond and I’m sure there will be a lot of interest in seeing Mahomes II play. You’ll probably see me at Arrowhead Stadium for a preseason game, just for that reason.
Following up on Fowler
A full month in the 2017 MLB season (following the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on May 1), Dexter Fowler had shown some pop, but his batting average continues to only fizz.
Fowler was hitting just .222, but he had belted four home runs and driven in seven runs. He also had scored 17 runs. During his 10-year career he has a .267 batting average. To demonstrate how bad he was at the start of the season, from April 18-29, Fowler compiled a .389 average with five walks, four home runs and seven RBIs, and seven of his runs scored and a triple. He is still on average to have the most strikeouts during a season in his career, though.
Jason Heyward, whose mediocre season for the Chicago Cubs in 2016 still makes many St. Louis sports media members giddy, has greatly improved in 2017.
His adjusted swing has helped him hit .270 with three home runs, 16 RBIs with nine runs scored. He also continues to play right field at Gold Glove caliber.
Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows, including Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box” on KFNS. His Twitter handle is #aareid1
