Having covered the World Series of Poker as well as the Professional Bull Riders World Finals providing media coverage around Jeffery Pollack as well as Randy Bernard, I do have a unique look at the new change of command at the PBR.

Like Randy, Jeffery never was a cowboy or into the sport until he joined the organization.  Like many of us, that one event is all it took to get us hooked and I sincerely believe he is hooked on the sport.

I mean what is more exciting?? Watching nine people sitting around a card table listening to their iPods, throwing cards, and counting chips?  Or a cowboy getting on to a ton of bull and trying to hang on for 8 seconds??

However, Randy had a fire in his belly, the desire to do more for the brand, and drive to do more for the people it represented.  He was fan focused because he had to be in order to make the payroll.  Jeffery is not in the same position.

Jeffery Pollack is corporate to the bone.   The opened suit coat and unbuttoned top button of the properly starched shirt is about as laid back as he gets.  Also understand that he was hired to help expand the brand and to enrich the people who own it. You don’t need a cowboy hat to do that.

Jeffery was hired more for his Rolodex, than his skills at improving anything.  Having been in the world of NASCAR and WSOP with ESPN, he knows people.  And there is nothing wrong with that as your entry card.

Randy helped to build a terrific sport and energized the fan base.  After 20 years, it was time to find someone to care for it, and nurtured that brand to its next phase of life. Jeffery Pollack just may be the one to do that.

Jeffery Pollock came onto the sports scene with NASCAR.  After NASCAR consolidated itself by tying up any loose cannons, sponsors, and team players.  He took over and helped build the brand into the powerhouse we know today.

While this alienated some of the sport’s earlier supporters and backers, it opened the sport to a newer and larger audience.  Which is similar to the spot the PBR is in now.

In 2004, Harrah’s acquires the rights to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) when it buys Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas.   Harrah’s was after the Horseshoe and WSOP brand names.  Everything else that came with it, was discarded

Poker at that point was a game that wasn’t really seen as a sport, yet.  The WSOP had a loyal, worldwide following, and a rich history.  A history built on maverick players, long nights, big bets, and winners wanting a bracelet and their name on the wall more than they wanted any money.

The invention of the hole-card cam made poker watchable as well as a hot media commodity with almost every network trying to create its own poker show; how could anyone go wrong??

With deep pockets and owning a brand name to a hot commodity they could use as a bully pulpit, Harrah’s wanted to expand the big game into everything it could be.  In other words “How much money can we make from this business and from where?”

And Jeffery Pollack was the man for the job.  Harrah’s began to consolidate the brand and started marketing it everyway they could imagine.

In 2005, Harrah’s put the granddaddy of poker tournaments on steroids with Jeffery Pollack in the drivers seat.   A spin of his Rolodex, a deal with ESPN, and sponsors were now lining up to be a part of the new event.  The deals could not be signed fast enough.

The old world of WSOP was forced into the new world of multi-media marketing and mega sponsorships.  Making players into idols worthy of their own brand as well as newly minted millionaires.  The original people behind the game did not exactly go willingly into the new world.

Where the PBR and their fans were raised in the age of new media, mega sponsorship, and players being at one with the fans.  That is not the problem people are having with this maturing phase the PBR is experiencing.

The problem I am seeing from the fans is that PBR is going corporate as fast as it can.  Their focus is more on the company bank account, not on the fan that fills the seats and buys the pay per views.    As one of the announcers at the 2009 World Finals joked… “Pretty soon we will be seeing the bull coming out of the Kotex chute.”

Maybe Jeffery Pollock saw that with the WSOP, and that is the reason he left.  Watching the 2010 WSOP, the first year without him, I see more sponsorship, less energy, and fewer named players showing up for the start of the show.

People aka Stars come in; fulfill their sponsorship obligations, and leave to go play in another casino or another game outside the limelight and outside of Harrah’s micro management and control.

After all, Harrah’s works more like a “our way or no way” corporate mentality, and Jeffery was more of a pawn for Harrah’s brass, rather than a man able to do his own thing and do the brand and the fans right.

I give the board of the PBR kudos for looking outside the arena and picking a man who knows about brand ownership.  I also feel that maybe once Jeffery realizes that blue jeans are an acceptable form of work clothes and that a meeting held in the middle of a mud filled bull pen, can be just as productive as a meeting in an oak walled office that he will leave his wubby (suit coat) at home and warm up to the fans.  That he will do okay by the fans, and be accepted as a good guy in the end… even if his Stetson isn’t white.

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First, Jeffrey Pollack has been elected to the PBR Board of Directors as Executive Chairman and will immediately take an active role in leading the PBR board and senior management team into a new phase of global competition, brand and business growth.

Most recently, Pollack was President and Commissioner of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Under his leadership since 2005, the WSOP was fundamentally reinvented as a business, transformed into a worldwide sports and entertainment phenomenon, and crossed the $1 billion mark in total prize money awarded.

Pollack, a two-time Emmy® Award winner, has also worked in senior capacities for NASCAR and the National Basketball Association, and was founding President and Publisher of The Sports Business Daily.

“I’m honored to join the board of directors of this exciting sport,” said Pollack. “My goal is to help the PBR build on its proven track record of success, reach out to new fans globally, and further celebrate the world’s best bull riding competition.”

Second, Sean Gleason, a 10-year executive of the PBR and current COO, now adds the title of PBR President. Gleason’s new responsibilities will include Co-Chairing the PBR Competition and Conduct Committees. He will also represent the PBR on the board of directors of ABBI, the world’s leading registry and services organization for bucking bulls.

“The PBR is experiencing its 16th consecutive year of unprecedented growth and our future is very bright,” said Gleason. “I’m thrilled to be a part of that future and look forward to working with Jeffrey, Spire Capital and the board as we create new opportunities for the sport.”

Third, Ty Murray, one of the 20 original cowboys who founded the PBR in 1992 — and one of the sport’s most celebrated and legendary riders — has been named Co-Chair of the PBR Competition and Conduct Committees, along with Gleason. Murray, PBR co-founder and member of the board of directors, will continue to serve as a board advisor, global PBR brand ambassador, sport commentator and host of the annual Ty Murray Invitational. Cody Lambert, PBR founder, board advisor and executive, will also continue his active involvement with the Competition Committee.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to do for this sport in the past 18 years, and I’m as passionate about it now as I’ve ever been,” said Murray. “There’s still enormous potential, and I believe with this team in place, we’ll continue to grow the sport, brick by brick, for both our fans and the riders.

“Cody and I are fully committed to the organization and its future, and are excited about the new leadership and the opportunities ahead of us,” said Murray

“These changes enhance and solidify the leadership structure of the PBR,” said Rick Patterson, Chairman of the PBR and Principal of Spire Capital Partners, the majority investor in the PBR.

“Jeffrey has a proven track record of innovation in the sports and entertainment industry and his insights and leadership will help guide the PBR’s continued growth in the U.S and abroad.” said Patterson. “Sean is a key leader of the PBR operations and his elevated position and board roles reflect our recognition of the growth of his broader executive responsibilities at the PBR. Ty continues to be the leading ambassador of the PBR around the world. His commitment to protecting the sport’s history and heritage have been invaluable to the PBR and he is a distinguished leader to each member of the board and sport.”

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Yes, the PBR World Cup was this past weekend.  Unfortunately I did not get enough time to write up as much about it as I wanted to.  I don’t know how the real reporters do it…   I was too busy taking notes for the podcast, watching the bulls catch a lot of air time  (serious air time) and covering my ears from screaming newbies….

Not to worry… We will have a complete review on this week’s podcast.  Check it out later this week on TheVegasTourist.com Plus a lot more postings here as we go through our notes and photos. So we will post them as “reviews”  (and do we have photos coming !!)

I can tell you this:  The format for the World Cup is really different than the World Finals.  This is not normally a “team” sport and the World Cup, you cheer for a team.. so it’s like asking a NASCAR fan to cheer on the all the Chevrolet cars against the Ford cars…  it’s not the same.

Scoring is the best 3 out of 5 rides count toward the final team score and the ride must be accepted or declined at the end of the ride, not the end of the series. It’s not cumulative.

This rule almost cost Brazil the win on Saturday.  They were really hot.  The first rides were covered with high scores.  Adriano was about to turn down a 88.0 point ride.  The lowest of the two nights.  He decided to finally keep it.  Thankfully he kept it because the last two rides were no score.

Because of the team not individual scoring, the energy level was different.  More subdued.  And the crowds were much smaller.  Under 10,000 in attendance each of the three nights.

On the good side, we saw some major kicking ass rides. I think better rides or attempts to ride than we normally see at the World Finals. These are the meanest, wildest bulls the PBR could find and the rides were either short rides to the ground or some major, nail biting 8.0 seconds of shear agony and nervousness.  With a few injuries thrown in for good measure.

As the Australian team Captain said on Saturday when Ben Jones, one of the team members was literally knocked out. “He’d been unconscious a few hundred times before, he’ll be alright.  That may have been true for Ben Jones, but not for the Sports Medicine people.  They ruled him ineligible for the last day.

The Brazilians lead the race from day one and clinched the title half way through the final on Sunday.  My money was on Canada.  Not because I am married to one, but I just thought they had the best team all around.  They ended up placing 4 out of 5.

Australia actually showed the most desire and ambition to win.  But Brazil was just a tough team.  They had the one for all and all for one mentality.  Their team leader was 3 time World Champion PBR heartthrob and all around nice guy,  Adriano Moraes.  So how could they lose??

As usual, we found those newbies.  People who had friends dragging them kicking and fighting to see some po-dunk cowboy ride some bull for a measly 8 seconds.  One round later, they are on their smart phones looking up package deals for October and the World Finals and calling their mothers… Screaming in the phone “MOM!! I AM AT THE PBR!! OH MY GOD!!”

You don’t want to miss the podcast for more information on THAT phone Call!! It was hilarious….  Serious entertainment…

After seeing all this talent in both the riders and the bulls.  This early in the season…. I can not wait until October…It’s going to be an awesome 5 days of Bull Riding!!  And of course, we will be there.

PBR World Final Tickets

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