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"Say it ain't so, Tuf." Scandal rocks world of rodeo calf-roping.
Fort Worth | October 18, 2016 10:15 AM
‘You’re a piece of crap:’ Inside a lucrative rodeo scandal
[font size=1]A lawsuit alleges that two cowboys rigged the calf roping event to guarantee a share of a possible $1 million prize. (Video by Roman A. Pena, Special to the Star-Telegram)[/font]
By Ryan Osborne
rosborne@star-telegram.com
FORT WORTH — Two lawsuits over allegations that star calf ropers rigged a lucrative rodeo in Arlington last year by losing on purpose were dismissed this week, as undisclosed settlements were reached in each case. ... But additional court records made available this month show how the controversy started, including details on a contentious spat between Tuf Cooper, one of the best and richest ropers in the world, and Cole Bailey, a part-time cowboy who sells cars at his family business in Oklahoma.
....
The dispute stemmed from the company’s The American Rodeo at AT&T Stadium on March 1, 2015. The one-day, independent event offered prizes of $100,000 to winners of seven different rodeo competitions. But it also featured a bonus reward for cowboys who qualified for the event rather than those who were invited. ... A qualifier was eligible to earn up to $1 million from a side pot for winning any of the seven events.
Bailey, a qualifier, reached the roping finals of the event, along with Cooper and Moore, both invitees, and Reese Riemer, another qualifier. ... In his affidavit, Bailey wrote that Cooper approached him before the final round of competition with an offer. ... “Hey Cole, do you want to talk some business?” Cooper asked Bailey, according to the affidavit. “You know, I’ve talked to Timber. You know we can all leave here with money.”
‘A great deal’
Cooper, according to Bailey’s affidavit, explained the plan this way: “You know, you and Reese rope first and then me and Moore. After y’all rope, we’ll know what to do. Timber and me let you or Reese win, one of you two wins the rodeo, and then we can just all split the money.” ... The idea, according to the affidavit, was to allow Bailey or Riemer to collect $100,000 for winning the roping competition, and then take home a large chunk — or possibly all — of the $1 million side pot. The grand total would then be split among the four ropers.
‘You’re a piece of crap:’ Inside a lucrative rodeo scandal
[font size=1]A lawsuit alleges that two cowboys rigged the calf roping event to guarantee a share of a possible $1 million prize. (Video by Roman A. Pena, Special to the Star-Telegram)[/font]
By Ryan Osborne
rosborne@star-telegram.com
FORT WORTH — Two lawsuits over allegations that star calf ropers rigged a lucrative rodeo in Arlington last year by losing on purpose were dismissed this week, as undisclosed settlements were reached in each case. ... But additional court records made available this month show how the controversy started, including details on a contentious spat between Tuf Cooper, one of the best and richest ropers in the world, and Cole Bailey, a part-time cowboy who sells cars at his family business in Oklahoma.
....
The dispute stemmed from the company’s The American Rodeo at AT&T Stadium on March 1, 2015. The one-day, independent event offered prizes of $100,000 to winners of seven different rodeo competitions. But it also featured a bonus reward for cowboys who qualified for the event rather than those who were invited. ... A qualifier was eligible to earn up to $1 million from a side pot for winning any of the seven events.
Bailey, a qualifier, reached the roping finals of the event, along with Cooper and Moore, both invitees, and Reese Riemer, another qualifier. ... In his affidavit, Bailey wrote that Cooper approached him before the final round of competition with an offer. ... “Hey Cole, do you want to talk some business?” Cooper asked Bailey, according to the affidavit. “You know, I’ve talked to Timber. You know we can all leave here with money.”
‘A great deal’
Cooper, according to Bailey’s affidavit, explained the plan this way: “You know, you and Reese rope first and then me and Moore. After y’all rope, we’ll know what to do. Timber and me let you or Reese win, one of you two wins the rodeo, and then we can just all split the money.” ... The idea, according to the affidavit, was to allow Bailey or Riemer to collect $100,000 for winning the roping competition, and then take home a large chunk — or possibly all — of the $1 million side pot. The grand total would then be split among the four ropers.
{Snip the rest, because children might be reading. Also, do yourself a favor and mute the sound on that video.}
