By now many IRL fans are scratching their heads and wondering who is this PBR guy and why is he taking over IRL??

As one who has interviewed Randy Bernard and seen him in action at the Pro Bull Riders World Finals, I think I can answer that question for you.

First, consider yourself lucky the PBR is losing him to you.  He is what the sport really needs right now.  Randy is a smart, young and energetic leader with some pretty big brass balls to do some new things to get people back into the empty seats.

Randy is a very personable guy.  He has no problem getting into the stands, meeting with the fans.  At the same time he can schmooze with the sponsors just as easily.  Watching him work a room, you can see that people of all walks of life have no problem relating to him and letting their guard down around him.

If you look at the diversity of the PBR fan base, you will se that he knows what it takes to bring in the ever-important younger generation while still hanging onto the older, established fans that grew up with the sport.  At the same time attracting newer, mature  fans from both urban and rural lifestyles.

Make no mistake; he is also a very smart businessman.  I am sure he already has some great ideas and grand visions for the IRL and its fans.  He is also very driven and does not take “no” very easily.  That may be one of the reasons he is leaving the PBR.

Randy knows how to make a deal that will work, when to walk away from a deal not in his favor and he has no problem taking the heat for a deal gone wrong.  With him, the buck really does stop here.

The PBR started 18 years ago when 20 bull riders ponied up $1,000 each.  Some had to borrow the money to throw in, to create this stand-alone sport.  A little while later they talked a young businessman into becoming their CEO.  Convincing him that if he overlooks the current situation (no money, no sponsors, no real plan) that they could make this all work.

Due in large part to Randy’s hard work, leadership and a share in their vision, many of those founders cashed out in 2008 as multi millionaires.  The PBR is now firmly established as the toughest sport on dirt with a worldwide audience and an ever-growing fan base.

If there is one person who can breathe new life into the IRL, grow back its fan base and attract new sponsors; my money will be riding on Randy. Whatever they paid for him to leave PBR, it will seem like chump change in a few years.

Just watch, you will soon see why the IRL chose him to be the new CEO.  As yousee that, you may wonder why the PBR let him go…

You read that right.  That fun game you played in high school and college;  The one you jokingly said should be an Olympic Event…  yea, that game… is not yet an Olympic event, but it is a full fledged competitive sport with teams, rankings and serious prize money. The 2010 World Series of Beer Pong started today at the Flamingo Resort in Las Vegas.

The world Series started in Mesquite, NV in 2006,  and is now hosted in the town made for the sport, Las Vegas.   We saw thousands of people from almost all walks of life and several countries enter for four days of intense competition.  With the winning team walking away with $50,000.  They are THAT serious about it.

The interesting thing is the people.  Almost like the other “world series of..”  these people come from almost all walks of life and all income brackets.  The one thing that they have in common is the passion for the game and the new found friendships forged from playing it in a structured format. You have men, women, couples, friends and co-workers and probably a couple of enemies making up the teams.

We interviewed Billy Gaines, one of the three founders of BPong.com, the website behind the competition and will edit it and have it up shortly.  His take is that it is competitive, it is serious, but most players also understand its a friendly rivalry. Everyone here is here to have fun, meet some new friends and hopefully walk away a winner.

Unlike other sports, Beer Pong does not follow the general attitude of other sports.  That is, they are not politically correct. “Boats n Hoes” “Two Hot Cabooses” (two lady’s)  “Deep Groat” were just some of the more colorful team names.  Than my favorite for the parents: “Quiet While The Teachers R Pong’ing” !  Yes, the creativeness of most was amazing. 

The first two days are just preliminaries.  Every team plays several rounds to determine their averages and scores.  The real competition happens on the final two days.  That’s when they get ranked and matched against similar ranked teams.  Start to compete for real.  We will be there to bring you some of the highlights and meet some of the players.  See what team walks away with the check and the trophy.

World Series of Beer Pong

Sazzy is the co-host of the popular Vegas focused, politically incorrect podcast “The Vegas Tourist.” Sazzy is normally pretty mild mannered, laid back, and a fun girl to be around. But, if you mention NASCAR in Vegas, give her a soapbox with a microphone… well she will light up and talk your ear off… in a good way.

NASCAR buffs and Sazzy fans will enjoy this clip from a recent podcast where she talks about her passion for the sport. Sazzy shares her thoughts on the recent events in Las Vegas, the players, and the future of NASCAR’s two media darlings: Kyle Busch and Danica Patrick.

Fan favorite Kyle Busch a Las Vegas native, started his own truck team, and has a never-ending love for the sport.

Danica Patrick has expanded her driving duties to include the Nationwide Series. Is she good for the sport? Will she be able to make the transition? Will she attract more viewers? Is she going to bring the female view to the sports?

We Want To hear from YOU!!

This is not an official TVT Sports podcast, yet it could be thought of as one. So we would like your thoughts on the idea of a sports podcast, as well as what Sazzy and I talked about.

Like to hear more? Is Sazzy off her rocker? Is Mark not getting a clue? What ideas and Suggestions do you have for us. Tell us what you think.

Click the play button to hear the podcast

The 51st Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR/NFR) was filled with as much drama, injuries, excitement and nail biting action as one could get.

For ten nights, it was sold out crowds, records being broken and than shattered again.  Riders injured, and buckles awarded. Only to be repeated the following night.

Once the dust had settled and the points were tallied up, Trevor Brazile secured his seventh PRCA All-Around World Championship.  Which places Trevor in place in the rodeo history books, were others have rarely been.

Trevor’s win places him with rodeo legend Ty Murray’s, for the PRCA’s record for most all-around gold buckles, and it also etches his name in the history books as one of the greatest cowboys in the history of professional rodeo.  Ty and his wife singer Jewel were in the audience to watch the historic moment.

Speaking of rodeo legends in the audience: Roy “Super Looper” Cooper was there to watch his son Tuf Cooper as he won the Wrangler NFR average title.  Tuf rode his brother-in-law’s horse to do it.  His brother-in-law happens to be… Trevor Brazile

Five-time World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Billy Etbauer ended his 21st Wrangler NFR with a bang, by winning the 10th performance, with an 89-point ride on Three Hills Rodeo’s Ace’s Full. It extended Etbauer’s Wrangler NFR record of round victories to 51 and moved him to fifth place in the final world standings.

Another fan favorite for barrel racing is Canadian Lindsay Sears.  She was the 2008 World Champion who battled all week with Texan and 2007 World Champion Brittany Pozzi for the gold buckle. Sears finished fifth in the 10th round and dropped to a second-place finish in the Wrangler NFR average.  That wasn’t enough to propel her past Pozzi in the final standings.

The bull riding world title was actually decided the night before in Round 9, when J.W. Harris became the first back-to-back winner in bull riding, since Blue Stone in 2001 and 2002.

It is interesting thing to note that J.W. Harris, who suffered a broken right (riding) hand in the second round, is the first bull rider to win a world title without a qualified ride at the Wrangler NFR since Freckles Brown in 1962 and is the first titlist to earn a gold buckle without earning money at the national finals since Bill Nelson in 1971.

For all the NFR updates, check out www.thenfrlasvegas.com

Want some adrenalin after the turkey dinner?  TUFF-N-UFF’s Future Stars of Mixed Martial Arts return to the Orleans for an evening of amateur mixed martial arts (MMA).  Thirteen bouts are scheduled headlined by two undefeated fighters. Latasha Marzolla and Kate McGray will square off and see who maintains her unblemished record.

If you have never seen a Mixed Martial Arts event live, you don’t know what you are missing.  So why not plan on spending this Friday with a few hundred of your closest friend at the Orleans Ballroom and find out what you have been missing

First off, these are the amateurs trying to get noticed by the “big leagues” of MMA.  Most notably the UFC.  So they are here to fight and put on a good show.  And fight they do.

Thirteen fights are planned with two being women.  So that should peak your interest. Trust me when I say that “Tuff Girls” is the truest version of a catfight you can legally see in Las Vegas.  The other 11 fights are male amateurs wanting to get noticed.

MMA is not as barbaric as some may claim.  Yes, it’s very fast in the action.  Do not expect to be sitting down chewing the fat with your neighbor once the bell rings.  Yes, it can be violent.  They are beating the tar out of each other in any way they can.

However, the sport is well regulated and watched over. At times it seems there are more observers than photographers ringside.   Unlike UFC, there is no cage.  It’s a three-rope ring like you see in boxing.  Just like boxing, you have the state athletic commission watching over each fight.  Along with the medical people and a referee who is obeyed at all times.

So if you are looking for something to recharge your batteries this holiday weekend, try MMA.  It may surprise you.  Tickets begin at $25

This was billed as youth verses age.  Both players being new to the World Series of Poker. Both having beat out some of the best-known names in poker to be here for the final round.

Devine Moon, the lumberjack and Joe Cada, the college drop out turned poker pro. One simply wearing his favorite NFL team’s hat, the other decked out in his sponsor’s clothing line.

Cada came into the final round with a unbelievable chip lead.  Almost 3 to 1 against Moon.  Cada showed up with a large fan base where Moon came with a few friends and relatives.

Moon is a very stoic, cold-faced player against a usually very animated and a bit jumpy Cada.  Except the final round saw two men seriously focused on a game of poker.  In fact they never really exchanged any conversation until an hour into the game.

With some amazing swings in chip counts and plays, it took three hours of play before Cada finally swept the pot and took the prize.

In all the interviews, both players said the same thing when asked about winning.  They came here for the jewelry.  The money was secondary.  They wanted the bracelet more than the money.  It’s about the bling!!

TVT Sports sends out our warm congratulations to the winners for giving us fans a very exciting weekend of Poker competition and enjoy the bling!!

Don’t let anyone fool you.  It’s not about the $8.5 million.  It’s not about the title “WSOP World Champion”… Nope… tonight’s battle between a young college drop out and self-employed logger is all about the bling, baby!!

The pile of cash in front of them meant nothing.  It really never does.  The jewelry is what they play for.  Something they can flash in front of their friends and foes.  A piece of history they can leave to their children or the pawn broker, depending on their post WSOP life.

Tonight’s battle is also about styles.  The age difference and style of play.  As with any poker game, anybody can play and anybody can win.  There is no One Way to play it.

Here we have Darvin Moon. A straight forward, cold as steel looking guy.  An everyday man’s man who never played in a WSOP tournament until this year.  And he played it all the way to the end.

He is going against Joe Cada.  A kid raised in the digital age, who has a crazy way of acting and probably is AHDD to the max.  He pissed off a few players along the way to the table tonight because of his antics and sometimes crazy behavior.  But it all paid off.  He is here tonight as chip leader.

So who will win??  It’s really anybody’s guess.  Just by the pure chip count 58,000 to 139,000.  Again I say: it’s not about the money.  It’s about the Bling.

When you are at this level of play, your life has already changed.  With sponsors, potential sponsors, endorsement offers and the chances of more lucrative payouts down the road… Why stress out about the chip count?  Why play all night??  Call it a short night, go all in and meet up at the bar afterward for a celebratory toast.

Hmmm… it’s either going to be a really long night into morning… Or we will be home before last call..  Well, if Vegas has a last call…

Replay will be on ESPN tomorrow starting at 9pm/est

The bulls are gone; the cowboys are healing their wounds.  Thus, the end of a long and wild week of events here in Las Vegas.

What was accurately billed as the tightest race in the sport’s history came down to the wire and the numbers.  The top two contenders are the best of friends, yet the very best competitors.

Kody Lostroh and JB Mauney gave the 17,000 fans in the Thomas and Mack Center every dime they paid for the tickets plus some as they entered the last round almost dead even for the top spot.  Each having to ride one of the toughest bulls in the world.

Although JB rode his bull for an amazing 93.75 ride and Kody was thrown off at 7.49 seconds; Kody took home the buckle and the title of 2009 Pro Bull Rider’s World Champion.

JB didn’t walk away empty handed.  He was the World Event Champion. He also goes home with a record that will stand the test of time.  Being the only PBR cowboy to ever ride all eight bulls at the World Finals.

Kody has been to the World Finals four times and placed in the top 5 three times.  JB has been runner up two years in a row.  So you can imagine what kind of emotions and tensions were on display.  Both men always showed the fans true professionalism and PBR bravery through all the battles.

If there is one round of this series you MUST watch again on TV, make sure it’s the final round.  It will have you on the edge of your seats.  Even knowing who won, its how it was won that will amaze you!

Our congratulations on the wins… You both earned them..

Doyle Brunson, At the 2009 World Series of Poker final table.  Signing autographs for his new book “The Godfather of Poker”.

I say give them thirty minutes of actual play and the first player will be out.  Sazzy thinks forty five.

Here’s my thinking;  You have relatively young players at the bottom. No doubt they worked hard to get here.  Yet they are under tight scrutiny,  the ever glare of the media and of course intense pressure to “win”.  But they have won and they are here.  All expense paid trip to Vegas with the family.  Guaranteed million dollar paycheck and if the drop out early, they miss the media glare while cleaning up in some of the high roller joints. Picking off tourists is easier money than high stakes tournament.

All that will be too much temptation for the bottom players.  One of them will bale early and enjoy the vacation.

Just my Opinion.  We will see.  Cards start flying at noon