Coleman recalls making the whistle vs. Dillinger

Ross Coleman was the first PBR rider in history to record 400 career qualified rides on the Built Ford Tough Series, and the Oregon native chuckled at the notion of being able to remember them all.

One ride he does recall took place 10 years ago, when he rode Dillinger for a career-best 93.5 points.

It was in Fort Worth, Texas, and it was the second time the two of them had met up. The first time was a year earlier in Houston, when he bucked off at the 4-second mark. Dillinger was marked 46 points that day, and Coleman said that if he had not made such a big move, which pulled him down in the well, he would have likely rode Dillinger that night too.

But it gave him confidence in 2002.

"I was pumped up," said Coleman, who has watched the second ride back several times through the years on highlight reels.

He bucked off Hammer, who was marked 47 points a round earlier, after covering Capone for 90.5 points in the opening round. Had it not been for the earlier buckoff, he would have won the event, but instead, he finished second for the third time in a stretch of eight events.

Jim Sharp won the event, and looking back 10 years later, Coleman still had strong feelings about that day.

"I finished second, which is pretty cool," Coleman said, "but I was pretty frustrated because of the long-go bull."

Dillinger, a two-time World Champion Bull (2000 and 2001), was big, strong and uncharacteristically athletic for a bull weighing close to 2,000 pounds. Unlike other larger bulls at the time - such as Dog Face and Rapid Fire - Coleman described Dillinger as being tall, lengthy and having a long neck.

In spite of his size, Dillinger moved like some of today's younger, more athletic bulls, Coleman said, but with a great deal of power.

Dillinger was also known for being what Coleman described as a hair-trigger in the bucking chute, which could be equally distracting and intimidating for most riders.

That night in Fort Worth, Coleman said Dillinger took two long jumps out of the gate and tried to string him out on the end of his rope. Had he turned back sooner and faded across the front of the chutes, Coleman would likely have had an easier time making the whistle.

"A bull like that you can't forget," said Coleman, who said he felt like he was at the top of his game in 2002, "a World Champion bucking bull."

Later this year, both Coleman and Dillinger will be honored in Las Vegas the night before the start of the World Finals.

Coleman will be inducted into the Ring of Honor, while Dillinger will be the second bull in PBR history to receive the Brand of Honor.

"That'll be a good day," said Coleman, who in 322 career events recorded 812 outs, 402 qualified rides, six event wins, 59 Top-5 finishes and 95 Top-10 finishes. "Yes sir. There (isn't anything) wrong with that."

Between now and then, Coleman is preparing to play host his eighth annual Touring Pro Division event in his hometown of Molalla, Oregon.

Coincidentally, Buckey, one of the few bulls he said reminds him of Dillinger, will be competing at the upcoming event, which takes place Aug. 3-4, at the Molalla Buckaroo Grounds.

When asked to compare the two, Coleman said, "They blow and jump, and they really kick. They have a lot of kick to them. The second jump out of that box, I guarantee you, they're going to kick the lights out.

"Buckey can be a hair-trigger in that box, too, and comes out a little honky sometimes."

Although Coleman said there's no way for a TPD event to completely replicate the production of a BFTS event, his team of organizers go to great lengths each year to make the event as close as possible. For the past four years, it's been named the PBR Sanctioned Event of the Year.

In past years, the event has raised more than $200,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Oregon. This year, they'll be making a donation to Western Wishes.

As always, Coleman's "best pards" Luke Snyder, Brendon Clark and Colby Yates will be competing in Molalla. They'll be joined by J.B. Mauney, Cord McCoy, Stormy Wing, Lachlan Richardson, Chance Roberts, Reese Cates and Oregon-native Cody Campbell.

Justin McBride, who attended the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with Coleman, will perform both Friday and Saturday nights, following the bull riding event.

NOTEBOOK

ADVANCED TICKET PURCHASES are available by visiting www.ticketswest.com, and searching for the "Ross Coleman Invitational." Advanced ticket purchases are discounted, and Friday, Aug. 3, will feature a family special on ticket prices.

UP-AND-COMERS have been impressing Coleman this year. The 33-year-old Coleman said Stormy Wing is "a bulling riding Jose. I guarantee you I like everything about that Stormy Wing. He's got a little jump and kick in his walk. He (doesn't) mess around."

Another Texan that has impressed Coleman is Bonner Bolton. "He's a solid, nice young man," Coleman said, "and his dad was a heck of a good bull rider from Texas."

Chance Roberts, who hails from Illinois, is someone Coleman said "has a heck of a lot of talent."

Follow Keith Ryan Cartwright on Twitter @PBR_KRC.