Buck might have been removed from his name. But not his game.

I’m a Gangster, who was known as Uncle Buck last year, scored 46.75 points in planting perennial World Championship contender J. B. Mauney in 1.95 seconds in the final round of the Madison Square Garden Invitational on Sunday.

PBR Livestock Director Cody Lambert thinks I’m a Gangster’s score was too low.

“He bucked as rank as any bull we’ve had in the PBR – maybe ever,” Lambert said. “The judges scored him 46 and three-quarters. It should have been 48. … Today was one of those special [days]. Not many bulls have ever bucked that hard.”

Jeff Robinson, reigning PBR Stock Contractor of the Year, purchased I’m a Gangster with Mike and Cherie Cappello from fellow North Carolinian Tom Teague last August. The bull was bred in Canada and was originally known as I’m a Gangster until Teague changed it.

“I thought he was about as good as he can be,” Robinson said. “Cody’s seen a lot more rides than I have, but it was probably the rankest trip I’ve ever had a bull personally have.”

At the other end of the spectrum, Robinson and Mesa’s Highway 12 performed poorly as the first re-ride bull Sunday. He was marked 37 points after earning 43.5 points Saturday.

“Highway 12 was a big disappointment,” Lambert said. “He bucked very good [Saturday] night and J.B. rode him. Then today he didn’t buck that well, and I don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

Soulja Boy exemplified what is known as a union bull by bucking for exactly 8 seconds. The three-time PBR World Finals qualifier is owned by Chad Berger and Clay Struve.

“Soulja Boy stopped right after the whistle [Saturday] and he’s done that before, but he shortened it up,” Lambert said. “So he’s retired from the PBR now because he’s going to stop before the whistle one of these days, and it’s not going to be on my watch.”

I’m a Gangster, a contender for World Champion Bull last season, gained the early advantage in the running for No. 1 in 2011.

“He put himself way in the lead for the top bull after one event,” Lambert said. “It’s a long year but he put himself way out there.”

— by Chris McManes