Monday night's Finals reception for riders and contractors was going to serve as a surprise roast for Ross Coleman and Joe Baumgartner, both of whom have made 2011 their final year.

Instead, Flint Rasmussen and the crowd roasted most of those who spoke for awkward pauses, lack of timing, stories that never ended with a punch line, and an unwillingness to actually roast the two guests of honor.

One man who livened up the show was Cody Lambert.

"The microphone must be working," he joked, ribbing Luke Snyder, who earlier had asked if the microphone was on when no one laughed at his joke about a balanced Coleman diet being one beer for each hand.

Lambert told a story about a time when Coleman tried urging his son Riley to go out to a bar with him. Lambert said at the time, "Ross, he can't. He's only 11."

Lambert told a story about a time when Coleman tried urging his son Riley to go out to a bar with him. Lambert said at the time, 'Ross, he can't. He's only 11.'

Rob Smets and Shorty Gorham took the stage, as did Brendon Clark and J.W. Hart.

Hart shared a story about a time a bull he raised roughed up Baumgartner, who had his eye socket broken in the melee. Hart said he never apologized, because as a contractor, he thought Baumgartner must have gotten in the way.

Douglas Duncan said he doesn't like public speaking in front of large groups, but felt compelled to speak on behalf of the younger generation who "appreciate both of them." He added that he's "dang sure going to miss them."

Aaron Semas closed out the evening, but not before Justin McBride gave props to Baumgartner for his near-artistic ability to "string together F-bombs," although he made certain to let everyone know that Baumgartner is not nearly as smooth at doing it as Michael Gaffney.

In wrapping up the PBR's first, but memorably strange, roast, Rasmussen said that Coleman came from the greatest of cowboy families, while Baumgartner was the greatest bullfighter he had ever known.

Rasmussen called them, "My two heroes."

NEWS & NOTES

HEROES AND LEGENDS: The World Finals officially begin today, with the inaugural PBR Legends Reunion at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, the site of the first five PBR World Finals from 1994-98.

The event begins at 4 p.m. local time with the Founders Forum, and continues until 9 p.m. with the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals Kickoff Party. Each Legends Reunion ticket package contains tickets to the Founders Forum, Alumni Meet & Greet, Heroes & Legends Ceremony, and the Built Ford Tough World Finals Kickoff Party, as well as a commemorative Legends Reunion ball cap and an autograph book.

The Founders Forum and Heroes & Legends celebration, including the inductions of Tater Porter and Brent Thurman into the Ring of Honor, will be live streamed here at PBR.com. For a complete schedule of live-streamed events, click here.

TV GUIDE: The 2011 PBR World Finals will be televised live in HD on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and on NBC at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday. DIRECTV will have the first-ever 3D broadcast of bull riding at 4 p.m. ET on DIRECTV's 3D channel, n3D™ (channel 103).

WORLD FINALS: A complete listing of events in Las Vegas and ticket information can be found here.