J. B. Mauney

James Burton "J.B." Mauney (/ˈmuːni/; born January 9, 1987) is an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding, and competes on the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuits. He also competed in the Championship Bull Riding (CBR) tour. Mauney is the 2013 and 2015 PBR World Champion. Mauney is considered one of the greatest bull riders of his generation. He rides the rankest bulls in the PBR. Known for taking the path less traveled, he is noted for picking the rankest bull in the pen when given the choice. He follows his creed, "If you are going to be the best, you've got to ride the best."

J. B. Mauney
J.B. Mauney
Personal information
Birth nameJames Burton Mauney
Full nameJames Burton Mauney
Nickname(s)J.B. Mauney
Born (1987-01-09) January 9, 1987
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight140 lb (64 kg)
Sport
SportRodeo
Event(s)Bull riding
Turned pro2005
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking2015 PBR World Champion
2013 PBR World Champion
2013 PBR World Finals Event Champion
2009 PBR World Finals Event Champion
2006 PBR Rookie of the Year
2006 PBR Touring Pro Division Champion

Early life

J.B. Mauney was born James Burton Mauney in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 9, 1987. Mauney is 5' 10" and 140 pounds. He joined the PBR in 2005 and the PRCA in 2009.[1]

Career

Mauney is one of only two bull riders to stay on Bushwacker for the full 8 seconds on the Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS), the elite series of the PBR, and one of three bullriders to stay on Bushwacker for the full 8 seconds during the bull's career.[2][3][4] He is also one of only five riders to get a qualified ride on Asteroid which he accomplished on the BFTS in San Antonio, Texas, in August 2012, for a score of 93.50 points.[5] Asteroid, the 2012 World Champion bull, earned a high score of 46.25 points.[5]

Mauney competed the first several years of his professional career with a helmet. However, by 2013, he was riding with a cowboy hat.[6] On November 5, 2016, Mauney made PBR history by being the first bullrider to reach the $7 million mark in career earnings.[7]

In 2017, Mauney suffered a significant injury to his right arm, requiring surgery to install a screw and 13 anchors.[8] Mauney's career has been plagued with many injuries, but has continued to pursue professional bull riding history.[9]

"It's part of being a cowboy," he stated in an interview with Monster Energy, "when you crawl in to a chute, nothing else matters. You tie your hand and you don't give up until you hit the dirt." In 2019 Mauney tied another two time world champion Justin McBride for the most televised wins within the 26 year history of the PBR.[10] In an interview for the PBR, Mauney said "What gets me is when people who don't ride bulls for a living try to tell me when its time to hang it up."[11]

Mauney has won the World Champion Bull Rider title two times, in 2013 and 2015. He has also won the World Finals event two times, in 2009 and 2013. In his first year of competition, he won the Rookie of the Year in 2006.[12][13][14]

Since 2020, Mauney has been part owner of Ultimate Bullfighters (UBF), an American freestyle bullfighting organization.[15]

Legacy

The PBR and the fans rightly consider Mauney a legend due to his records and accomplishments. In January 2018, he became the third bullrider to reach 500 rides on the premier series when he rode All The Way Up for 87.25 points during Round 1 of the Monster Energy Buck Off at Madison Square Garden in January of 2018. In addition to his world championships and event wins, he has numerous event wins and is close to breaking the record for 90-point rides. He has won more money than other bullrider, over $7 million. He has also ridden all of the World Champion Bulls that have been active during his career, except Smooth Operator.[16]

Mauney's accomplishment of riding so many of the rank bulls sets him apart from other bullriders. His creed is "If you are going to be the best, you've got to ride the best."[17] The Livestock Director of the PBR, Cody Lambert, took note of him from the beginning. Two time champion Justin McBride has said that "he is in a class of his own, the best bull rider of his generation. A soon as the day he decides to be done he is headed straight to the Ring of Honor...he will forever in the conversation as the greatest the PBR has ever seen." He and the greatest bull of this generation, Bushwacker, will always be in the conversation as one of the greatest matchups.[16]

Personal life

Mauney was married to Lexie Wiggly from 2012 to 2015.[18] In 2016, he married Samantha Lyne.[8] On January 23, 2019, Mauney and his wife Samantha welcomed the birth of their first son.[19] Mauney also has a daughter (born 2011), from a previous relationship.[8] They currently reside in Cotulla, Texas.

References
  1. "Cowboy Biographies". Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. prorodeo.com. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  2. "Out List for 13/6 Bushwacker (17903)". probullstats.com. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  3. Walters, John (October 11, 2014). "Bushwacker Is the Michael Jordan of Bulls". Newsweek. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  4. "Professional Bull Riders - Bushwacker keeps the legacy going". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  5. "Out List for 781 Asteroid". probullstats.com. ProBullStats. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  6. "Talking Bull with World Bull Riding Champion". Scout.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  7. "Mauney Wins Round 4 of World Finals, Closes in on Pacheco". PBR. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  8. "J.B. Mauney is at the top of his game, and he's a smoker". USA Today. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  9. "Mauney continues to overcome injuries in pursuit of history". Professional Bull Riders. www.pbr.com. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  10. "Mauney Claims Record-Tying Elite PBR Win With First In Two Years". Monster energy. March 7, 2019.
  11. "Mauney: 'I am not retiring'". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved May 5, 2019.
  12. "History". PBR World Finals. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  13. Swearingen, Jake (September 11, 2014). "A Q&A With World Champion Bullrider J.B. Mauney". Modern Farmer. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  14. "J.B. Mauney becomes two-time PBR World Champion". The Rodeo News. October 25, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  15. "Concert Series and $10,000 Ultimate Bullfighters Event Added to 2020 PBR World Finals Fanfare | News". Wrangler Network. October 29, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  16. "Mauney becomes third rider in history to reach 500 rides". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  17. CITEREFMauney:'If_you_are_going_to_be_the_best,_you've_got_to_ride_the_best.' 2013, 0:00:15.
  18. Cartwright, Keith Ryan. "Pueblo Notebook". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  19. "Mauney Family Welcomes Birth of Jagger Briggs". Professional Bull Riders. Retrieved April 25, 2019.

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