Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In Lincoln at Pinnacle Bank Arena. It's bulls, bands and barrels.
One of the guys I think is most interested in
that bulls part of things is the guy on our
phone line today. His name is Vin John's and Vin,
thanks so much for being on our show today.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hey, you bet appreciate you guys having its.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Okay, now we'll talk about this big event happening at
Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln here in a second. But
when you get you we got you got your business
cards in your back pocket. You're wandering around town. People
are like, hey, Ben Johns, that's a pretty cool name.
What do you do When you hand him a business
card it says bull Riding Extraordinaire. How do you get
into something like this?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, interestingly enough, I did not start out as a
five year old wanting to be a world champion bull
rider like most bull riders. I was actually in the
chalk world of gymnastics. Oh and yeah, so I wanted
to be in the Olympics for as a gymnast. I mean,
you know, long story short, that didn't work out, So
(01:01):
moved on to mixed martial arts and I was an
instructor at a Martial Arts Academy UNTILS, Oklahoma. A guy
came in find out for classes, had boots and jeans
on said he was a bull rider and I thought, man,
that sounds pretty cool, Like what can I do that?
So here we are twenty five years later, the bull
riding Ninja is still around rd and move.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Yeah, and you said bull riding Ninja. That's the handle
on the Instagram if people want to, you know, see
what Vin John is up to. The bull riding Ninja.
I love that. You know, people underestimate how important like gymnastics,
flexibility and how much strength those guys have, so you know,
you kind of had already a bit of a basis
for that. So what was it like for your first
(01:44):
time actually getting onto a bull? Like how do they start?
You just start jumping on sheep for you know, mutton
busting or whatever.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Well most most guys, yeah, but since I was let's say,
I was twenty five when I when I first started,
so I was a late bloomer so to speak. Anyway,
I actually I'm late to everything that seems like that.
So I was late. So they put me on real bulls,
like on big bulls. But what I didn't understand was
the difference in caliber of bulls that were at the
(02:13):
practice pen versus the ones that are at the arenas
whenever you go enter a bull riding competition like you're
going to see this weekend. So the first four bulls
I got on, I wrote them. I thought I was
a stud and on top of the world. And so
now you know, like I said, twenty plus years later,
I still have the same feeling every time I get
on one. I mean, obviously I'm scared to death because
(02:35):
you know, I mean that it could be the last
time we nod our head. But with that being said,
it's a respect saying for that. But then we're going
to go have fun. I mean, riding bulls is the
funnest thing I've ever done.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
So yeah, it's super exciting to watch, that's for sure.
We're speaking with Ben Johns, who's a bull rider, the
bull riding Ninja, and he's going to be a part
of bulls Bands and Barrels happening in Lincoln that Pinnacle
Bank Arena that is on the ninth So that is
just coming up this Saturday. Let's go ahead and start with,
you know, the bull riding aspect of this. I know,
(03:07):
a lot of people probably understand the eight seconds thing
and how a rodeo works, but the scores, I think
for some people, you know, it's a bit confusing, right,
because you got to score the bull, you got to
score the ride, you got you got to last a
lot of the amount of time the eight seconds. So
how does the competition aspect work?
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, So, like you said, with bulls, there's fifty up
to fifty points get scored to the bull and up
to fifty points get scored to the rider. And the
thing is, if we get a bull that's you know,
just come out there, not really bucking very hard and
things like that, then hopefully we get a chance at
another bull, so they'll give us a re ride. But
(03:47):
they so they want all of the bulls to basically
be kind of the same caliber, so that it's an
even an even pin for everybody. Right, everybody's got a
fair chance in that eight second you you can't touch
the ball with your free arm, you can't touch the
ground with the free arm, so that's going to stay
up in the air, and you got to stay on
top of that sucker for eight seconds. Get a score. Now,
(04:09):
one thing that a lot of people don't realize with
bull riding is we don't get paid to just show up.
And at this event, there's going to be twenty bull
riders and there's only going to be four of them
that get paid. Oh, which means if we have six, seven, eight, nine,
ten bull rides, that means that only four get paid.
The other you know, four or five six guys that
(04:29):
did their job don't get paid. So we're doing it
because we love it. And I mean, obviously we like
to make money too, but you know, at the end
of the day, that's that's how much bull riders love
riding so much? Is I mean, how many times can
you there are how many people do you know you
can go do your job and maybe not get paid.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah, I'll be honest, I love talking into a microphone
for a living, but if the paycheck dried up, I
think I probably pass would be my opinion. Bulls, Bands
and Barrels taking place on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena
in Lincoln and Ben John's gonna be one of the
bull riders there. So on top of that, right, you
got the competition you guys are you know, doing what
(05:08):
you can on the bulls and all the other events
that are going to be taking place, but there's also
music involved here, right, and then this is a giant
party for people. It's not just hey, we're gonna watch
you know, some world champion bull riding. There's a lot
of other stuff that's going on. It makes this a huge.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Party, absolutely. The So the difference, one of the big
differences in the bulls bands and barrels events is that
you know, you buy a ticket for one price, but
you get like four or five different awesome well you know,
Western sports events, and then two two of two artists
after that, like bottom Land is going to be there
in Time Myers. I mean, like, yeah, you go buy
(05:44):
a ticket for Time Myers and you know somebody opening
up for him, and that's going to cost you, you know,
whatever those ticket prices might be. But for the cost
of one ticket, you get bull riding, barrel racing, American
freestyle bullfighting, plus Time Myers and bottom Land all in
the same night. So I mean, I don't know where
else you can get that kind of value for your money.
(06:05):
And like you said, you know, it's a it's really
it is a party, but it is something that all
ages can do. You know, from four to one hundred
and four, you know, and you don't have to you
don't have to wear a hat, you don't have to
wear boots. Just come as you are and have a
good time with us. I mean, we've got a DJ
that's going to be playing mashups different types of music
at the beginning and in the middle of the of
(06:26):
the event. So I mean the minute that you walk in,
I mean you can feel it. It's a party. We're
ready to rock and have a great time. So, you know,
I don't know what else there is doing Lincoln on
Saturday night, but it's not gonna be as fun as
being over at the Tentnacle Bank Arena.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I talk about the uniqueness of this too, right, just
like how often are you going to a chance to
have a party quite like this and a great time? Right?
Was like right before we get into football seats to
talk about volleyball, talk about school starting back up there
in Lincoln. This is always going to be a fun time.
So balls, bands and barrels taking place on Saturday at
Pinnacle Bank Arena. As then mentioned, thy Meyers and bottom
(07:04):
Land will be the musical performers. Last thing I have
for you today, then, as I look at this event
in and of itself, right, and you're obviously incredibly partial
to the bull writing aspect of this. It is kind
of it's it's crazy how much you guys have traveled.
There were all the different events that you try to
sign up for. So can you give me kind of
(07:25):
some of the crazier things that you've gotten a chance
to experience and the places that you've gotten to go
just to ride bulls and to be a part of
incredible events with people from all over the world.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Oh. Absolutely. The probably one of the most notable times
was in either Central or South America. Down down south
a little bit, but they have a huge pit in
the ground. I mean it's like a it's like a
Roman like it makes you feel like you're a Roman gladiator.
I mean that there's some thousand people, you know, and
(07:56):
down there they have no problems partying and you know,
getting loud and carrying on and stuff. And so what's
crazy is that that is some of the most fun
times I've had riding bulls with the you know, the arena,
of the background, the environment and the fans. And ironically enough,
whenever I go to bulls bands and Meryls events, I
(08:17):
feel kind of the same thing that I felt down
there with like thirty thousand people screaming, you know and stuff.
So getting to go to all I mean, there's twenty
two stops that the Bulls Bands and Meryl Tour is
on this year. So that's twenty two different places that
we go across the country, and you know, it's kind
of like the circus, but I think a lot more
fun obviously, But but yeah, I mean all the different
(08:38):
towns and cities that we go to, everybody has a
great time, I mean, and it's you know, kind of
a kind of a once in a lifetime thing every
weekend for us.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Yeah, it's super cool and people around here. You can
get your fill of the Bulls Bands and barrels on
Saturday Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. One of the bull
riders you're going to see is Ben John's the bull
Riding Ninja. Then, and thanks so much for being on
the show, good luck this weekend. Thanks so much for
all this info and really cool stuff. What you guys.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Do you bet appreciate you guys, And hopefully we'll see
all there.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Yeah, no doubt there's Ben Jons and man, that's gonna
be a lot of fun and they say it on
the website. This sain't your grand pappies Rodeo
In Lincoln at Pinnacle Bank Arena. It's bulls, bands and barrels.
One of the guys I think is most interested in
that bulls part of things is the guy on our
phone line today. His name is Vin John's and Vin,
thanks so much for being on our show today.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hey, you bet appreciate you guys having its.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Okay, now we'll talk about this big event happening at
Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln here in a second. But
when you get you we got you got your business
cards in your back pocket. You're wandering around town. People
are like, hey, Ben Johns, that's a pretty cool name.
What do you do When you hand him a business
card it says bull Riding Extraordinaire. How do you get
into something like this?
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Well, interestingly enough, I did not start out as a
five year old wanting to be a world champion bull
rider like most bull riders. I was actually in the
chalk world of gymnastics. Oh and yeah, so I wanted
to be in the Olympics for as a gymnast. I mean,
you know, long story short, that didn't work out, So
(01:01):
moved on to mixed martial arts and I was an
instructor at a Martial Arts Academy UNTILS, Oklahoma. A guy
came in find out for classes, had boots and jeans
on said he was a bull rider and I thought, man,
that sounds pretty cool, Like what can I do that?
So here we are twenty five years later, the bull
riding Ninja is still around rd and move.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Yeah, and you said bull riding Ninja. That's the handle
on the Instagram if people want to, you know, see
what Vin John is up to. The bull riding Ninja.
I love that. You know, people underestimate how important like gymnastics,
flexibility and how much strength those guys have, so you know,
you kind of had already a bit of a basis
for that. So what was it like for your first
(01:44):
time actually getting onto a bull? Like how do they start?
You just start jumping on sheep for you know, mutton
busting or whatever.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Well most most guys, yeah, but since I was let's say,
I was twenty five when I when I first started,
so I was a late bloomer so to speak. Anyway,
I actually I'm late to everything that seems like that.
So I was late. So they put me on real bulls,
like on big bulls. But what I didn't understand was
the difference in caliber of bulls that were at the
(02:13):
practice pen versus the ones that are at the arenas
whenever you go enter a bull riding competition like you're
going to see this weekend. So the first four bulls
I got on, I wrote them. I thought I was
a stud and on top of the world. And so
now you know, like I said, twenty plus years later,
I still have the same feeling every time I get
on one. I mean, obviously I'm scared to death because
(02:35):
you know, I mean that it could be the last
time we nod our head. But with that being said,
it's a respect saying for that. But then we're going
to go have fun. I mean, riding bulls is the
funnest thing I've ever done.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
So yeah, it's super exciting to watch, that's for sure.
We're speaking with Ben Johns, who's a bull rider, the
bull riding Ninja, and he's going to be a part
of bulls Bands and Barrels happening in Lincoln that Pinnacle
Bank Arena that is on the ninth So that is
just coming up this Saturday. Let's go ahead and start with,
you know, the bull riding aspect of this. I know,
(03:07):
a lot of people probably understand the eight seconds thing
and how a rodeo works, but the scores, I think
for some people, you know, it's a bit confusing, right,
because you got to score the bull, you got to
score the ride, you got you got to last a
lot of the amount of time the eight seconds. So
how does the competition aspect work?
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, So, like you said, with bulls, there's fifty up
to fifty points get scored to the bull and up
to fifty points get scored to the rider. And the
thing is, if we get a bull that's you know,
just come out there, not really bucking very hard and
things like that, then hopefully we get a chance at
another bull, so they'll give us a re ride. But
(03:47):
they so they want all of the bulls to basically
be kind of the same caliber, so that it's an
even an even pin for everybody. Right, everybody's got a
fair chance in that eight second you you can't touch
the ball with your free arm, you can't touch the
ground with the free arm, so that's going to stay
up in the air, and you got to stay on
top of that sucker for eight seconds. Get a score. Now,
(04:09):
one thing that a lot of people don't realize with
bull riding is we don't get paid to just show up.
And at this event, there's going to be twenty bull
riders and there's only going to be four of them
that get paid. Oh, which means if we have six, seven, eight, nine,
ten bull rides, that means that only four get paid.
The other you know, four or five six guys that
(04:29):
did their job don't get paid. So we're doing it
because we love it. And I mean, obviously we like
to make money too, but you know, at the end
of the day, that's that's how much bull riders love
riding so much? Is I mean, how many times can
you there are how many people do you know you
can go do your job and maybe not get paid.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah, I'll be honest, I love talking into a microphone
for a living, but if the paycheck dried up, I
think I probably pass would be my opinion. Bulls, Bands
and Barrels taking place on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena
in Lincoln and Ben John's gonna be one of the
bull riders there. So on top of that, right, you
got the competition you guys are you know, doing what
(05:08):
you can on the bulls and all the other events
that are going to be taking place, but there's also
music involved here, right, and then this is a giant
party for people. It's not just hey, we're gonna watch
you know, some world champion bull riding. There's a lot
of other stuff that's going on. It makes this a huge.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Party, absolutely. The So the difference, one of the big
differences in the bulls bands and barrels events is that
you know, you buy a ticket for one price, but
you get like four or five different awesome well you know,
Western sports events, and then two two of two artists
after that, like bottom Land is going to be there
in Time Myers. I mean, like, yeah, you go buy
(05:44):
a ticket for Time Myers and you know somebody opening
up for him, and that's going to cost you, you know,
whatever those ticket prices might be. But for the cost
of one ticket, you get bull riding, barrel racing, American
freestyle bullfighting, plus Time Myers and bottom Land all in
the same night. So I mean, I don't know where
else you can get that kind of value for your money.
(06:05):
And like you said, you know, it's a it's really
it is a party, but it is something that all
ages can do. You know, from four to one hundred
and four, you know, and you don't have to you
don't have to wear a hat, you don't have to
wear boots. Just come as you are and have a
good time with us. I mean, we've got a DJ
that's going to be playing mashups different types of music
at the beginning and in the middle of the of
(06:26):
the event. So I mean the minute that you walk in,
I mean you can feel it. It's a party. We're
ready to rock and have a great time. So, you know,
I don't know what else there is doing Lincoln on
Saturday night, but it's not gonna be as fun as
being over at the Tentnacle Bank Arena.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I talk about the uniqueness of this too, right, just
like how often are you going to a chance to
have a party quite like this and a great time? Right?
Was like right before we get into football seats to
talk about volleyball, talk about school starting back up there
in Lincoln. This is always going to be a fun time.
So balls, bands and barrels taking place on Saturday at
Pinnacle Bank Arena. As then mentioned, thy Meyers and bottom
(07:04):
Land will be the musical performers. Last thing I have
for you today, then, as I look at this event
in and of itself, right, and you're obviously incredibly partial
to the bull writing aspect of this. It is kind
of it's it's crazy how much you guys have traveled.
There were all the different events that you try to
sign up for. So can you give me kind of
(07:25):
some of the crazier things that you've gotten a chance
to experience and the places that you've gotten to go
just to ride bulls and to be a part of
incredible events with people from all over the world.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Oh. Absolutely. The probably one of the most notable times
was in either Central or South America. Down down south
a little bit, but they have a huge pit in
the ground. I mean it's like a it's like a
Roman like it makes you feel like you're a Roman gladiator.
I mean that there's some thousand people, you know, and
(07:56):
down there they have no problems partying and you know,
getting loud and carrying on and stuff. And so what's
crazy is that that is some of the most fun
times I've had riding bulls with the you know, the arena,
of the background, the environment and the fans. And ironically enough,
whenever I go to bulls bands and Meryls events, I
(08:17):
feel kind of the same thing that I felt down
there with like thirty thousand people screaming, you know and stuff.
So getting to go to all I mean, there's twenty
two stops that the Bulls Bands and Meryl Tour is
on this year. So that's twenty two different places that
we go across the country, and you know, it's kind
of like the circus, but I think a lot more
fun obviously, But but yeah, I mean all the different
(08:38):
towns and cities that we go to, everybody has a
great time, I mean, and it's you know, kind of
a kind of a once in a lifetime thing every
weekend for us.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Yeah, it's super cool and people around here. You can
get your fill of the Bulls Bands and barrels on
Saturday Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. One of the bull
riders you're going to see is Ben John's the bull
Riding Ninja. Then, and thanks so much for being on
the show, good luck this weekend. Thanks so much for
all this info and really cool stuff. What you guys.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Do you bet appreciate you guys, And hopefully we'll see
all there.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Yeah, no doubt there's Ben Jons and man, that's gonna
be a lot of fun and they say it on
the website. This sain't your grand pappies Rodeo
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