Cyndi Edwards, representing the Independent Journalist News Network, speaks with two-time PBR World Champion turned Oklahoma Wildcatters Head Coach J.B. Mauney about the upcoming PBR Teams season launching July 12-14 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at Paycom Center.
Cyndi Edwards:
He is often referred to as the GOAT or the greatest of all time when it comes to bull riding. Two-time PBR World Champion. J.B. Mauney: joins us now to talk about going from competitor to coach of the new PBR team, the Wildcatters. Hi J.B.
J.B. Mauney:
How are you doing?
Cyndi Edwards:
I’m doing just great and it’s so good to talk to you. Love your hat and I wish I had worn mine.
J.B. Mauney:
Thank you very much.
Cyndi Edwards:
Now J.B., after a legendary career as a competitor, you are preparing to transition into the new role as head coach of the Oklahoma Wildcatters. Now, what excites you the most about this new endeavor and what are some of the key tactics you will deploy as their coach?
J.B. Mauney:
Well, it all kind of happened pretty sudden. I ended up breaking my neck last September and had to do surgery, remove some, take a disc out, put plate screws and a rod in my neck. And I was sitting at home with a neck brace on the ultimatum. The odds of me riding again were not so good if I landed on my head again. So, I decided that I was going to hang it up and be done riding bulls. And a couple weeks after that, the gm, Brandon Bates called me and he said, hey, would you be interested in coaching a new team? And I said, well, considering I just broke my neck, my last job let me off. I don’t have a whole lot to do. And it’s a double-edged sword in my eyes. It’s a way to still get to be around it and be part of it. I just don’t get to get on the bulls anymore. And that’s the hard part for me. But being able to tell young guys the knowledge that I have, I feel like it’ll help their career advance ’em earlier on in their career. Whereas I was pretty hardheaded when I was younger. Didn’t listen, didn’t ask for advice, I was just kind of trial and error.
Cyndi Edwards:
Well, it took you pretty far, I’ll tell you that now. The wildcatters are one of the two new teams that are joining the league in 2024. Tell us about your roster and what you think it will take to bring the championship back to Oklahoma in your team’s first year.
J.B. Mauney:
Well, I think our key guy on our team, I believe is going to be Josh Frost. I do believe he is the oldest guy on our team. We have a lot of young guys, and we sat down, Brandon and I, we talked it out and I told him, I said I’d rather go with young guys. When you’re 18, 19, 20 years old, you have all the fire in the world. And I wanted young guys, you can critique them and make them better. You don’t have to teach ’em how to ride bulls. They already know how to do that. But you can fix minor things to make ’em better. Bull riders. So, I believe the team we put together has all the try in the world and that’s what I look for. Not so much on the talent side of things. I didn’t really care about the talent I told you, I said, you can have a bucket of talent and an ounce of trial outright that any day. So, I went with try grit, determination, and I think that’s what our team has.
Cyndi Edwards:
Now, the Wildcatters will launch the 2024 PBR teams season taking on a formidable opponent in the first matchup where you’re competing against the reigning champion Texas Rattlers. So, what do you expect from your team at your home stand and what would you tell someone to convince them to come to the Paycom Center July 12th to the 14th?
J.B. Mauney:
I’m looking forward to, well, I can’t really say how I want to, but I’m looking forward to winning. I like it. Brand new team started off, put the pressure on you right off the bat home game, pretty much. And that’s where I felt like in my bull ride career, the more pressure that was on me, I performed better. So, I expect that from my team. They all know that, and they really don’t have to do anything different than they already know how to do. Just ride bulls and if you’re close, if you can make it to the Paycom Center, it’ll be outstanding because that’s going to be a rival. The Wildcatters and the Rattlers. I’ve known Cody Lambert for a long time and I’m ready for him to be second place.
Cyndi Edwards:
And what would you say to somebody who’s never even been to a bull riding competition before and are thinking of going,
J.B. Mauney:
If you watch it on TV that does no justice, that takes away from it tremendously. TV takes something away from ’em when you’re sitting right there and you can see exactly how big those bulls are, how strong they are. I’ve talked to many of fans that watched it on TV and then once they came to a live event they were like, holy cow, it’s totally different. And if you’re thinking about doing it, you might as well do it because it’s going to be a good time.
Cyndi Edwards:
Alright, J.B. Mauney, good to see you in one piece. Stay healthy, sir. Good luck this season with the Wildcatters.
J.B. Mauney:
Thank you very much.
Cyndi Edwards:
Alright, and thanks to everyone who tuned in as well. We’ll see you again next time. Bye-Bye.
This story is available at https://ijnn.world
Independent Journalist News Network
