A Nerdy Tough Guy? Rookie Bull Rider Proposes Friendly Wager
by Staff
August 3, 2007
Fishers, IN (christiansunite.com) - Rookie bull rider Paul Oren, thought to be the only active bull rider in the world who is also a member of Mensa, is striving to get his hands on that one-way ticket to macholand - the eight-second bull ride. But, considering that only a tiny portion of the adult population is willing to test-drive a bucking bull, and fewer still can stay buckled for an eight-second eternity, can we ponder with straight faces that an engineering consultant and Mensa member could git-r-done? Well, after a few spins on the livestock he ain't done it yet.
In effort to prove that you can't keep a good girly-man down, Oren wants to make his pursuit of manliness interesting by proposing a nerd vs. tough guy experiment. He challenges any willing 'tough guy' player of the Indianapolis Colts (2007 Super Bowl champs and NFL team of Oren's state of residence) to a bull riding contest.
In consideration of fairness, the fearless Colts player would be given adequate time prior to the contest to take practice rides equal to the number of times that Oren has ridden a bull. The contest would consist of one ride each, with the winner determined by judges affiliated with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association using the standard points system. Oren, of course, hopes the contest will result in proof that jocks aren't always tougher than nerds.
Keeping in-step with traditional American spirit, Oren would like to see some corporate participation in the contest; committed to their chosen bull rider, companies could pledge a friendly 'bet' - the companies committed to the losing rider would donate a sizeable pile of cash to the charity of the winning rider's choice. Oren's charity of choice is the Riley Children's Foundation. "This could be part of a traditional American rodeo venue with an entertaining variety of rodeo competition and activities preceding the contest." Oren said. "A great time could be had by all while, most importantly, helping kids in very heartbreaking circumstances."
While the bull riding fan population doesn't quite measure-up to that of, say, the NFL, the sport certainly carries a big stick. Bull riding attracts heavy sponsorship from some of the largest companies in the U.S. and had a television viewership of 104.3 million in 2005.
Oren took his first bull ride at the very old age (in bull riding years) of 34. "With no prior experience in rodeo activities, I can't explain why I suddenly became obsessed with the notion of riding a bull." Oren said. "But one thing is certain -- the first time my gloved hand was painfully clamped under the bull rope handle, I was overcome with an instant adrenalin-induced infatuation with the sport. Bull riding now courses through my veins like a resistant virus." Oren admitted he gets a bit of an ego-boost from participating in America's most dangerous sport.
Oren has been married for 13 years and has two sons, ages eight and nine. He resides in Delaware County, Indiana, and works for an engineering consulting firm. Oren enjoys singing, satirical and technical writing, and playing the trumpet and euphonium.
