Smooth Operator 2019 YETI World Champion Bull

Smooth Operator 2019 YETI World Champion Bull

By Kelly B. Robbins

Smooth Operator certainly lived up to his name during the PBR Unleash the Beast World Finals at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He was a “Smooth Operator” as he went head-to-head with Chase Outlaw in the Championship Round, dispatching him in 4.11 seconds for a season high bull score of 47 points, and the 2019 PBR/Yeti World Champion Bull title.

Smooth Operator is owned by reigning PBR Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger, who was just voted the Stock Contractor of the Year for a record ninth time for the 2019 season. Smooth Operator is co-owned by Clay Struve and Julie Rosen.

After that last out, Smooth Operator then “smoothly” strutted his stuff and took a couple of victory laps around the arena. “He never does that,” Chad exclaimed. “It’s like he knew he just won the championship!” A fitting end to an amazing season for this nine-year old champion bovine! Not only did he win the World Champion Bull title and a check for $100,000, he ended the regular season as the top ranked bull with a bonus of $25,000. He was also the Yeti Bull of the Finals for another $25,000.

There is always excitement in the air at the PBR Unleash the Beast World Finals. Each year it seems the race for the PBR World Champion Bull Rider and the World Champion Bull

Photo by Andre Silva Photo.

Chase Outlaw takes on Smooth Operator in the Championship Round of the PBR World Finals.

Photo by Andre Silva Photo.

are closer than ever. This year was no exception! There was an electricity in the atmosphere of Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena as fans watched the bull riders and the bovine athletes battle it out, round by round, fighting to claim the championship.

Thursday night was “Rank Night”, and the entire line up of the top five championship contending bulls were on hand to buck. Smooth Operator went into the Finals with a solid lead at 45.84 world average bull points. He would have to have two bad outs for the others to improve their averages enough to steal the title away from him. Statistically, they were all still in contention, but a lot had to happen for Smooth Operator to fall from first place and any of the other bulls, including Bruiser, the three-time and reigning PBR World Champion Bull, to claim the prize.

Smooth Wreck was up first. Chad Berger watched as his secondplace bull unloaded Keyshawn Whitehorse in 3.92 seconds for a bull score of 45.50. Next up was Smooth Operator. Dylan Smith gave a valiant effort, but Smooth Operator triumphed,

putting Dylan in the dust at 6.99 seconds, for a bull score of 46.25. Then D&H Cattle Company’s Fearless dumped Dakota Buttar in 5.56 seconds for a bull score of only 44.25, which just about eliminated him from the championship race. Next, D&H’s Heartbreak Kid overwhelmed Lucas Divino in just 1.32 seconds for a bull score of 46.50. This moved him into a tie with number two Smooth Wreck. Finally, reigning and three-time World Champion bull SweetPro’s Bruiser faced 2012 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider Cody Teel. Cody hung on for the eight seconds and a score of 91 points. Bruiser scored only 44.25 points and was eliminated from the championship competition.

Two-time PBR World Champion and CBS Sports commentator Justin McBride and PBR Director of Livestock and CBS Sports commentator Cody Lambert both picked Smooth Operator to win the title going into the Finals. “This is his last shot to win it,” Cody predicted on the CBS broadcast. “He’s still really good and he’s got a good lead coming into the Finals. I think he wins it.”

In the Championship Round on Sunday, Smooth Operator just needed 43.5 points against Chase Outlaw to claim the title. He scored 47 points and clinched the title when Outlaw went down in 4.11 seconds. Smooth Wreck dumped Cliff Richardson in 3.94 seconds, for a score of 45.25 points. 2019 Rookie of the Year Dalton Kasel almost conquered Fearless, as he hung on for 7.39 seconds before losing his grip. Fearless scored 45.50 points. Heartbreak Kid outdueled Luciana De Castro in 3.35 seconds for a score of 44.50 points.

Slade Long of Probullstats.com posted on Twitter: “Chad Berger’s Smooth Operator is the PBR World Champ Bull. He’s a son of 186 Gigolo and a grandson of David Bailey’s Playboy Skoal. Based on his eight best regular season bull scores plus the World Finals (two outs), Smooth Operator ended up with 460 points- a 46 average on the season.”

Obviously Smooth Operator comes from an elite bucking bull bloodline. Chad Berger said, “Hot & Ready is the 2019 PRCA Bull of the Year. He’s up there in years too, and he is Smooth Operator’s brother.” Hot & Ready is owned by Harper and Morgan Rodeo.

Dylan Smith gives Smooth Operator a run for his money before coming down at 6.99 seconds in Round 2 of the PBR World Finals.

Photo by Andre Silva Photo.

As soon as Smooth Operator’s winning score of 47 points was announced, Chad was observed throwing both hands high into the air as he stood on the platform behind the chutes. I asked him what he was feeling at that moment. “I was feeling relieved and happy for that bull,” Chad shared. “He deserved it. I wanted it so bad for him, and it was great for him to win it. It was a long week! I’m so happy for and proud of that bull, I can’t even put into words how I feel. It is really something special, especially since he’s nine years old. As soon as he left the chute, I knew he was going to win it.”

So what does the future look like for this bovine champion? “My plan is to buck him next year,” Chad revealed. “He loves what he does, and I’m going to let him buck. But if he ever gets to where he’s not at 100%, I’ll pull him out.”

I asked Chad how it felt to be the 2019 and now nine-time PBR Stock Contractor of the Year. “Winning that never gets old,” Chad said. “It is an honor to win that award, because the bull riders decide that. It tells me they like the job I am doing and the bulls I bring.”

“But winning that award is a total team effort,” Chad continued. “I owe it all to our team. I’ve got the greatest team around me. Without partners Clay Struve and Julie Rosen, I wouldn’t even have that bull. I owe it to my wife and family, and my bull men, Delbert Nuce and Rex Meier. I owe it to Juan Gonzales and the guys at home that do all the work. This is a team and I’m just the head coach. They do a phenomenal job. I couldn’t do this without them.”

“My feet have barely touched the ground yet,” Chad said with a chuckle. “It’s been a long year, but that was an amazing week!”