Commentary: Shad Mayfield Has Makings of PRCA Superstar
SAN ANTONIO – The NBA has its face of the future in Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans.
The 19-year-old is a freak of nature, and at 6-foot-6, 284 pounds, the beast is a human highlight reel for ESPN.
The PRCA has its own budding, 19-year-old superstar in Shad “Money” Mayfield to invade The Cowboy Channel.
The tie-down roper clocked a 6.9-second run in the finals Saturday night to win the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo before a sellout crowd of 16,500 at the AT&T Center.
Mayfield earned $15,000 for his last run and earned $24,500 to claim the coveted San Antonio crown in his second attempt.
“This feels great,” Mayfield said. “This is my favorite rodeo.”
As a rookie last year, Mayfield started to turn heads – beginning in San Antonio when he earned $10,000.
That was a sign of things to come.
Mayfield made a late-season charge and qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in the No. 13 spot in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $90,421. Mayfield finished 12th in the world standings with $127,075.
Mayfield has used his Wrangler NFR debut to fuel his sophomore season.
He was in first place in the Feb. 18 world standings with $48,371, and Saturday’s winnings will only pad his lead.
Mayfield introduced himself to PRCA fans in 2019, but he’s been displaying his talent for years according to his father Sylvester.
“He was really strong when he was a little kid and he worked hard,” Sylvester said. “He’s been beating the pro guys since he was 14 years old roping at jackpots. I’ve seen this coming, and now the world is seeing it.”
Sylvester is not just a dad bragging about his son. Sylvester qualified for the Wrangler NFR in tie-down roping in 1985 and 1987.
Shad was the last roper out in the finals Saturday. The time to beat was Timber Moore’s 7.5 seconds.
Sylvester, who was in the AT&T Center watching, was a nervous wreck when his son backed into the box.
The crowd was on edge – the magnitude of the moment was obvious. Greater cowboys have failed on this stage.
Not “Money” Mayfield. Not on Saturday night.
The nickname “Money” Mayfield originated a couple of years ago when a woman from Gallup, N.M., made him a rope that said “Money Mayfield.” He’s been going by that ever since.
“I like pressure,” the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Mayfield said. “Bring all the pressure to me because I think I handle it better. My dad really prepared me for pressure. It’s not an easy thing to do. When you’re doing well, everyone is watching you and you have to prove yourself.”
And Sylvester was thrilled.
“Tonight was so amazing,” Sylvester said. “He put it away by a bunch. It feels like I’m doing it myself. This is a big dream I’m living.”
Having his father – his idol – see him get the San Antonio victory in person made things even more memorable.
“At the start, he told me to make the short go and he would come up and watch me,” Shad said. “He flew in (Feb. 22). To win it is a huge accomplishment for me, and my dad being here made it even better.”
Father and son had plenty of time to talk about Shad’s San Antonio heroics as they were immediately headed on a 12-hour drive to Tucson, Ariz., so Shad could compete in La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, which concludes Feb. 23.
It is a chance for Shad to earn more money – and take another step in reaching his ultimate goal.
“I want to win a gold buckle,” he said. “That’s something I’ve always dreamed of, and my family has helped me so much. To bring that (gold buckle) home to them would be great.”
Courtesy of PRCA