Don’t Let the Puppies Fool You: Lockwood Means Business for Team USA at Global Cup
By: Justin Felisko
ARLINGTON, Texas – Two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood leaned over to give his furry pal resting in his arms a kiss on the forehead Friday afternoon at the Humane Society of Dallas County.
Lockwood was preparing to give his new friend Leroy a bath when he realized that the Catahoula puppy would give an innocent growl whenever Lockwood kissed him on the forehead.
The 22-year-old then burst out laughing before convincing the little guy that everything would be OK.
@pbrHere is #jesslockwood and a #puppy for your viewing pleasure 🤠🐶 #dog #pbr #pbrbull #globalcup #pbrglobalcup #bullriding
Lockwood and the rest of the riders competing at this coming weekend’s 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy, took part in a Rider Day of Service Friday throughout the Dallas and Arlington area.
As part of the PBR’s Be Cowboy initiative, 41 bull riders from the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico dispersed throughout the greater DFW area, visiting two animal shelters and children’s hospitals. In addition to the Humane Society of Dallas County, the groups visited Arlington Animal Services, Cook Children’s Hospital and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
At each stop, the riders presented each organization with a $2,000 donation on behalf of the PBR.
“No better day of service than petting puppies,” Lockwood said. “When you get to pet puppies for a day of service and help an organization like this, you are not going to pass something like that up. Seeing all the cats and dogs and have a fun day with the buddies and get to have fun with all of the animals.
“For a no-kill shelter that protects these animals and picks them up off the streets and does all that kind of stuff, coming from ranching, animals are what we make our living off of and they mean the world to us. To see people do that the same here in Dallas is pretty cool.”
Friday was a relatively easy-going day for the teams as they gave back to the local community before the international bull riding competition begins Saturday night at AT&T Stadium.
Plenty of attention this weekend will be directed at Lockwood when the lights come on.
The reigning World Champion is likely going to have to carry a heavy load as the Team USA Eagles try to dethrone Team Brazil despite losing four of their original six riders to injuries – 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis, six-time PRCA champion Sage Kimzey, 2019 Rookie of the Year Dalton Kasel and 2019 World Champion contender Chase Outlaw.
Lockwood already knew he had to step up this year after going a combined 1-for-4 in his previous two Global Cup appearances long before the injuries began stacking up for Team USA.
“When (Justin) McBride and (assistant coach) J.W. (Hart) gave me a talking to last September in Springfield, it kind of opened my eyes more than anything,” Lockwood said. “As much as I don’t think of it, people do look at me.”
Lockwood broke his collarbone last year in Round 1 of the Global Cup attempting to ride Wild Goose. The injury cost him three months and nearly the world title.
Now, though, it will be on him to help lead a unique group of talented riders featuring 2012 PRCA champion Cody Teel, six-time PBR World Finals qualifier Matt Triplett, No. 5 Daylon Swearingen, No. 6 and Iron Cowboy winner Cole Melancon and Boudreaux Campbell to Global Cup victory.
“I am really confident in the team,” Lockwood said. “Look at the year we won. I wasn’t on the team, but look at the guys that were. It was a lot of the same guys. That was a winning team. It was a lot of underdogs, but sometimes the underdogs ride better than the World Champions because they have something to prove, whereas a World Champion is kind of more natural. It is more normal, where it is those underdogs fighting.”
So how does Lockwood – a World Champion – not fall into the trap of being too relaxed or treating the Global Cup as just another day at the office?
“The best I have ever rode in my career was at the Finals,” Lockwood said. “I noticed it in Chicago when The Right Stuff dusted me pretty dang quick at 4 or 5 seconds. I was like, ‘Holy hell, I was really riding good at the Finals because I walked through him then like he was a practice bull (for 91.75 points).’”
Therefore, Lockwood is going to approach Global Cup as if it is the PBR World Finals.
“When that pressure is on me, I figure I ride my best at the Finals,” Lockwood said. “It forces you to rise to the occasion. You are riding for so much money and for USA this weekend. A lot of titles this weekend. It does feel like the Finals.”
Team USA Eagles coach McBride is not putting the weight of the country on Lockwood’s shoulders by any means. The Eagles will win as a team and lose as a group, he says.
That does not mean that McBride doesn’t believe Lockwood – the No. 3-ranked bull rider in the world and youngest two-time World Champion in PBR history – can do something memorable this weekend in Arlington.
“This is going to be a huge weekend for Jess Lockwood,” McBride said. “I really think it is. We need Jess to be Jess. That is all he has to understand. He don’t have to do more. All he has to do is what he does every weekend. That is all we need out of Jess, because that is enough. Jess is really good. Jess is a special guy.
“At the same time, he does not have to feel like he has to go win this thing.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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