From the Vault: Pearl Harbor Ranks Among the Bovine Greats
By: Darci Miller
PUEBLO, Colo. – It’s the PBR’s 30th anniversary season, and all year long, PBR.com has been celebrating the league’s history and the legends of the sport.
But a milestone year like this one wouldn’t be complete without a definitive ranking.
Who are the best bulls in PBR history?
It’s a question PBR Top 30, presented by Pendleton Whisky, will officially answer. Each week this summer, head over to the PBR’s Facebook and YouTube pages to watch the latest episode and reminisce about the top riders and bulls the world has ever seen.
The bull countdown kicked off two weeks ago, and this week we take a look at Nos. 22-16.
Among the bovines featured in this installment is Pearl Harbor, who was posthumously awarded the PBR’s Brand of Honor after he dominated the premier series from 2014-2018.
While he never won a world title, he reached the 47-point mark four times, including his last out – a 47.5-point buckoff of Fernando Henrique Novais in Tacoma, Washington, in April of 2018.
In 62 outs at all levels of PBR competition, Pearl Harbor was only ridden five times (92% buckoff percentage), and he had 40 45-point outs.
“The greatest bull to never have won a world title,” said two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood. “He’d walk so high-headed, like he was proud of himself. And he should’ve been, because he was one of the baddest there’s ever been.”
Today, PBR.com’s From the Vault series looks back on Pearl Harbor’s short but brilliant career.
Mauney’s fight through injury paid off big in Sioux Falls (4/4/2016)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – J.B. Mauney walked off the shark cage inside the Denny Sanford Premier Center with his left arm locked tight to the side of his body Saturday night.
Mauney, trying to keep a smile on his face, was doing all he could to not to show any sort of pain on his face following his 15/15 Bucking Battle winning 94.25-point ride on Pearl Harbor.
He then made his way to his daughter, Bella, and lifted her high into the air before posing for some photos.
PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert was off to the side watching Mauney’s celebration and said, “It is a big deal for a lot of guys, but J.B. rides hurt. J.B. is the best bull rider in the world for a reason because he is tough and gets it done. You watch him walking out of here. He still hasn’t let his arm drop down because his elbow is sore.
“Riding a rank one like that makes you feel better.”
Berger acquires World Champion contender Pearl Harbor (7/12/2016)
PUEBLO, Colo. – Reigning Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger is wheeling and dealing once again.
For the second time this season, and less than 6 months after purchasing 2012 World Champion Bull Asteroid, Berger has made yet another stunning acquisition in the bull business.
Berger announced on Tuesday morning that he has finalized a purchase for Pearl Harbor, which gives Berger another potential World Champion Bull contender heading into the second half of the season.
“I think Pearl Harbor has as good a chance as any to be Bull of the Year,” Berger said via phone. “To be in this business, you have to be constantly looking for that next great bull. If you are going to be in the business, every day you wake up in the morning you better be thinking about where you can get the next great one.”
Pearl Harbor kisses Mauney goodbye in $50,000 matchup (6/17/2017)
BISMARCK, N.D. – No one was sure if it was a kiss of good luck or a kiss of death, but Pearl Harbor’s gesture toward J.B. Mauney in the minutes leading up to The Cooper Tires Battle in Bismarck was far from loving Friday night.
Mauney was sitting in the backpens inside the Bismarck Civic Center waiting for Pearl Harbor to be loaded into the bucking chute while Pearl Harbor snuck up behind the two-time World Champion and devilishly sniffed and kissed Mauney’s chaps.
The 30-year-old bull rider had no idea of Pearl Harbor’s devilry, and he certainly wasn’t ready for what Pearl Harbor had in store for him minutes later.
Mauney was only able to make it to 4.91 seconds against Chad Berger’s world No. 1 bull with $50,000 on the line as Pearl Harbor outmuscled Mauney before he could get to the 8-second mark and take home a massive payday.
Remembering Pearl Harbor (2011-2018) (4/26/2018)
PUEBLO, Colo. – Chad Berger would brew himself a cup of coffee many mornings at his ranch in Mandan, North Dakota, and take a stroll outside.
For the last year and a half, the PBR’s reigning Stock Contractor of the Year would make his way to the pen of World Champion Bull contender Pearl Harbor whenever the bull was spending the warmer months up north.
The bovine superstar with the black coat and white face would sometimes not care to acknowledge his morning visitor and would continue to stand out in the distance, but that didn’t bother Berger one bit.
The 56-year-old stock contractor still loved the rankest bull that he has ever owned in his career even if Pearl Harbor was sometimes a little “standoffish.”
On Wednesday, Berger was unable to take that normal stroll out around his ranch.
Instead, he could barely move as he sat inside and tried to comprehend the sudden passing of his superstar bull on Tuesday evening.
“It’s been freaking hard,” Berger said as he coughed and tried to control his emotions Wednesday morning. “He meant everything to me. I never had one like that.”
LAS VEGAS – Reigning Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger is normally a man of many, many words.
Berger, though, had a hard time finding any words on Tuesday night as a wave of emotions overcame him inside the Showroom at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa during the 2018 PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration.
The 57-year-old could not contain his sadness as he sat at his table listening to PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert rattle off a series of impressive facts of about the late Pearl Harbor’s legacy.
Lambert compared Pearl Harbor to legendary athletes such as John Stockton and Barry Sanders and how they ultimately fell short of a World Championship, but are still remembered today as some of the best athletes in their respective sports.
“Dick Butkus never won a World Championship in football. There are some other ones. Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino,” Lambert said. “Pearl Harbor also an Oklahoma State connection, one of his owners is an Oklahoma State alumni. The greatest running back I have ever seen, Barry Sanders, does not have a World Championship.
“In the rodeo world, the greatest two bull riders that I never saw win a World Championship were Denny Flynn and Clint Branger. Pearl Harbor never won a World Championship, but he is respected like Denny Flynn and Clint Branger as one of the best and one of the all-time greats.”
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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