Kansas City Outlaws’ Bob Mitchell Delights Home State Crowd with Grit, Conversions
By: James Youness
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The staff at Enterprise Center didn’t quite have enough time to get the decibel reader displayed on the big screen, but when we say the St. Louis crowd went BANANAS for Steelville, Missouri, native Bob Mitchell after he went the distance atop his Round 1 opponent, we mean it.
Pure chaos.
Sure, Smithville, Missouri, native Koltin Hevalow got a nice greeting when the crowd learned he was repping the Show Me State himself earlier in the evening.
But there’s just something special about a man with a quality mustache.
Yet, on this night, it wasn’t the mustache which earned him the spotlight.
With 40 riders on display throughout a weekend’s opening go, fans tend to enjoy a good storyline heading into any given rider’s quest to make the 8.
Drama heightens entertainment to a certain extent, right?
Growing up 90-some miles from the palace in which the talented 21-year-old forced into an uproar, everybody loves a good hometown story just the same.
The other main factor contributing to the rowdy excitement was earned in encore fashion, as Mitchell was initially destined to dance with Doze Off Saturday night.
Drawing a re-ride a few seconds into the out, the animal athlete buckled a bit before slipping to the dirt mid-attempt. But the bull didn’t give up, and neither did Mitchell.
“He wasn’t hard to ride,” Mitchell said.
“The only thing that was a little bit of an obstacle was keeping my mind straight that like, ‘I might get it in the tooth, but you’re a bull rider. You have to pay the price.’”
Forcing Mitchell into a bit of bronc riding routine, the home state talent completed the ride, able to navigate a pair of electric stalls before dismounting the beast.
Almost instantly turning down the imperfect score (63 points), Mitchell didn’t care who the re-ride bull was. He was getting on regardless.
“I didn’t know what the re-ride bull was. I didn’t even ask him (the judge) what the re-ride was,” Mitchell offered.
“Before he told me, I told him I would take it. Because if I don’t, I don’t have a chance to win.”
Eventually facing off with Ah Hell later in the night, Mitchell wouldn’t relinquish his opportunity to shine.
Even if the crowd became a bit of a distraction. A supportive distraction.
But the 2022 PBR Rookie of the Year was up for the challenge, knowing a brief moment of glory awaited.
“It took a lot of focus. I usually get in there (the chutes) and I don’t hear a whole lot. But when those sons of bucks started war hootin, I was like ‘Oh shit, Bobby. Don’t pay attention!’” Mitchell said with a laugh.
“You really just have to stay focused on what you’re doing. It doesn’t matter where you are. In the practice pen or at the top-tier shit. You just have to keep your mind focused on your job.”
Matching the bovine’s every move while donning his Kansas City Outlaws helmet, Mitchell willed his way to the whistle, scored 86 points for the conversion.
A win for the crowd. A spicy addition to the event’s leaderboard.
But most importantly, a moment for the youngster to celebrate, soak it all in and remind himself that he has what it takes to compete on the premier series tour.
“To be in the locker room with all of these guys (he laughs) … It’s next level. Guys I’ve looked up to forever …,” Mitchell said in reflecting.
“To me, I feel like I have to prove to myself every week that I deserve to be here. That (ride) doesn’t necessarily prove it, but it’s gonna sure make you feel good.”
Especially important considering the talent’s last year of competition results.
After ranking No. 45 at the end of the 2023 UTB campaign, Mitchell failed to qualify for the 2023 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast in Fort Worth, Texas.
Finishing the second season of electric 5-on-5 action within the PBR Camping World Team Series just over a month ago with Kansas City, the mustached man turned in a 3-for-13 record as he battled both injury and the ability to make J.W. Hart’s starting lineup.
Elements of his career, no doubt. But that’s all in the past for Mitchell, who’s spent more time with some newly acquired buddies around the ranch and less time digging through the fridge.
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“I bought a couple of really good practice bulls. I’ve got four, I mean top-notch … these bulls are my best friends. They’ve helped me with my riding, mental game, everything. I bought an arena, got practice bulls, so now I can get on at the house all the time,” Mitchell said.
“That and ever since Tucson, I was a tad bit overweight. After that, not riding very well out there, and then seeing all of those guys go 89, 90, 91 really fired me up. I came home and lost 10 lbs. in three weeks. Did some fasting and dietary changes and now I feel good. Meat, vegetables and if I want a snack, I’ll make fresh salsa with hot sauce and cucumbers.”’
Routines, habits, all of it can be sacred to a bull rider’s weekday prep. But Mitchell doesn’t want to get carried away with the changes.
At the end of the day, there’s only two things he wants to stay true to.
“Just keep the good Lord on your side and put the work into it,” he concluded.
“Just have fun. Don’t overthink it. You’re just riding bulls, this is what you’ve done since you were a kid, so just don’t overthink it and have fun.”
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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