Smooth Operator Erupts for YETI World Champion Bull Title and YETI Bull of the Finals Victory

By: Justin Felisko

LAS VEGAS – Nine-time Stock Contractor of the Year Chad Berger rolled over in his bed at the South Point Hotel Casino & Resort early Sunday morning, his mind racing.

Berger could not sleep.

It was 3 a.m. and there were still 12 hours until the final rounds of the 2019 PBR World Finals got underway seven miles away at T-Mobile Arena.

“I was up before the chickens,” Berger said. “I had things to do. I just couldn’t sleep.”

Berger eventually decided to just get up and go address one of the things on his mind.

The Mandan, North Dakota, stock contractor had been waiting for this day for years.

Endless shortcomings and unexpected twists and turns throughout his career have never eaten away at his confidence, but Berger has always desperately wanted a World Champion Bull of his own.

Before he went to go visit Smooth Operator at bull housing on Sunday morning, well before the sun had even risen, Berger grabbed a lucky pair of socks and cowboy boots.

Berger had not worn these same socks or boots since Smooth Operator began the World Finals with a 46.25-point bull score for bucking off Dylan Smith in Round 2 on Thursday night.

On Championship Sunday, though, Berger did not want to mess with his good vibes, even if his World Championship destiny was in the fate of his 9-year-old veteran bull rather than his wardrobe.

All Smooth Operator had to do to win the 2019 YETI PBR World Champion Bull title was to leave the chutes cleanly in the championship round and put up a solid score.

“After I bucked him Thursday, when I got home I put my right sock in my right boot and my left sock in my left boot,” Berger said. “I then put my pants away. Today, I wore the same outfit (except my shirt). I wore all the same things.”

A tired Berger was standing on the back of the bucking chutes at 3:57 p.m. inside T-Mobile Arena gnawing on a piece gum.

Smooth Operator, though, would not let Berger down in the championship round.

The six-time PBR World Finals qualifier erupted with a burst of heartland strength and gold-minded determination to buck off the tough-as-nails Chase Outlaw in 4.11 seconds.

Berger then waited anxiously before hearing seconds later that Smooth Operator’s career-best bull score of 47 points had clinched him the 2019 YETI World Championship.

“I said a little prayer right before he bucked, and thank God for today,” Berger said with his eyes still wet with tears on the back of the bucking chutes.

Smooth Operator (Dakota Rodeo/Julie Rosen/Clay Struve/Chad Berger) even took a victory lap inside the arena once he was announced as the champ.

“I will tell you what. That bull. I don’t know if that bull knew today was the day, but he left every ounce he had right here on that dirt,” Berger said. “I never seen a bull try that hard. He is 9 years old, and to come out and do what he did was amazing.”

Smooth Operator is Berger’s first World Championship since being co-owner of Code Blue (2009). Never before had Berger had full control of a World Champion Bull.

“Chad is a competitor, and it doesn’t matter what is going on. He wants to win,” PBR Director of Livestock Cody Lambert said heading into the Finals. “This is a yearlong, lifelong thing that will mean a great deal to him, especially on a bull like that. A bull he has had for quite a while.”

Outlaw and Berger have become extremely close friends over the years. In 2016, Berger hosted Chase and Nicole Outlaw’s wedding on their ranch.

Berger would rather have seen Outlaw ride Smooth Operator for 97 points on Sunday, but he knew he had the right guy to test his bull and give Smooth Operator his best shot at winning the title.

“I could tell he was feeling good,” Berger said. “I was really excited, but you never know what can happen. I was still sweating. Even with Heartbreak Kid, I didn’t wish anything but the best for him or any of them bulls. It just worked out.”

Outlaw made sure to climb up the back of the bucking chutes to shake Berger’s hand and congratulate him.

“He has been after it, trying to get it,” Outlaw later said. “It could have went the wrong way, and I am glad it worked out that he had me in the short round. Somebody that was going to try his ass and make that bull show.”

Outlaw also told Berger that he and Smooth Operator “better look out next year” because the Hamburg, Arkansas, cowboy would like a rematch.

Smooth Operator concluded the season with a World Champion Bull average of 46 points to defeat No. 2 Smooth Wreck (45.63), No. 3 Heartbreak Kid (45.55), No. 4 Fearless (45.45) and No. 5 Lil 2 Train (44.95).

The veteran bull went 13-3 this season with an average bull score of 45.42 points. Smooth Operator was marked 46 points or higher in seven of his 16 outs.

Smooth Operator earned $150,000 by winning the YETI World Championship ($100,000), Bull of the Finals ($25,000) title and regular-season top bull honors ($25,000).

So will Outlaw get his chance next year for a rematch?

Berger had floated the idea out there in recent weeks that he may retire Smooth Operator if he were to win the World Championship.

That will not be the case. Instead, Berger is hopeful Smooth Operator can come back and push for a second consecutive title in 2020.

“My plan is he is coming back, and if I feel like his game is slipping, then I will retire him.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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