CALF_News_December_2019_January_2020

34 CALF News • December 2019 | January 2020 • www.calfnews.net E very year, fans of many of the most popular sports in America vote for their favorite athletes to play in their respective sport’s all-star game, the highly-anticipated annual event where the most elite athletes are handpicked to play alongside the best of the best from various teams. In football, this showcase of talent and star-power is known as the National Football League’s (NFL) Pro-Bowl, which is followed shortly after by the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) own all-star event in Febru- ary. Baseball’s all-star event is a double header, beginning with the Home Run Derby hitting competition followed by the Major League Baseball (MLB) All- Star game. No matter the sport, these games feature the finest, most popular athletes showing off their skills among their peers. The frenzy surrounding the major- ity of these elite sporting events can’t be understated. In big cities and small towns alike, sports enthusiasts keep track of statistics, wins, losses and injury reports to contemplate who should attend the NFL Pro-Bowl and who will emerge as the hottest bat in baseball during the Home Run Derby. Securing tickets to these high-visibility games could be likened to an athletic event of its own. With the diligence and focus of a pro-athlete, America’s most dedicated fans wishing to attend one of these events place call after call to insider contacts with ticket access or enter every ticket-giveaway contest available. When one is lucky enough to secure tickets, they may spend thousands of dollars on them, along with hundreds more in travel expenses to get to the big game. Each year, all-star events become bigger productions aimed at entertain- ing the masses. They feature fireworks extravaganzas, star-studded half-time shows, celebrity attendees, and fans lining up just to get a chance for a player’s autograph. Television networks wheel and deal to secure the rights to broadcast these events on their airwaves. Spon- sors shell out budgets that could sup- port the economy of many third-world countries just to be front and center in the action. Athletes take home paychecks that mirror a lottery payment. All of this is with one thing in mind: to win over the hearts and minds of the fans. But there remains one all-star event that hasn’t (at least yet) become part of this commercial feeding frenzy. It’s a quiet, but mighty showcase of talent and athletic prowess that means the world to a cowboy but doesn’t mean much to the world. This event? Rodeo All-Star. As honest and straight forward as the name is, the event promises the highs and lows of any sporting event along with a taste of the good life that will leave you hungry for more. The event is a true reflection of western values, hard work and pure determination. By Kristin Mackey Contributing Editor RODEO ALL-STAR  Western Lifestyle at Its Best 