ride n slide - 2014-03-03 6:45 AM I was shocked when Tuf guaranteed he would win the calf roping. He's normally so humble. What was he thinking???? 

NJJ - 2014-03-03 8:27 AM

Awwww......come on.....he was doing a little "trash talk joking" with his competitors......they have all done it! Didn't you see the smile on his face????

GEES !!!! Why do you people always have to talk TRASH ????

NJJ - 2014-03-03 8:27 AM Awwww......come on.....he was doing a little "trash talk joking" with his competitors......they have all done it! Didn't you see the smile on his face????



GEES !!!! Why do you people always have to talk TRASH ????

barrelracr131 - 2014-03-03 8:07 AM

Maybe he was trying to "joke" a bit.... and it went over like a lead balloon?

I think everyone has stuck their foot in their mouth a time or two... I've also never seen a cowboy that wasn't a LITTLE cocky from time to time.... LOL

OhMax - 2014-03-03 8:43 AM

To be fair, Wade Sundell more or less said the same thing, he came with intentions of being the first saddle bronc champion at The American. His follow through went a little better of course.

Who didn't show up to win? Why would you bother showing up if you weren't gunning for a check.

Granted he came off cocky, but he's a cowboy after all, aren't they all?

barrelracer1413 - 2014-03-04 6:45 AM I agree I always liked him but after his interview when he said I feel bad for my friends bc i'm going to win and they are going home with nothing. I was in shock and I was a little happy to see him do bad and get a reality check.

NJJ - 2014-03-03 8:27 AM

Awwww......come on.....he was doing a little "trash talk joking" with his competitors......they have all done it! Didn't you see the smile on his face????

GEES !!!! Why do you people always have to talk TRASH ????

HotbearLVR - 2014-03-03 8:49 AM Sounded pretty innocent to me.  He'll probably think twice next time.  I'm sure his daddy had a few words with him.

Stitch4k9 - 2014-03-03 3:10 PMObviously you don't know his "daddy".   Roy had a bigger ego than all his boys together. 

karen

CYA Ranch - 2014-03-03 2:14 PM Every darn person there was a competitor and they gave it their all.  There was so much riding on this rodeo since it was the first year for it.  No one wanted to let the fans down and no one wanted to less than their best.  They are all so appreciativev of what RFD did for the sport.  I didn't see one competitor that I thought less of from watching their interviews or their performance.  Kuddos to the entire crew.  

Hollywood's Fan - 2014-03-03 11:43 AM I didn't see the interview, but this comment sounds like something he would say as sarcasim.  Tuff has played the game long enough to know that he doesn't always win. 



Wade Sundell said he intended to win it too....and he did, LOL 

RunNbarrels - 2014-03-03 5:12 PM My so and I are huge fans of Wade and were cheering him on all the way.  He is so fun to watch and seems so happy all the time and having a blast.  Gotta have confidence to compete and I'm sure Tuff was just playing around. 

Stitch4k9 - 2014-03-03 3:10 PM Obviously you don't know his "daddy".   Roy had a bigger ego than all his boys together. 



karen

stayceem - 2014-03-03 9:32 PM Good Grief people!!!! You are all so quick to judge and cause issues. Let it be! One comment doesnt make him a bad man or make him less of anything. hes a darn good calf roper and I am willing to bet its friendly competition. if you've never said anything like that to a friend or to someone knowing you compeitors will hear it then you havent been around long enough. RELAX and stop picking EVERY person apart.

CYA Ranch - 2014-03-03 9:49 PM Amen Sista

run2run - 2014-03-03 10:40 PM

Here's the interview. Judge for yourself ..

'Losing is not an option,' says Tuf Cooper


Champion Tie-Down Roper Tuf Cooper comes from a rodeo family.

Taking a moment to talk with RFD-TV, Cooper described what it was like growing up and achieving his goals.

"I grew up in the most famous family in rodeo. I didn't know any difference growing up besides this is what we did, is we traveled, we went to rodeos, we roped. Growing up in that atmosphere was, you know, that's – it's what I did. I was riding a horse and roping whenever I was four or five years old," said Cooper.

"I had the best childhood of any of my friends that I know. Growing up, it was – being 10 years old, traveling all over the country, getting home-schooled, getting to ride horses, getting to be outside, and then being with my family, you know, every part of the day. That's what prepared me whenever – for today, for my job today – is growing up in it my entire life. That prepared me for what I was going to do in my career."

Success at a young age

"I believe the comment of having success too soon is something that people that don't achieve success at a young age come up with. The difference for me was whenever I was 12 years old, I knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. I set my goals whenever I was 12, 13, 14 years old. And I went to work then to achieve my goals. My first goal – wanted to be the first, the youngest guy to ever make the National Finals Rodeo. When I turned 18 – you have to be 18 to be professional. Nobody's ever made the finals when they're 18. That was my goal. I gave up sports. I gave up hanging out with my friends, preparing myself for the future so I can reach the goals that I've set, which are the highest goals."

Winning and Opportunity

"I never feel bad about winning. I would feel bad if I didn't win because of the opportunities I've been given. I've had better opportunities growing up in a family that I've grown up in. Better opportunities to be a champion than probably anybody in the history of rodeo. So whenever I do win, which is expected, I don't feel bad for all those, all those other guys that didn't win because they didn't have the same opportunity as I did. So I better win. I better win because, if not, then that means that I didn't work as hard, I didn't put as much into it because those guys who had less opportunity put a thousand times more into it than I did."

"I don't want to lack in any area of my roping because I know I've had the opportunity to have done the most and to be the very best roper there will ever be."

THE AMERICAN

"When I first heard about THE AMERICAN -- blew my mind. I was like this is – I'm so excited. I got fired up about rodeo and roping and I was so ready for it. Ever since then, I'm like March 2nd, here we come."

"What fears me about THE AMERICAN is all those other guys walking away disappointed, all my friends walking away disappointed because they didn't win it because I was standing up there on the stage and took the big purse back to Decatur, Texas."

"Losing is not an option and it's not an option at THE AMERICAN. It's not going to happen."

run2run - 2014-03-03 11:21 PM

I have no opinion whether it's good or bad. I put the interview on here to be factual.

HotbearLVR - 2014-03-03 11:37 PM

That was an interesting interview.  The kid has high expectations, because, in his view, nobody has had a better opportunity.  I like him.

stayceem - 2014-03-03 11:42 PM Thats how I take it as well!

run2run - 2014-03-03 11:40 PM Here's the interview. Judge for yourself .. 'Losing is not an option,' says Tuf Cooper Champion Tie-Down Roper Tuf Cooper comes from a rodeo family. Taking a moment to talk with RFD-TV, Cooper described what it was like growing up and achieving his goals. "I grew up in the most famous family in rodeo. I didn't know any difference growing up besides this is what we did, is we traveled, we went to rodeos, we roped. Growing up in that atmosphere was, you know, that's – it's what I did. I was riding a horse and roping whenever I was four or five years old," said Cooper. "I had the best childhood of any of my friends that I know. Growing up, it was – being 10 years old, traveling all over the country, getting home-schooled, getting to ride horses, getting to be outside, and then being with my family, you know, every part of the day. That's what prepared me whenever – for today, for my job today – is growing up in it my entire life. That prepared me for what I was going to do in my career." Success at a young age "I believe the comment of having success too soon is something that people that don't achieve success at a young age come up with. The difference for me was whenever I was 12 years old, I knew exactly what I wanted to do in life. I set my goals whenever I was 12, 13, 14 years old. And I went to work then to achieve my goals. My first goal – wanted to be the first, the youngest guy to ever make the National Finals Rodeo. When I turned 18 – you have to be 18 to be professional. Nobody's ever made the finals when they're 18. That was my goal. I gave up sports. I gave up hanging out with my friends, preparing myself for the future so I can reach the goals that I've set, which are the highest goals." Winning and Opportunity "I never feel bad about winning. I would feel bad if I didn't win because of the opportunities I've been given. I've had better opportunities growing up in a family that I've grown up in. Better opportunities to be a champion than probably anybody in the history of rodeo. So whenever I do win, which is expected, I don't feel bad for all those, all those other guys that didn't win because they didn't have the same opportunity as I did. So I better win. I better win because, if not, then that means that I didn't work as hard, I didn't put as much into it because those guys who had less opportunity put a thousand times more into it than I did." "I don't want to lack in any area of my roping because I know I've had the opportunity to have done the most and to be the very best roper there will ever be." THE AMERICAN "When I first heard about THE AMERICAN -- blew my mind. I was like this is – I'm so excited. I got fired up about rodeo and roping and I was so ready for it. Ever since then, I'm like March 2nd, here we come." "What fears me about THE AMERICAN is all those other guys walking away disappointed, all my friends walking away disappointed because they didn't win it because I was standing up there on the stage and took the big purse back to Decatur, Texas." "Losing is not an option and it's not an option at THE AMERICAN. It's not going to happen."

cruise - 2014-03-04 8:03 AM Personally, as I read each word of this interview, as a parent, I thought these are some of the values I have tried to instill in my own children.  Read it all - not just the end and to me it was a fantastic interview.  Anyone can be half a** - you have to work to be best. 

cruise - 2014-03-04 8:03 AM Personally, as I read each word of this interview, as a parent, I thought these are some of the values I have tried to instill in my own children.  Read it all - not just the end and to me it was a fantastic interview.  Anyone can be half a** - you have to work to be best. 

ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-03-04 8:44 AM  What I would like to know is... did any of these people that are condeming Tuff for his comment hear what Roy had to say about him the night before the American?  Roy was talking to Justin McKee, Roy told Justin he went to the concernt the night before and got back to where they were staying at 2am.. when he came in at 2am, Tuff was out tying calves at 2am.... TUFF WAS OUT TYING CALVES AT 2AM!!!  I would be willing to bet my salary that he was the ONLY one of the qualifiers/invitees/exemptions out tying calves at 2am!  Tuff works hard and it shows in his roping, is he perfect, no... but he is dang sure committed and puts in the hours necessary!

CYA Ranch - 2014-03-04 8:52 AM I did not hear that interview, I haven't had time to go back and watch my DVR to anything but the rodeo itself but that right there is the reason he is who he is and as good as he is.  Trevor Brazille made the comment that no works harder than Tuff Cooper.   Coming from someone with a work ethic like Trevor that means a lot.  

ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-03-04 9:44 AM  What I would like to know is... did any of these people that are condeming Tuff for his comment hear what Roy had to say about him the night before the American?  Roy was talking to Justin McKee, Roy told Justin he went to the concernt the night before and got back to where they were staying at 2am.. when he came in at 2am, Tuff was out tying calves at 2am.... TUFF WAS OUT TYING CALVES AT 2AM!!!  I would be willing to bet my salary that he was the ONLY one of the qualifiers/invitees/exemptions out tying calves at 2am!  Tuff works hard and it shows in his roping, is he perfect, no... but he is dang sure committed and puts in the hours necessary!

CE's wrapn3 - 2014-03-04 9:48 AM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7s0mMBvj1g

cruise - 2014-03-04 8:59 AM It is my understanding that this is normal for Tuff, and his traveling partners.  I am sure he was out there in part because it was The American, but it could have been a amateur rodeo and the work ethic would be the same. 

NJJ - 2014-03-04 10:00 AM If that is "egg on his face", I APPLAUD him......



Tuf is one dedicated young man, who has high expecations for himself and the pressures of a family history behind him......More young people should have the desire, fortitude, determination and talent to be LIKE HIM.........not scorn him! 

NJJ - 2014-03-04 10:00 AM If that is "egg on his face", I APPLAUD him......



Tuf is one dedicated young man, who has high expectations for himself and the pressures of a family history behind him......More young people should have the desire, fortitude, determination and talent to be LIKE HIM.........not scorn him! 

ACEINTHEHOLE - 2014-03-04 8:44 AM  What I would like to know is... did any of these people that are condeming Tuff for his comment hear what Roy had to say about him the night before the American?  Roy was talking to Justin McKee, Roy told Justin he went to the concernt the night before and got back to where they were staying at 2am.. when he came in at 2am, Tuff was out tying calves at 2am.... TUFF WAS OUT TYING CALVES AT 2AM!!!  I would be willing to bet my salary that he was the ONLY one of the qualifiers/invitees/exemptions out tying calves at 2am!  Tuff works hard and it shows in his roping, is he perfect, no... but he is dang sure committed and puts in the hours necessary!
 

SKM - 2014-03-04 5:43 PM

What 21 year old with a HUGE amount of success in any sport doesn't get a little cocky at some point?  

Joe Beaver wasn't exactly a saint when he was 21 and had won a World Championship either.

Maybe he made a bone headed comment. But I'm sure no one on this board has EVER said ANYTHING  that was EVER taken out of context or jumped on by a mob that took it the way it might not have been intended. We've NEVER seen that around here.

Cut the kid some slack. He's living the life that most only dream about. He's walking the walk so he's allowed to talk the talk (even if it doesn't work out sometimes).

sodapop - 2014-03-04 5:52 PM   Roy was telling of an incident from a few years back. He said it was when Jerry Jones had just opened up the new stadium. George Strait was the first concert at the stadium. Roy said "we" were at the concert and took the "party bus" home. When they got home Tuf was in the arena at 2am roping. Now he did not say what time Tuf actually got out of bed that day (day of the concert) though. Tuf was not at the concert. Not sure who "we" on the party bus is either. LOL So this was long before the American came along. It was a few years ago & he was practicing. I also think he practices a lot at night and through the night. Cooler in the Texas heat for sure. Nonetheless he puts in the work.

Runninbay - 2014-03-04 8:44 PM


My 2 cents...

Tuf was talking trash and got a nice little reminder that even he makes mistakes. In my opinion, because of that interview and a few of those "innocent" comments, he got what he deserved - which was a long ride home without a check. That being said, I think Tuf is a great roper, and great horseman and an even better kid. I dont look at him any differently. He got caught in the moment and said some things that im sure he regrets now. But I sure home his experience at the American will make him think about what comes out of his mouth before the next rodeo. And I genuinely hope next year he stays humble, makes a good run and takes a win home.