A
Wednesday, april 12, 1978
daily nebraskan
page 7
Rodeo clown entertains,
saves injured bull riders
By John Ortmann
Miles Hare is a nine-year veteran of
rodeo bullfighting. After suffering a broken
hand, broken ribs and numerous knee in
juries, he is at the top of his profession. He
is 22 years old.
The Gordon, Neb. native said that last
year the top 15 bull riders in the world
chose him to be the clown at the profes
sional National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma
City. He was the youngest man ever select
ed to serve there as arena comedian and
frequent lifesaver.
Hare was in Lincoln April 7-9 to clown
at the 11th Annual University of Nebraska
Intercollegiate Rodeo. Although he is
demanded nationally to work professional
rodeos, he said he enjoys college rodeos as
much as when he was an amateur.
"I come back to UNL because it's a
good rodeo,' he said, explaining this was
his fourth trip. "I enjoy college rodeos be
cause I'm among my peers."
He began fighting his father's string of
rodeo bulls when he was 13. As a perform
er he participated in high school rodeos,
where he once placed second in national
bareback bronc riding competition.
Hare said his duties in the arena go
beyond clowning it up for the benefit of
the audience. Few people understand how
a good clown can help the bull riders get a
better ride, he said.
Before each ride he talks with the stock
contractor or someone familiar with the
bull about how to produce a spinning and
therefore higher scoring ride. He explain
ed that he dashes in front of the bull as it
is released from the chute and begins to
circle it. The bull, intent on stomping
someone, follows the clown and thus
begins to spin, at which point a good clown
withdraws, Hare said.
The clown's most important duties
begin when the ride ends, either by a buck
down or the blowing of the eight-second
whistle. Hare said a good clown will stay
back and let the cowboy try to free him
self. Once the cowboy is on the ground, the
clown should instantly appear between him
and the bull to give the often shaken rider
a chance to escape, Hare said.
The most dangerous moment in rodeo
occurs when a bull rider is bucked off on
the side opposite the hand he holds on
with, he said. When this happens the cow
boy often becomes hung up in his rigging
and is left dangling at the plunging bull's
side.
The best way to free the cowboy, Hare
said, is to draw the bull into a spin away
from the rider. The centrifugal force usually
pops the rider's hand free, he explained. If
the rider is unconscious or otherwise out of
control the clown must mount the bull and
untie the hand itself.
Hare performed this feat at the UNL
rodeo and received a bad ankle bruise in
the process. He worked the remaining two
performances in a leg splint in addition to
the knee brace he usually wears.
In spite of his broken bones and bad
knee, Hare said he never has been seriously
injured. His experience has produced what
he calls a healthy fear for the bulls but no
paranoia. He said paranoia was the major
reason for rodeo clowns quitting the
business.
"I think if you don't get scared, you're
not human," he said. "I'm afraid when I'm
down under a bull or one has me hurt.
"It's probably as much mental stress as
physical," he said. "If I ever start getting
scared before the performances, I'll have to
quit."
Hare said the job holds for him a mixed
attraction of love and money.
"Sure, I'm in it for the money," he said,
explaining that he receives as much as
$23000 for working a rodeo such as Fort
Worth's.
"But I love it also. I used to fight my
father's bulls and get horned for nothing."
"I've always dreamed of being the very
best at something, even if it's tiddly
winks," he said. "I'm not the best, but I'm
working on it."
Life on the road can be depressing. Hare
said, but he does not consider quitting.
"Rodeo is all I've ever done," he
explained. "That's the only money I've
ever made.
"I would like to do it year-round until
I'm crippled, and I'm -not planning on
getting crippled.
Theft investigation continues
University Police have no leads in the
investigation of approximately $180 stolen
Wednesday from the Nebraska Union
Bakery, according to one University Police
spokesman.
Assistant Union Director Frank Kuhn
said the money was not taken to the bank
by one of the Union employees as it was
suspected Wednesday night.
"We think someone reached over the
counter and took the cash box with the
money," Kuhn said.
Thursday and Friday
APRIL 13-14
iiii f i u a t i
totwoon tho two holvos of e freshly-cut bo no no,
w curl throe mounds of smooth DAIRY QUEEN soft
served and top with chocolate, strawberry,
pineapple and lots of irtomy whipped topping. At
this prko you can't pass up such a treat!
"Ufa all go to the DAIRY QUEEN"
At all Lincoln Dairy Queen locations
0oooooo0o
O
O
o
oooo
o
o
o
rDOO
91
LINCOLN1
top tytpo
x
EVIRY
7
(but always a great time!)
27th & Cornhusker
ooa
9 pm