January 23, 2001:

Happy New Year. It’s been so far so good for me in 2001. I’ve been to four PBR Bud Light Cup events since the first one in Bossier City, La., which was actually Dec. 29-30, 2000. We went to Worcester, Mass., the following week, Greensboro, N.C., the week after that, and Tampa, Fla., last weekend. I’ve won almost $23,000 at the Bud Light Cup events, and feel really good about my riding. I’m healthy and strong, and am looking forward to a great season.

One of the highlights of the new year so far for me was riding Herrington Cattle Company’s Hollywood for 93 points to win the short round in Greensboro. I’d had Hollywood two or three times before, and the last time I got on him he jerked my hand out of the rope right before the whistle. He’s such a big, strong bull that you have to keep hustling and moving the whole time to have a chance. I did that, and on that day (January 13) it clicked.

But a riding percentage of 88.9 percent is something I’m even prouder of than any one ride I’ve made. I’ve ridden eight of the nine bulls I’ve attempted in the early going, and that’s about as good as it gets at this level of the game.

I commentated on the ESPN telecast at the National Finals Rodeo again, and really enjoyed doing that. I also wrote my daily Ty Murray NFR Report, which was again sponsored by Las Vegas, and is read by millions of rodeo fans every December.

The NFR ran Dec. 1-10, and the week after I got home from Las Vegas my parents, Jewel and I took a trip to Europe to be a part of the 2000 USO Tour. The USO (United Service Organizations) is an organization that for six decades has taken groups of celebrities overseas to entertain America’s troops.

This year’s group included Jewel and I; John Glenn, who was the first person to orbit the earth; Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters; Ananda Lewis, who’s a veejay on MTV; Jerry Bruckheimer, the famous movie producer; singer/songwriter Carol King; retired football greats Terry Bradshaw and Mike Singletary; baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks; comedian Al Franken from Saturday Night Live; and country singer Shane Minor. There also were war heroes who’ve received the Congressional Medal of Honor, and the generals of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. It was like a great big variety show. We talked to the troops, and thanked them for their sacrifice and all they do for our country. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders performed for them, too.

The trip originated in Washington, D.C. From there, we flew to Munich, Germany, which was our base for the whole trip. On the first day we flew from Munich to Naples, Italy. In Naples, we got in a helicopter and flew out to the Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, which was out in the Mediterranean Sea. The Harry S. Truman is home to 5,000 soldiers, and would be as tall as the Empire State Building if you stood it on end.

On different days, we flew from Munich to military bases in Macedonia, Kosovo and Bosnia. We saw so many sights that made such an impact on me and how I view the world, like the bombed-out destruction of Kosovo from a helicopter at 200 feet.

When we were on the ground, we traveled in a presidential-style motorcade. We flew to Germany in a 747 that said “United States of America” on the side. It’s the USA’s war headquarters, and it was amazing. An F-16 fighter jet escorted us in the air for protection, and a backup plane made the trip in case we had any mechanical problems.

The whole trip was a real eye-opener for me. It made all the news we see on TV so much more real. In the past I hadn’t paid that much attention when they talked about war in places that seemed so far away from here. But when you go meet the troops, who are true heroes, you realize that they remind you of your friends and neighbors. They’re people just like we are, and their dedication is something I’ll never take for granted as long as I live.

I’ll update this again next month. Until then, take care of yourself.

What’s down the road:
Watch for the Ty Murray Invitational presented by Isleta Casino and Resort, coming March 23-24 to Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M.