Whoever said, “don’t meet your heroes,” had the wrong heroes. Meet them. Much of my writing is satire buried 6-feet beneath sarcasm. And don’t get me wrong, I truly mean every single word that comes off this overpriced, tablet-attaching keyboard of mine. But this time I’m taking the path of mine less traveled. This post isn’t one about a trip to Covid’s origin in Letchworth Village. It is something entirely more special. It is a shout out. Some might call it an ode. Others, an homage. But what it really is, though? A glaze.
These past few weeks, I have had the blessed opportunity of meeting three of the rawest gentlemen I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in my life. They don’t only take bulls by the horn, but they take life by the horns. In bull riding, there needs to be excellence in the small to achieve excellence in the big. And while that goes for anything anyone does in life, these guys make sure it is done to perfection each day.
They use this word, ‘Cowboy’, to describe their way of living. I quickly learned it was not a word to be thrown around lightly. Simply put – I’m not a Cowboy. A Cowboy is someone who sees the sun rise and is excited for the sun to set not because they have to do it over again, but they get to do it all over again. While many people operate on 78%, they leave 100% on the backburner. Cowboys are on 150% when their feet hit the ground in the morning. When I complain about a sore knee after a mile run, these Cowboys walk off the dirt after a broken neck.
Charlie Hayes
Speaking of broken necks, Charlie Hayes came back onto the scene after an injury that would have most people unable to type at a computer. He’s driven, beyond tough, and well-spoken enough to have his name in a political ballot if he wanted. Whether he is putting a quick 8s on the back of a ranked bull that would make Paul Bunyan nervous or insulating the walls of his garage because he can, Charlie Hayes is representing that 150% effort. He is capable of anything and everything. He knows it, and when he gets on the dirt, everyone else knows it, too.
It takes a Cowboy to wrangle his dog, Hamilton. The pup’s body moves like a slinky falling down the stairs the wrong way. That being said, and from my perspective, Charlie’s control of the dog is an incredible reflection of who he is as a person. That dog and I are like oil on water. Him and Hamilton, though, like water to a boat. He takes disorder, unpredictability, and overall chaos, and turns it into an opportunity. He doesn’t ride every time, and no one does, but you can guarantee he is coming off that bull with a smile. On top of that, you can be damn sure he is ready for what is next.
Dustin Martinez
The word ‘Cowboy’ doesn’t do this man justice. I don’t think there is a word in the English language that could. Dustin Martinez could take on Hell with a squirt gun and come out the other side smiling. While some would complain about being bucked off, he is the first person to be thankful he had the opportunity to even get on. Dustin is steadfast, loyal, and he will rope a sunofa gun sun, rain, or hurricane. He also chefs a mean elk burger.
From my experience, his name and bull riding are synonymous. He shakes hands with anyone and everyone in the vicinity, but he will flip that switch the second it needs to be. This isn’t a sport to him, it’s a lifestyle. Whether it’s in Colorado, New Mexico, or Oklahoma, this guy is Cowboy. He has his Capri, incredible folks over at Finn-Company, and his trusty smaller-than-a-steed pup, Rizzo. Many people these times let the day run them. He is one of the few left who run the day as soon as their feet hit the floor. His deftness, adaptability, and personality are all incredible and I hope anyone grabs at the opportunity of meeting him one day soon.
Pokey Houghton
I’ve said it to him, and I’ll say it to y’all: Pokey and I lived two very different lives at 18. I stub my toe and whimper. His pinky toe searches out the corner of a table just to wake up. I bandage up a hangnail. He just gets rid of the finger. I eat a bowl of nails with milk. Guess what – he skips the milk. All jokes aside, my admiration for him in indescribable. He’s a tough kid who doesn’t let the rough times that life so graciously offers bog him down. Whether it is Texas, Saskatchewan, or bound for MSG like I know he is, Pokey will no doubt seize the opportunity.
Many people his age have aspirations of landing in a fraternity of a Big 10 school. Not Pokey. He found what he loved early on and chased it like a thirsty dog to water. I look up to him because of the effort he puts in day in and day out. Off the dirt he is the kindest person ready to have a good time. On the dirt, he is all business. Pokey is an inspiring representation of ‘flipping that switch’ and making his life happen around him.
All In All
As I said, whoever said, “don’t meet your heroes,” has clearly never met their heroes. These guys certainly weren’t my heroes. My heroes worked on Wall Street and sold bonds so far underwater it would have given Aquaman a hard time breathing. Then I was given the opportunity to meet three guys, friends now, that opened my eyes to an entirely new perspective. What is hard work? What is doing what you love? Most importantly: what lengths are you willing to go to just to do what you love? Whatever lengths it is going to take for you, go for it. They have.
