Right rope links cowboys to past

Just as a golfer can't golf without his clubs, a rodeo cowboy can't wrangle without his rope. And while bull riders tend to get most of the glory at rodeos, including this week's California Rodeo Salinas, it's the men lassoing wayward cattle who most resemble the traditional rodeo cowboy. "Ropes, naturally, are a big deal in rodeo," said Denny Watkins, a two-time team roping national champion. As suggested by the events' names, ropes are an essential part of tie-down roping and team roping. And they allow the "pickup" men to steer bulls and broncos back to the pen after a ride. These events, along with saddle bronc riding, simulate the skills of cowboys in the Old West and those working present-day ranches. The roping events are less about expressing one's machismo and more about finesse. Roping a calf or steer running at full speed requires as much precision as a baseball pitcher hitting spots in the strike zone, but the cowboy must do it from a galloping horse rather than a stationary pitcher's mound. Ropers are very particular about their ropes, much like golfers are about their clubs or surfers about their boards. They scrutinize such traits as stiffness, weight and durability, all of which contribute to a rope's effectiveness. Some ropes last 10 runs, while other last up to 30. "But if the rope that lasts 10 runs feels right to you, that's the one you're going to use," said Watkins, who is competing in his 37th Salinas rodeo...MontereyCountyHerald