Bull Riders in New York City.

PBR in the City...

OLN and The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) are proud to announce that the elite Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler (BFTS) will make its debut in New York City at Madison Square Garden. The Versus Invitational presented by Amp’d Mobile will kick off the 2007 BFTS season on January 6 with two performances at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and one performance on January 7 at 1 p.m. OLN, the cable home of the PBR, is the title sponsor of the event, which reflects the network’s new moniker - Versus.

I've been trying to attend something like this for over a year, but felt traveling to Wyoming to do so would be a little extreme. Actually, they were at one of the casinos in Connecticut last year, but I missed them.

I don't know much about bull riding. Last year I caught a glimpse of Lee Akin competing on ESPN and was hooked. He's adorable, and he gave me the idea for for my next novel. (Or the novel after the next one. I haven't decided yet.) The thing is, I don't understand the sport. It looks like it hurts. A lot. I can't even explain why I'm so fascinated by it. It's not because I'm a cowboy groupie. I guess it's the complete otherness that keeps my eyes glued to the TV screen.

I just can't imagine what 34th Street in Manhattan will look like on January 6th and 7th. Apparently, bull riding is big in New Jersey, but NYC still seems like an odd choice for a PBR event.

Here are my city-girl thoughts on what to expect at this event I plan to attend:

Attendees will be wearing cowboy boots and cowboy hats.

I'll feel like an idiot if I wear my fantastic 10 year old cowboy boots.

I'll be the only black woman there.

I shouldn't buy the $125 first row tickets, but the $85 or $50 second row tickets near the exit. If a bull escapes into the seating area, we're outta there!