Bull riding's eight seconds of eternity

Our toughest professional athletes?

NFL players, some think.

NHL players, say others.

I've got a different one.

Professional bull riders.

Got a good look at 24 of these fellows plying their trade at Saturday night's Myakka City Bull Riding in Vic Scarbrough's cozy Circle S Rodeo Arena (http://www.circlesrodeo.com/). The Southern States Bull Riding Association's Jason Wade Challenger Series was back for its monthly tour stop.

The riders' objective was stay aboard for eight seconds and make the finals with a chance at $1,000 prize money.

Only four got there -- barely.

Talk about working hard for your money?

Never mind hanging on until the buzzer sounded.

These cowboys, several of whom rode with an assortment of injuries, were hanging on for their lives.

Bulls packed 1,200 to 1,800 pounds of muscular firepower and used it forcefully and furiously.

Riders flew over the bulls back. Over the bull's head.

Then bulls would rumble around the ring as if to challenge: Anybody else want some of this?

"We got some mean ones, all right," Scarbrough said, grinning. "Sure would've liked to see a few more riders make the final , though."

Maybe next time.

The SSBRA returns to Myakka City on July 11.