The United States won the Professional Bull Riders World Cup for the second consecutive year, but this was one team that came together after some patch work.

The U.S. competed in the Aug. 28-30 show in Barretos, Brazil, without PBR world title race leader Kody Lostroh who's nagged by an elbow injury in his left riding arm.

Lostroh is only competing on the Built Ford Tough Series, the association's top-tier tour that's based in North America.

The U.S. also was missing North Carolina sensation Brian Canter, recently sidelined with a knee injury. He was replaced by Ryan Dirteater, the young Oklahoman who won the Dallas Ford Series tour stop in January.

By comparison, last year's five-man squad had more credentials. That team included Lostroh, along with two-time world champion Justin McBride who is the only cowboy in any bull riding or rodeo association with earnings of more than $5 million. McBride retired at the end of the 2008 season.

But the 2009 U.S. team was very determined. When the title was at stake on the night of Aug. 28, the U.S. entered the performance one ride behind Team Brazil. But the Americans rallied and clinched the title with 1,387.75 points. Brazil finished second with 1,217.5 and Canada was third with 1,027. Team Australia came in fourth with 685 and Team Mexico wound up fifth with 173.

J.W. Hart, the U.S. team captain, commended his squad for effort.

"They were all behind the chutes pulling for each other and helping each other," said Hart, the 2002 PBR World Finals average winner. "I mean, these are five guys who normally do not travel together when they are in the states. But they really made a team effort out of this deal."

Team USA consisted of J.B. Mauney (Mooresville, N.C), who was the only returning member of the World Cup team who claimed the 2008 title in Chihuahua, Mexico; Zack Brown (Santa Fe, Texas); Ryan McConnell (Colgate, Okla.); Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.), and Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Okla.). Mauney was also named the 2009 World Cup MVP after he scored 439.5 points, the highest among the field of 25 riders.

The World Cup performances drew large crowds. The final show may have drawn 70,000, according to Randy Bernard, the PBR's chief executive officer.

"The biggest thing was the passion of the Brazilian fans," Bernard said. "They would applaud when the Americans got bucked off, but that didn't offend the Americans because it's expected."

Still, Team USA received a round of applause after it clinched the title.

A meaningful sponsorship

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was a sponsor of Texas A&M's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, which ran Aug. 15-23.

"This is what the Show is about -- providing educational opportunities for people of all ages," said Skip Wagner, president of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. "And, we're giving back to men and women who have truly given more than most of us can imagine."

A dozen men and women, injured as a result of military service in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001, participated in the free program. It is designed to assist veterans with disabilities in becoming small-business owners.

The program is completely free for the veterans, including travel and accommodations. The Houston Rodeo has been a sponsor since the program began at the Mays Business School.

Brett Hoffman is a 20-year rodeo columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame member. E-mail him at brett@myrodeoinsider.com.