Nightlife

John Good—Ridin’ high

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John Good
Photo: Beverly Poppe

John Good—Ridin’ high

Hometown: Pontiac, MI

Age: 45

Profession: Mechanical bull operator, Stoney’s Rockin’ Country and Stoney’s North Forty

Profile: Have you got a ticket to ride? John Good can ensure it’s the ride of a lifetime. For seven years he’s been manning the controls of the professional-quality mechanical training bull, first at Gilley’s, then at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country and most recently at Stoney’s North Forty. “I can knock off anybody in 2.5 seconds. I am undefeated,” says Good. For his 40th birthday, Good took to a real live bull, where he was “good for about four seconds.” Remember, it’s heels in, toes out.

Why I Do What I Do: “I just fell into the bull … It’s not really a ‘job.’ I go to work, I knock people on their asses, and they pay me!”

Personal Tidbit: This cowboy has an artistic side. When he’s not tossing tourists on their rumps for tips, Good is honing his photography skills. His website, itsallgoodphoto.com, is just about ready to hit the net. And have you seen the Stoney’s billboards and ads? Yeah, those were Good.

What I’m reading: Mastering Flash Photography, by Susan McCartney

Latest Accomplishment: Good brags that, within the last year, he successfully knocked professional bareback rider Will Lowe off the Stoney’s Rockin’ Country bull in just two and a half seconds. “I’m the best bull operator on the West Coast,” brags Good, who has trained all of Stoney’s operators. “It’s like a roller coaster; you want them to be scared but still safe.”

Motto:The official mantra of the Stoney’s mechanical-bull-riding team: “We hurt no one.”

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