Tonight, the kids and I went to what must have been one of the most embarrassing rodeo shows ever at the KC fair. It started off poorly when several riders bearing large US flags rode out, paraded around, then came to attention as the announcer asked all to rise for the national anthem, then after several minutes of silence he announced that they were having technical difficulties and would not be playing the national anthem. Then the riders went off. There were some garbage can chariot races that weren't as funny as it sounds, and some other riders doing some riding tricks that weren't all that impressive and went on way too long, but the best part was when one of the horses got spooked and bolted from the arena through the area behind it, headed for the parking lot, and the announcer had to scream "CLOSE THE GATE!!!!" over the PA system. It was such a bad show I felt embarrassed for the performers.