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If bull
riding is the most dangerous sport in the world, then I believe
that being the bullfighter in the arena with them is definitely
one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Very early in
Jerry Norton's career he stated, "I guess rodeo itself is
addictive and the bullfighting is even worse. Once it's in
your blood it's always there. That fear and adrenaline rush
is just something else." How bad was it in his
blood? As a child he would walk or ride his bicycle to
rodeos. When he graduated from high school he took the money
he got from graduation and invested it in "clown
school". It was an investment that would pay huge
dividends in the years to come. Jerry would spend the summer
and weekends as a bullfighter while he attending college earning
his bachelors degree.
Although the roar of the crowd and
the challenge of dominating the bull are exciting, the responsibility
of protecting the cowboy is always the most important element of
his job in the arena. Under the clown make-up and baggy
pants is a true athlete. Jerry trains regularly and
wears protective gear to lessen the chance of injury. Of course
as the saying goes in bull riding or bullfighting, it is not if
you will get hurt but when. Jerry has suffered his share of
injuries including broken jaw, reconstructed knee, shoulder
surgery and too many other minor fractures, bruises , sprains and
scrapes to bother counting.
In an early interview Jerry stated,
"It's a personal challenge to overcome your natural
fears." Jerry has found that the traits that make him
capable of this have also gave him the courage to face life and
everything it has to throw at you like fighting a charging bull
and emerge a little worse for the wear but stronger. It is
this quality that his family and friends admire in him and why he
was selected as the Northern Regional Director for the Rodeo
Attitude Program. The Rodeo Attitude Program is not only
devoted to promoting the sport of rodeo but the ideals of true
cowboys and to this point, Jerry Norton is an ideal role
model. |
