LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Call him “Robson the Invincible.”
In round four of the PBR 2010 World Finals on Saturday, October 23, bull rider Robson Palermo won the round with a 90.5 point ride.
He didn’t get to celebrate his victory though, as Palermo came off the bull and landed, head-first, like a lawn dart. He staggered out of the way of the bull, but then dropped to the dirt. After several minutes, he was carried out of the arena on a backboard, wearing a cervical collar and his head immobilized.
Reports later that night given to the media was suspected fracture of one or more vertebrae.
So when Sunday’s daysheet for round five showed Palermo riding, everyone assumed the sheets were printed before Palermo’s wreck.
Wrong!
Palermo stayed on “Paycheck” (Hyland Cattle Company) for 4.1 seconds before bucking off.
But he wasn’t done there.
At the end of round five, Palermo was sitting 12th in the event average.
So he got on another bull, the powerhouse “RMEF Gunpowder and Lead,” in the championship round.
And he won the round with a 91.25 point ride.
Palermo was battered and bruised, but x-rays and tests Saturday night at a local hospital showed no fractures or breaks.
In fact, in-arena announcer Brendon Bates explained, on Saturday night, Palermo called in his pick for the round five bull draft (as winner, he got first pick), from the hospital.
Palermo finished 10th in the World Finals average.
