Up-and-coming bucker passes away
PUEBLO, Colo. (February 27, 2009) - A promising career was cut short Thursday morning.
Tom Teague expressed sadness Thursday afternoon during a conference call with Versus broadcasters and various members of the PBR, in announcing the untimely death of Cut Loose – previously known as I’m a Crook.
“Boyce (Knox) came back from Oklahoma…he noticed (Cut Loose) didn’t eat much that night,” Teague explained, “which was unusual for him … all of them have a good appetite. First time you see one not eat you say, ‘There’s something wrong with him.’”
The next day, when the bull was brought to Teague’s farm. he was dragging his hind feet a little bit. The following day, the bull would lie down and let people get within 30 feet or so before getting up. Even then it would take a few moments for him to steady the back part of his body.
It was uncommon for him to let anyone get that close; he was known as a mean bull.
Teague and Knox immediately contacted a vet and Cut Loose was treated. By the next day he seemed to be responding well and he wasn’t lying around as much, but it wasn’t long before he began getting worse.
Eventually it got to a point where he was unable to get up. Teague said, “That’s when we had to put him down.”
The North Carolina stock contractor, who has owned seven World Champion bulls, said it was emotionally tough to experience the ups and downs of the past week, but “you feel so sorry for him. All you can do is hope, and it (was) a sad situation.”
An autopsy performed Thursday night at a medical facility on the campus of North Carolina State University proved to be inconclusive. They were able to rule out any physical injuries, such as a broken back.
Teague said that results from numerous other tests – including a test for cancer in the spine – could take another two or three days.
It is not common for bulls or cows to develop cancer in the spinal cord, but it can have a paralyzing effect on the back ends of their bodies.
“It’s just one of many (tests),” said Teague, who noted that Cut Loose’s half-brother suffered the same fate. “She said until they find out what it is, we’re just talking in the dark.”
This year Cut Loose was covered just one time in seven tries, which coincidentally happened to be his first out of the 2009 season, when Mike White made the 8-second whistle for 87.50 points.
In that span his average bull score was 43.96 points; however, in his last five outs (including having bucked off Guilherme Marchi twice), his average bull score improved to 44.50 points.
His final appearance came less than two weeks ago in Oklahoma City when he bucked off Chris Shivers in Round 1. He sent him to the dirt in just 3.9 seconds on a reride after the two-time World Champion was given the option.
Cut Loose bucked again in short go and was picked by Marchi, who lasted only 3.2 seconds, in what will forever be his final out.
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