World Cup skippers Hart and Moraes sound off in Nashville
PUEBLO, Colo. (August 18, 2009) - Justin McKee found himself in a precarious situation Sunday afternoon when, on national television, he was asked by a PBR fan whether or not J.W. Hart and Adriano Moraes like one another.
By prefacing his non-answer with the phrase, “Let’s put it this way,” the longtime Versus broadcaster hinted at what viewers already knew—not really.
As goes their rivalry, so goes the storyline for the upcoming World Cup in Barretos, Brazil.
The truth is that it’s not that they don’t get along, so much as they tend to see things differently.
The two have said time and again they respect each for their accomplishments and even consider each another friends, but as Hart pointed out, “We’re not afraid to tell one another what we think.”
Hart and Moraes were both in Nashville this past weekend to promote the World Cup and talk in depth about the teams they’ve assembled, as the Americans look to defend last year’s win and the heavily-favored Brazilians look to take full advantage of competing on their native soil.
The three-day PBR event is expected to draw in excess of 70,000 people a day—making it the single largest crowd to ever witness a PBR event.
Although the event will feature teams from five countries – Canada, Australia and Mexico along with the U.S. and Brazil – a great deal of the hype, especially this past weekend, has focused on the past two winners – a fact that most likely doesn’t sit well with Canadian captain Cody Snyder.
For the past two years the Canadians have finished the World Cup in second place.
But they may come into the event with the healthiest team. Hart admitted he’s concerned that Nashville was the lone event Austin Meier was able to compete in after missing two BFTS events with an injury.
Brian Canter has also been struggling of late, and alternate Wiley Petersen has elected to stay home to be with his family – his son will celebrate a birthday during what would have been a weeklong trip – and is being replaced by Ryan Dirteater.
The Cherokee Kid rode in three events before earning a qualified ride after missing several tour stops while recovering from a broken femur.
Even the seemingly invincible Brazilians return to their homeland with question marks.
The two biggest concerns for Moraes are likely Renato Nunes and Robson Palermo.
Nunes missed Nashville with an injury, and Palermo is mired in a slump that gave Hart an opportunity to joke that Palermo “might be our best teammate.”
In the meantime, Hart and Moraes, who know how to push one another’s buttons, did just that all weekend long.
At one point, Moraes predicted newcomer Skeeter Kingsolver would ride Bones in the short round while Hart said his hand would come out of the rope.
When Kingsolver indeed bucked off in short order, Hart said, “I know more.” Moraes responded by pointing out his three world titles and said he knows more than everyone.
World titles and standings aside, this World Cup will be a battle for global bragging rights like no other event in PBR history.
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