Two-time World Champion to be inducted Saturday in Pueblo
PUEBLO, Colo. (May 14, 2009) - On Saturday, three men – Adriano Moraes, Justin McBride and J.W. Hart – will experience an honor that has been bestowed upon just 27 former professional bull riders before them.
This is the second in a four-part series previewing the greatness that has separated this trio from so many others. Today we recall McBride’s surprising retirement, followed tomorrow with a profile of the recently-retired Hart before a preview of Saturday’s ceremony is published that morning. Yesterday we ran a retirement story chronicling the career of Moraes.
The following article, "McBride announces retirement," was originally published online on October 21, 2008 before appearing in the January 2009 issue of “Pro Bull Rider” magazine.
“I just don’t like doing it anymore, so I’m quitting.”
That was the sobering sentiment from Justin McBride, who formally announced his retirement from the PBR one afternoon at a press conference in Las Vegas.
“It’s something I put a lot of thought into,” said the two-time World Champion, during his opening remarks. “I’m pretty excited about the decision. I feel like I’ve done everything I set out to do in this sport.”
One of the most decorated bull riders in PBR history, the defending World Champ crossed the $5 million mark in career earnings in September 2008, making him the richest cowboy in history.
In his 10-year career, McBride has set an extensive list of records, including 32 career event wins; the most money earned in a single season ($1,835,321); and eight single season event wins, among many others.
“Sometimes people get to thinking you’re retiring from life,” McBride said. “I’m just retiring from the sport that I’ve done for most of my life.”
After winning last year’s world title – the second of his career – McBride sat out the first six months of the 2008 Built Ford Tough Series. The 29-year-old bull rider from Elk City, Okla., went on to say that his injury was a key factor in his decision in as much as it was the longest he ever been away from the sport. The time off gave him a chance to reflect.
Competing in just seven regular-season events that year, McBride, who admitted that he initially thought he had ridden his last bull in the championship round of 2007 World Finals, won two event titles – Tulsa and Nashville – and easily qualified for the Finals.
“He’s going out when he can still ride every single bull in the world,” said Brendon Clark, a close friend of McBride, “and ride the rankest bulls in the world.”
“I have done what I wanted to do—win a PBR World Title,” declared McBride. “Now I am in a position to go out while I’m healthy and still riding well. I mean you can get hurt crossing the street, but there are more risks involved with bull riding. Now that I have a family and a child to think about, I want to be able to retire and enjoy my life with them and not be a crippled bull rider.”
McBride said he plans to spend his retirement at his ranch near Elk City, Okla., while pursuing a music career – plans for a music video are in the works – and will continue a broadcasting career with Versus, as well as sponsor-relations activities.
Although bull riding is the “only thing I’ve ever done to this point,” he said in the immediate future his plans include a lot of hunting and fishing.
Fellow riders reacted to the news:
Michael Gaffney: “I’m happy for him, but disappointed for the sport. He’s not going away, I don’t think, but at the same time, to not have him actively riding is a drag for our fans and, quite frankly, those guys in the locker room. But I’m really happy for him and his family because of the danger that’s involved in this business, and he’s a guy that never says die.”
J.B. Mauney: “I mean, you gotta hand it to him. He’s going out on top and he’s still riding good. I don’t know, really. I wouldn’t if I was him, but it’s a lot different, because he’s got a family and everything and he’s a lot older than I am. You can kind of tell he’s ready to go home. … He’s a really good friend of mine and he’s always good to have around the bull ridings, because you can’t act like a sissy when he’s around. He kind of stays on your butt about being a cowboy, and now he won’t be there to do that.”
Kody Lostroh: “He’s definitely made his mark in the world of bull riding. I know he still really likes riding bulls, but he’s got a family going now too, so his priorities have changed a little bit, I guess. It’s good that he’s getting to quit on top of his game and not hanging around so long that the sport makes him leave.”
L.J. Jenkins: “Holy cow—I would have never thought that he would do that. I figured Adriano being a three-time World Champ, that he’d want to do the same. We’ve all seen he can do that any day, and that’s kind of what I was figuring. I thought once he became a two-time World Champ that he might think about it, but I never saw it coming now.
Mike White: “I look at it from a family perspective. … Justin’s made a really good living in a short period of time and he’s got a family. He wants to retire and spend time with his family…he’s made a lot of money and he’s at the point where he can retire and enjoy life with his family.
Chris Shivers: “I think that’s a great decision. Bull riding is something that if you have experienced it you’ll know enough is enough. Whenever you feel like your dreams are fulfilled and then you don’t really want to do it anymore, then it’s not worth getting hurt over.
Luke Snyder: “Shoot, in this game everybody knows when they’re done. He obviously knows that he doesn’t have the desire that he once did or may not—ah, that guy could win so many more world championships. He’s still young. He could still come back anytime he wanted to and just dominate. Everybody has a point when they’re done with it and he’s obviously pretty well set up.”
Sean Willingham: “He’s that good that he can retire at a young age because he’s won so much already. It’ll be good for him and, I guess, he’s going to pursue his country music and go from there. I’m sure he’ll still be around the bull riding world, but he’s going to be missed. I’m dang sure going to just miss him as a friend. It’s going to be different, and you’re not going to get to compete against one of the best bull riders of all time. … I guess he’s just done with it. We’re going to miss him and, I don’t know, you can’t really say too much.”
Reese Cates: “With Adriano and Justin McBride retiring the same year as my rookie season—that’s crazy. It’s something that I’ll always remember, that I came on tour and I got to ride against the legends for one year before they’re gone. Yeah, that’s something to me and I’m just glad I got to come along this year instead of next year. I’m honored to be at their level and I wish McBride would be hanging around a little bit longer so I could have the chance to compete against him some more.”
Dustin Elliott: “He’s hit $5 million, he’s won two world titles, he’s rich and he doesn’t have to worry about money—why not? But honestly, the guy’s an outstanding, phenomenal bull rider and him retiring just gives me that much more of a chance to win some money myself. I mean, the guy went to (seven) events this year and he won two of them. That’s just amazing. I like the competition and I like the money too. … He’s had some injuries with the broken leg, the collapsed lung and then the shoulder. He’s 29-years-old and he’s got enough money, so why not save your health? He’s accomplished everything there is to accomplish in bull riding, so what else is there other than save your health and raise your family?”
SPECIAL NOTE - The Ring of Honor Induction Ceremony will be shown in its entirety next week on PBR.TV.
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