He had been runner-up for the PBR World Championship for the past three years. But this was a new year. Riding at almost 80% during the season, when the men moved into Las Vegas, Guilherme Marchi found himself in the lead for the Championship. And in this, the sixth round, it was announced that regardless of the score, if Guilherme stayed on his bull Rewind, he would be the 2008 PBR World Champion. With a score of 87, Marchi did just that, and this year his dream came true. Throngs of Brazilians, their flag in tow, joined Guilherme on the stage in the center of the arena. They had been invited down to the floor as the last section was beginning, so as to participate in the probable celebration, and they were not to be disappointed. Among them were family and friends, including his wife, Patricia, and daughter, Manuela.
Marchi was understandably emotional, but thrilled. “I am very happy,” he kept repeating. But he admitted he did not quite believe it yet. “I’m living my dream, but I don’t feel like a World Champion yet. I don’t know, it’s very different.”
Tomorrow he will be officially crowned World Champion, and I will write more in depth about that. But there are still other things going on at these Finals, such as round six being won by none other than Justin McBride. Riding Scene of the Crash, owned by Frontier/Teague/Ron White, to a score of 91.75, this two-time and reigning World Champion has just two more bulls to get on before he heads off into retirement.
Cody Lambert picks the bulls for McBride, but the decision for Scene of the Crash was one that Justin probably would have picked for himself. “Cody knows way more about the bulls than I do. There are so many great bulls out there right now that I don’t know a lot of the really good ones. Obviously that wasn’t the case today. Scene of the Crash is a bull I know pretty well.
“This is the third time I’ve been on him,” he continued. “He bucked me off the very first time and I was able to stay on him last year in Columbus, and then again tonight. I was happy to be able to stay on him because now, since I’m done tomorrow, I’ll always be better than Scene of the Crash.”
When asked what thoughts were going on in his head about his final ride tomorrow, Justin didn’t hesitate. “Really none, none at all. I’ve pretty much put retirement out of my mind. After tomorrow, after it’s over, then I’ll think about it actually being the last one. But until then, I’ll be thinking about and doing the exact same thing that I’ve done to this point.”
Justin will not be gone completely, though. He will be doing between 10 and 15 telecasts next season for the PBR. And would he be broadcasting with J.W. Hart? “Yes, with J.W., as scary as that is,” he laughed. But the two of them play off each other so well, I really look forward to that.
Chris Shivers continues to shine in Vegas, and scored a big 91 after he rode Devil’s Night, owned by 4C’s Bucking Bulls/Marvin Nixon. This put him second in the round. Third was Robson Palermo. He scored a 90.50 after he rode the Diamond S Bucking Bull, Hot Stuff. Rookie Reese Cates was an even 90 to be fourth on Team Equine’s Evil Forces, who is hauled by Chad Berger/Clay Struve. Fifth and sixth was split between Brian Canter and Valdiron de Oliveira. Both men had scores of 89.75. Canter rode Zorro, owned by Lufkin Ranch and Rodeo, and de Oliveira got his score by riding Sports Machine, who is owned by Page/Buck/Watts.
J.B. Mauney’s goal to ride all eight of this bulls was dashed Saturday night when he was bucked off quickly by the Frontier/Teague Bucking Bull’ Red Light.
I was not able to find out the standings and what, if any, positions have changed, since nothing was available at the time I left. As of this writing, I was not able to find that information anywhere else, and I apologize for that.
So, we already know we have a new World Champion. But who will win the average to win the Finals themselves? Who will be Rookie of the Year? Can Guilherme be the first one to ride all eight bulls? Each of these questions will be answered tomorrow. And remember, tomorrow will also be the last time we see both McBride and Adriano Moraes get on a bull. McBride will almost certainly make the short round. Moraes, after his third ride of the Finals in round six – to a score of 88 – needs to ride tomorrow to possibly make that Championship Round.
Photo by Linda Peterson
Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.
