Dare, care, share. Dare to be yourself, care about others, and share the great moments of your life. Those are the three words that CEO of the PBR Randy Bernard used to describe Adriano Moraes. And on Thursday afternoon, PBR fans and those within the PBR family were able to experience a super event; the retirement party of the man many say is the best bull rider the sport has ever known. With what was said to be 1000 people in attendance, this was a first-class send off for a first-class bull rider.
After a brief introduction, everyone’s attention was directed to the doors on the side of the stage and Adriano came out with his lovely wife, Flavia, and three of their four sons. When those doors opened there was a look of apprehension, anticipation, resignation – so many emotions on his face at the one instant. But then the smile hit, and with almost visible relief he continued to the stage.
The CEO of the PBR, Randy Bernard, opened with a speech that had many in the audience already a bit teary-eyed. “You’ve kept your faith; you’ve kept your family and your friends, and your fans, all close to your heart,” he said. “You’re retirement marks the closing chapter in some of the best bull riding moments ever witnessed. On November 9th we will close this chapter on Adriano Moraes riding bulls. But not until then. Your fans want to see you win one more round!” This brought the fans to their feet with rousing applause.
Cody Lambert was the first speaker. After making mention of Moraes’ backward bull rope that he has always used, he remembered when Adriano was getting ready to get on a bull, and later a woman in a bar saying, “That Mexican boy doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s got his rope on backwards and he’s going to get hurt.” Lambert was quick to point out something. “Well, he didn’t get hurt that day, and he won that bull riding.
“If Adriano started to tell you everything that he’s won,” he continued, “we would be here all day and we’d miss the bull riding tonight. He rode 19 out of 20 bulls at the National Finals, and then went on to be the first PBR World Champion, and then the first three-time PBR World Champion.
“After he took our money in Tucson we were asking about him and they said that he’s won like 21 cars and 17 motorcycles. That’s how they pay them over there (Brazil), not much money, but cars and motorcycles. I asked him ‘What the hell is a cowboy going to do with that many motorcycles?’ and he said, ‘Sell them!’”
Getting serious, Cody said, “Adriano, there’s no way I can get up here and say how much you’ve meant to this sport and how much you mean to me personally, and to the PBR. I’m glad we can share this with you, and I do want to see you win at LEAST one more go-round, not JUST one more.”
One of the founding members of the PBR, David Fournier, came up next. He reminisced about the times he, Moraes, and Mark Cain traveled down the road together, and the good times they had.
Next up was the 1997 PBR World Champion Michael Gaffney. “It’s a big honor for me to be up here and speak about Adriano. He was always there to pump me up and raise my enthusiasm about being there.
“We all know what happened in ’97. Adriano had been unstoppable. But before those Finals a bull came around and broke his leg, and left a little crack for myself and Cody Hart to slip through. I was able to do that, it was my time. I’ll never forget that moment, when I raised that cup above my head. And when I walked out of the arena, that very first guy to meet me out of the arena was Adriano Moraes.”
Then, turning to Adriano and with a lump in his throat he said, “That just shows what kind of man you are, and the camaraderie you’ve shown all the rest of us. I just want to tell you how proud I am to call you my friend.”
Nine-time Champion of the World, Ty Murray, was next. “This is a really hard time. I think we’re watching the best bull rider, without a doubt, that we’ve ever seen leave this sport.”
Then his sense of humor returned when he said, “Cody missed one part when he talked about…it wasn’t a lady in that bar that said ‘He’s putting his rope on backwards and he’s gonna get killed,’ that was me!”
Murray continued. “Adriano went back to Brazil, and when we started up the PBR we invited him to come back, because we knew we saw a guy who could ride better than everybody else. For us founding fathers of the PBR we were all riding at that time, and that was the biggest mistake we ever made! He beat us over, and over, and over, and over again. Seriously!,” he said, amid the laughter.
“He beat me every time. Every time. But I’ve watched guys retire on TV and see people get emotional. I’m getting emotional today. Because we’re watching the greatest bull rider that I’ve ever seen, retire.” But Ty just had to add, “I wish he had done it a long time ago.” Great sense of humor, has Ty!
Ty reinforced his feelings about Adriano by saying, “When anyone asks me who is the best bull rider ever, I say, ‘Who is the only three-time World Champion?’ There’s no question. That has to be Adriano.”
Dr. Tandy Freeman came out to a thumbs up from Adriano. (Who later said, “Thank you for putting me back together, buddy!”) He pointed out how many injuries Adriano has had and how tough he, and all professional bull riders, are. He said Adriano could have had his fifth World Championship “if not for a broken leg and a torn bicep.” He concluded, in Portuguese, by wishing him luck in the future.
The President of the Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was invited, but could not attend. He did, however send a letter of congratulations to Adriano for all that he has done for the sport, and for Brazil.
Guilherme Marchi and Paulo Crimber were next. They both would have much rather spoken in Portuguese, but they did a fine job. Both were quite emotional, with Paulo on the verge of tears, and Guilherme laughing quite a bit to keep from crying.
Paulo pointed out that Adriano had opened the door for all the Brazilian riders. “I learned a lot from him,” Paulo said. “He’s a wonderful father, wonderful guy, wonderful friend. We’re sure going to miss him in the ring. I won’t miss him outside, I see him every day,” he laughed, referring to the fact that they are neighbors.
Marchi said, “I have no words for it. The best bull rider in the world, three-time World Champion. I can’t believe I’m here. But I’m so glad I’m here to talk about Adriano. He’s a good buddy, I love Adriano. We always tried to ride the rank bulls.” Throughout all this Guilherme would laugh nervously. This was a tough spot for him, but very much appreciated by Moraes, who had tears in his eyes while they spoke.
Adriano was then brought up for a special presentation – a beautiful bronze statue duplicating the one that graces the home office of the PBR in Pueblo, Colorado – of Moraes riding the great bull, Little Yellow Jacket.
Finally to yet another standing ovation, it was time for the man of the hour to speak. “I have been asked this question thousands of times. ‘Adriano, what is the most memorable day of your career?’ I did not know. Winning the World title the first time, the second time? I could not pick one. But now, the most memorable one…today!” The fans erupted yet again, with tears all around, from them and the guest of honor.
At 38 years of age, the one-time tractor driver from Brazil had announced at the beginning of the 2008 season that he would be leaving after the World Finals. I think that some people were waiting for him to retract that statement, and yet here we were, listening to the accolades showered on him from his peers, and watching this Champion say goodbye.
Adriano recalled his father borrowing a VCR from a neighbor so as to watch tapes of Americans riding bulls. Those moments stuck with him. For example, “I remember watching Norman Curry rode Ricky for 94 points,” he said. “These guys are my heroes, and now, to listen to all these words that they have for me, is something of a miracle.”
He went on to individually thank those who had meant the most to him during his bull riding career. He made sure to point out that it was his wife, Flavia, who always believed in him and encouraged him. “She guided me,” he said.
“For my whole family, thank you very much, I appreciate it. But I am an ordinary guy who does extraordinary things, because of your extraordinary support.” he continued. “I’m just a retired guy now, but I still have five bulls to ride. So now it’s time to go.”
And with that, after a PBR career that has spanned 15 years of great times and bad, Adriano Moraes began his journey into a new lifestyle. Yes, he will still ride bulls this week, but this ceremony began to really put finality to things. I miss him now, even knowing that I will get to see him a few more times.
Good luck, my friend. It is an honor to know you, and I look forward to seeing you again.
Be safe and God Bless,
Viva La Raza,
Barb.
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