Justin McBride made PBR history yet again yesterday, winning the U.S. Army Invitational in Greensboro, NC and achieving a record eight season event wins. Just three short weeks ago, in Chihuahua, Mexico, McBride not only dislocated his shoulder, but tore the ligaments around it as well. After an extensive stint in rehab and the gym (admittedly a first for McBride), he managed to not only cover all three bulls, but to win the event with an 88,75 ride aboard Diamond S Bucking Bulls Okeechobee Spots.
Guilherme Marchi, who was on a two consecutive event winning spree, winning in both Mexico and in Reno, was unable to stay aboard the bull Heat Flash in Round Two, which ended his weekend and his consecutive winning streak . Marchi has ridden so consistently well lately and is still only 3024 points behind McBride for the World Championship race. Don’t count this great Brazilian out – this could still be his year! Remember, he could still win more than 4000 points at the Finals alone.
J.B. Mauney, currently running second in the World Title race, was also unable to keep up his momentum in this event. Mauney is suffering from severe knee injuries and has elected to continue to compete through the World Finals. Even wearing braces on both knees however, he continues to aggravate these injuries and the pain is evident when you see him get off. To add insult to injury, he was bucked off of Western Rodeo’s Cat Daddy and mauled in the Championship Round injuring his right knee even further.
Paulo Crimber, who had also been riding really well lately, was bucked off Frontier/Teague/Steiner’s Just a Dream in the Championship Round. Crimber’s face met up with Just a Dream’s head, knocking him out, for a seemingly endless, and very worrisome time . He was finally able to walk off the arena floor, and ended up suffering a concussion, three broken teeth and a complex laceration of both lips. Crimber will not compete in Grand Rapids and is questionable for the Mohegan Sun event.
It’s that time of year folks, the time of year when all of these events start to really rack up on the riders bodies. Injuries are happening right and left and these men just grit their teeth and go on. McBride still needs surgery after tearing the ligaments in his shoulder, but will wait until after the Finals as he will be forced to stay out of competition for six months after surgery. Brian Canter broke a bone in his left wrist (his riding hand) which according to Dr. Tandy Freeman, is a potentially career ending injury unless it is fixed right away. We are waiting to see if Canter will take Dr. Freeman’s advice and not try to reach for the gold ring this year, only to give away the next ten years.
Joe Baumgartner broke his fibula at the event at Pendleton, Oregon and will be out until it heals. Travis Briscoe pulled a groin muscle during this event at Greensboro. Greg Potter injured his neck during the Championship Round at this event and is doubtful for Grand Rapids. Beau Hill hyper-extended his elbow in the Championship Round and is out for Grand Rapids and Mohegan Sun. McKennon Wimberly underwent surgery last Wednesday to repair torn ligaments and a broken bone in his right elbow (free arm). He is out until the Finals. Ednei Caminhas was kicked by a bull in the Pueblo, Co. event and underwent surgery September 1,2007.
Not one of these men go into an event to win second place. Each one of them, even the rookies, enter to win. With four more events until the World Finals every one of them are fighting sore muscles, fatigue and injury and yet they still fight for the strength to go on. Many of them are still only 18 and 19 years old. What does THAT tell you about the caliber of our young people today? In times of so much crime and so much weakness in the world, these men are GREAT examples of the success stories within our society. If ever there were people to emulate for youngsters today, the men of the PBR would be those men!
Records are being set and bodies are being broken along this road to the 2007 PBR World Finals. Who will come out with the Gold Buckle and the $1,000,000 prize? Will it be Justin McBride, who has led the race all year? Or will it be JB Mauney? Can his body hold up? What about Marchi who is riding so consistently well lately? With extraordinary good luck, any of the top eight can reach the gold ring.
The battle goes on and this year’s World Finals promises to be the best ever!
Until next time…
Linda Peterson
Photos: Andy Watson
