The fellowship of the ring

By Keith Ryan Cartwright, PBR
Posted Sunday, May 17, 2009

Tears shed and laughs shared as three more enter vaunted brotherhood

PUEBLO, Colo. (May 17, 2009) - Devotion. Love. Character. Distinction.

Those are four qualities that define a fellowship of men that numbered only 27 until this weekend.

At a ceremony that took place Saturday afternoon in Pueblo, Colo., three more men – J.W. Hart, Justin McBride and Adriano Moraes – received induction into the Ring of Honor, being recognized as instrumental to the past, present and future of professional bull riding.

Calling them “the greatest role models” you can have, Cody Lambert credited all three for making a “big impact” not only in the arena, but outside of it as well.

Randy Bernard recognized Hart, McBride and Moraes for taking what “was their dream” and “accomplishing greatness.” The CEO of the PBR also said the ceremony served as “the final chapter” in each of their distinguished careers.

Throughout the two-hour long ceremony held at the Pueblo Convention Center, it was readily apparent these three men – all of whom have the distinction of statistically being among the greatest of all time – not only love the sport they devoted their lives to, but their character is as honorable outside the arena as it was inside.

J.W. Hart

Ross Coleman called him “a superstar and a good buddy,” while fellow inductee Justin McBride said that Hart was “really good and really cocky.”

Hart’s original traveling partner, Jerome Davis, needed but one description to sum up his longtime friend: “true champion.”

After receiving his ring from Davis, Hart stood at the podium beaming with pride and spoke about what it was like just being a bull rider.

“I never wanted to do anything else,” he said.

Shane Lemons had spoke earlier and said that his best friend could be summed up in one word: tough.

Lambert, who recalled that Hart was only 12 when Lane Frost introduced him, said that the Iron Man was, “as tough as any guy I’ve ever seen ride.”

Davis concurred, adding that aside from the PBR events on the weekends – of which he competed in 197 straight, a then record – he was entering four and sometimes five rodeos during the week.

“It just shows how tough he really is,” Davis said.

But as tough as that iron exterior is, he’s always had a soft spot for family and friends. He spoke of the sacrifice of his parents so that he and his brother could ride bulls. He shared stories of crazy days and wild nights spent first with Davis and David Fournier and eventually with McBride and Coleman. He made special mention of having the best wife, LeAnn, and the best son, Wacey.

Then, in closing a celebration of his professional accomplishments, he shared the moment and simply said, “I have the best family in the world.”

Justin McBride

He was called the most instinctive and, perhaps, most natural bull rider of all time, and although he eventually told some wild stories about “illegal stuff” he and fellow inductee Hart had gotten themselves into while traveling together, a recurring theme for McBride was the other 29 men who also wear the prestigious Ring of Honor.

Behind him were Cody Lambert, Michael Gaffney, David Fournier, Jerome Davis, Jerome Robinson, Charles Sampson, Wacey Cathey and others.

Turning back to acknowledge his predecessors, McBride told the crowded ballroom, “Pretty much every material thing I own I owe to these other guys in the Ring of Honor.”

And with a tip of the cap to the years of competing against Moraes, he recalled the 2001 season.

With just four events left, McBride couldn’t believe he was atop the world standings, and before it was over McBride finished third, behind both Moraes (who had won his second world title) and Ty Murray. The 29-year-old said he learned a valuable lesson that year by just watching how Moraes conducted himself.

“That’s the way I wanted to be,” he said.

“The other two inductees today played a big part in shaping who I am today.”

Coleman, who first met McBride in 1994 and eventually roomed with him while they attended UNLV together, said that a decade earlier he and McBride along with Cory and Evan Rasch ran together and were known as “the jerks,” or as Tom Teague would say, “We thought we were hot sh*t.”

“He’s the best friend I ever had and I love everything about him,” said Coleman, who like McBride is now married and a father. “He’s the best bull rider ever, and now he’s the best dad.”

With regard to his celebrated career, an ever-gracious and humbled two-time World Champion said, “I loved every minute of it, right up until I retired. … I will forever be grateful and indebted.”

Adriano Moraes

An emotional Moraes shed a few tears when he finally got up to speak, but he turned to his fellow inductees and said, “J.W., you are the only one who can call me a crybaby.”

It was the funniest line in a tribute that was as much about “lessons in life” as it was about winning three World Championships. As Murray said in a prerecorded video, it was also about “pioneering” the development of Brazilians riders in America.

Moraes’ spiritual advisor, Fr. Robert J. Carr, addressed those assembled in the Convention Center in a prerecorded video segment as well, and used the moment to explain to everyone that Moraes exemplifies what it truly means to overcome adversity.

He overcame a life of poverty to earn a better life for himself and his family.

He overcame 21 broken bones to win 29 events and three world titles.

Having wiped the tears from eyes, Moraes referenced a story Lambert told earlier in the ceremony of being thankful McBride had finally retired so he didn’t have to listen to Jerome Robinson tell him he would pay to watch him ride.

For 10 years McBride battled Moraes for event wins and world titles.

And so the man who to so many is simply known as “The Champ” turned to his rival and said, “I would pay money to see you ride, Justin McBride.”

But as he stood there having been inducted into a “very select group of professionals” he recalled the first English word he ever learned, “cowboy.” It’s all he ever wanted to be, and it was the “passion,” that Bernard spoke of, that led the 39-year-old on a journey that squarely lands him among the greats.

In a speech long on stories, Sampson needed just three words to surmise what he wanted everyone to know: “Adriano’s the greatest.”

Moraes disagreed, “The greatest ever is yet to be born.”

—by Keith Ryan Cartwright

(The Ring of Honor ceremony will be broadcast in its entirety at PBR.TV.)