NEW YORK, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- As he begins his 15th season on the
Professional Bull Riders, Inc. circuit, legendary bull rider Adriano Moraes
(Sao Paulo, Brazil) officially announced today that the 2008 Built Ford Tough
Series season will be the last of his bull riding career.
"I feel that the only way I can go back to my old form is if I make this
announcement," said Moraes of his decision. "If I have three more years, I am
not going to put the effort out. By announcing this is my last year, I'm not
going to waste any time. It's time for me to make the announcement so I will
force myself to get good again."
"It has nothing to do with my physical ability. I believe my physical
ability and passion to ride bulls well is still there. The only thing is, I
can no longer put out the effort," Moraes said.
Moraes is the pre-eminent international ambassador for the PBR. He was
the first PBR World Champion (1994) and the first bull rider to claim two PBR
world titles (2001). In 2006, he won an unprecedented third PBR World
Championship at the age of 36; he is the oldest bull rider on the PBR circuit,
turning 38 in April 2008. But if it weren't for a broken leg and a torn
riding arm bicep that kept him from performing at his top form down the final
stretch, Moraes could have claimed two additional titles; he finished second
in 1997 and 2004. Moraes arrived in the United States speaking Portuguese
with only the universal language of bull riding to assist him. He quickly
gained notoriety inside and outside the arena with his fiery personality and
bull riding style and amassed a fan base to rival any comparable professional
athlete.
"Adriano is a true legend and has rewritten the history books on
Professional Bull Riding," said PBR CEO Randy Bernard. "He took a chance and
flew over here from Brazil in the late 80's not speaking any English, very
poor, but with a passion for riding bulls. His ability along with his passion
helped him become one of the greatest if not the greatest bull riders of all
time."
"This will be a very exciting year for Adriano. And, if you know Adriano,
he's going to definitely leave a mark this year no doubt. We will celebrate
this year as his farewell tour and honor him at every city along the way,"
Bernard added.
Eager to share the opportunities available to bull riders in the U.S.,
Moraes led the Brazilian charge to the U.S., acting as sponsor and mentor to
many notable Brazilian riders - Ednei Caminhas (P. Alves, Sao Paulo, BZ) the
2002 PBR World Champion); Paulo Crimber (Leme, Sao Paulo, BZ) and his own
brothers, Allan and Andre Moraes to name a few.
At one time as many as 10 top Built Ford Tough Series bull riders traveled
from Brazil to the United States at Moraes' urging. Moraes even captained the
PBR Brazil Team to victory in 2007 at the inaugural PBR World Cup in
Australia.
He's the No. 2 all-time money earner winning over $3.4 million in his
professional career. And, if he has anything to say about it, he'll add
another PBR World Champion million dollar bonus to that total by the end of
2008. He is second in total event titles, taking the No. 1 spot at 28 events
over the years.
"He's the most highly decorated bull rider of all time. I would not doubt
he goes for one more World Title to finish his illustrious career," said
Bernard.
PBR Livestock Director and co-founder of the PBR, Cody Lambert remembers
Moraes at the beginning of his PBR career. "I've known Adriano since the
early 90's when he first came to the United States and didn't speak the
language. It didn't take long for everyone to see that he could ride with the
best of them."
"He's won about everything you can win as far as a bull rider goes. When
we had the first PBR Finals he was there. In the early years before the PBR
is what it is today, he was there and he was the first PBR World Champion,"
Lambert said. "In the couple of years that he competed in rodeos
professionally he went to the National Finals [Rodeo] twice and rode 19 out of
20 bulls; he was the National Finals Champion both times."
"He was also the first two-time PBR World Champion and he's the only
three-time World Champion. So when they talk about the all-time greats, he's
right up there at the top of the list," Lambert added. "It's fitting that
there's a statue of Adriano and Little Yellow Jacket in front of the PBR
office in Pueblo, because they're both three-time World Champions and they're
the greatest the sport has ever seen."
The 2008 Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler essentially will be
the farewell season of Adriano's professional career.
Emotionally Adriano states, "There will be 34 chances for me to say good-
bye to all the fans that have been there over the years. I am very grateful
for their support and I thank God for my ability to entertain them and myself
for as long as I have."
SOURCE PBR
Denise Abbott, VP, PR & Marketing of PBR, +1-719-242-2800, ext. 3381, or cell,
+1-719-440-0565, or dabbott@pbrnow.com
