If you're anything like me, you are now so immersed in the drama of the World Finals that you kind of wish it would never end and you are also running out of words to describe it. So here are just a few things that leap to mind about last night:
- It was almost a relief to return to a "normal" bull pen after Round Two. Those bulls on Thursday night were such supernovas that last night's very respectable pen seemed almost tame in comparison. Unless you were trying to ride them, in which case I'm sure they seemed wild enough.
- The Renato Nunes come back is incredible. Who would have guessed this would happen? He could barely lift his head the past six weeks and now this. What happened to turn it around?
- But the joy of seeing Renato's return is tempered by disappointment for Austin Meier and J.B. Mauney. After coming in a very close second last year and covering eight out of eight bulls at last year's Finals, this was supposed to be J.B.'s year. Instead, he has been physically hammered at the Finals, doesn't have a single ride, and can barely lift his free arm. Meier has done everything right all season and still has only one ride this week. It is the nature of competitive sport, of course. But it's rough.
- An interesting fact: If you compare the top fifteen riders in the World Finals with the top fifteen riders in the world standings, only four of the names are the same. Those names are all Brazilian: Renato Nunes, Valdiron de Oliveira, Guilherme Marchi, and Silvano Alves.
- Memorable ride of the night: Chris Shivers on Another Husker. Not the highest marked ride of the night and not the best, but for sheer drive and guts, from a guy with a concussion, a sprained shoulder, and bruises from shoulder to knee, it doesn't get much more "champion" than that.
- Watching Wesley Lourenco ride you feel like you are watching the future of bull riding. He is twenty years old.
- Moment I bet the PBR wishes it could take back: Craig Hummer asking for a replay of Ben Jones banging his (helmeted) head against the railings after bucking off Little JR, only to discover that it was accompanied by the sound of Ben shouting the f-word every time his head hit the fence. You have to love the guy, and worry about his head.
The Classic bulls come out to play again tonight, and I'll be back here tomorrow.
