There's no doubt that the way Guilherme has ridden all year that he's ridden like a World Champion and he's ridden like the type of guy that should be sitting in first place. That's why he's there right now.
On the other side of that he is still human. That guy is hurting pretty bad right now, but instead of him turning out and sitting at home he's doing what the guy who wants to win the world does--he's coming out here and he's playing with that pain.
Don't get me wrong, I haven't heard him complain about it because he has what it takes to be a World Champion. He's not complaining about it or worrying about it. He's just brushing it off and taking care of business.
He may not be able to ride 84, 86 percent of his bulls but riding 50 percent of your bulls when you're hurt is way better than riding zero percent sitting at home. He's been on tour for years and he doesn't sit out for anything so you know he must be hurting pretty bad when he gets off and he can barely walk out of the arena. You know something has to be bothering him pretty bad.
But the difference between him and the guy who's not going to win the world is that he keeps putting the rope on his bull and giving it all he's got every time.
There was a guy in his home state this weekend that turned down the short round because he had a finger injury. If somebody wants to say that Guilherme has an ankle injury and that doesn't bother you while you're riding then what do they think about, like I said, there was a guy in is home state in the short round who turned out because of a finger.
How do you go about that?
Anything can happen. You can have a bull that fights in the chute a little bit and he can be banging around on that ankle. Then you're thinking about that instead of thinking about riding him. You can get one that came out and you caught your foot on the gate then you're thinking about for the first three seconds of the ride instead of staying on.
Riding bulls is mental and obviously Guilherme is one of the most mentally strong guys or he wouldn't be world number one right now, so he knows how to harness that pain and take care of it.
He's been kicking our butts all year long so for him to buck off like he did this weekend it's obviously hurting him.
Kody Lostroh, who is sitting second in the world right now, is an awesome bull rider and he's been riding one bull at a time. He's 100 percent healthy right now so who says Kody won't step up and take that spot.
These are the top 45 bull riders in the world and everybody is there for a reason--because anybody can win first at any given event.
I can promise you that there are a lot of guys on this tour who are not worried that Guilherme's hurt. They see him sitting in first and everybody is like a pack of wolves just waiting for somebody like him to have a weak moment and then they're going to go get 'em.
And that's exactly what that's like.
I have personally sat there and watched and said, OK, L.J.'s not riding as many bulls this weekend. Luke didn't ride as many bulls this weekend. Guilherme didn't ride as many bulls this weekend. Travis Briscoe hasn't been riding nearly as many bulls so obviously if I notice it and I'm thinking, "Yep, this is the time for us to go ahead and take advantage of that." Then I'm sure Kody, sitting up there in second place, has definitely taken notice of that.
All I can say is that it's going to be dog fight all the way to the very end.
When you have all those guys who are in the Top 5 – Guilherme, Kody, L.J., J.B. and Travis – it really is going to be a dog fight right down to the very end.
What's going to be so dramatic at the finals is that you have Kody, who always does so well there. You have Wiley Peterson, who is one of the most consistent guys ever and you have Guilherme, who has ended up second in the world three years in a row now.
You have those three guys, so you wonder if Guilherme is going to get mad because he's tired of being in second and go win a world title, or is Kody going to get him in the long run because he rides so well in the finals? Is Wiley going to get 'em all that end because he rides so consistent all year long?
Like I said, it's going to be a dog fight and whoever stays mentally focused and doesn't let all the pressure and publicity or getting bucked off here and there--that will be the world champion at the end of the year.
Great post. Thank you for much for your candor. What you describe IS the way it should be and is in most pro sports; especially at the highest levels.
Yea, it is only an ankle but not only as you say, in the chute that bull is banging on it, but let's face it as the number of minor nagging injuries build it DOES affect your head - your concentration and confidence.
Way back when I competed in track and baseball(Pitcher) I was always looking for an edge; what were some guys weaknesses, could I get into his head, if was was only slightly (barely noticeably hurt, I immediately thought this was an opportunity for me. It's just the way it was and should be.
Again, thanks for sharing so openly. Good luck, Don
It's a long season..,
The second half of the season is going to be very interesting. I have always thought the second half will tell the story. It is much better to be injury free and your head on straight during this stretch of the season. I have only watched the PBR for the last 4 years, I have become a big PBR fan and I think this time of the year can either make or break a bull rider. Being consistent in your riding, winning an event to jump in the standings and to ride very well in the World championships are the keys to winning. Just in the World championships you can jump 4,000 points. If anyone deserves to win more it is Guilherme. He has just been so good for the past 3 years and this year even better.
A rider you did not mention, well of course is Adriano. If he can overcome his back pain and be able to focus never count him out. I look for him to win an event soon and jump in standings and do very well in the World Championships. This is his last year and I think this last half of the season he will have a determination that will drive him to do very well.
Joan Simpson