Crimber made his mark, no matter what happens

Paulo Crimber's recent injury in Orlando has turned out to be more serious than the broken collarbone that was first thought to sideline the Brazilian star for two to six months.

Further medical tests indicated Crimber also has sustained a broken neck that could end his Professional Bull Riders career.

Crimber, 28, re-broke the C1 vertebra in his neck on June 6 in Orlando, Fla., as the result of landing on his right shoulder, and then having a bull named Roughneck fall on him -- he was compressed by the animal's massive front legs and shoulders. Crimber had recently returned to competition after suffering a broken vertebra on Feb. 23 at a PBR Built Ford Tough Series tour stop in St. Louis.

Dr. Tandy Freeman, the PBR's longtime sports physician, said Crimber has sustained "a career-threatening injury," and it will take at least six months before the status of his career is known.

When I read Freeman's comments, my mind raced back to 1998 when Crimber was among the first group of Brazilians to come to North America and compete effectively on the PBR circuit.

I first met Crimber 10 years ago when I attended a high-profile South American rodeo in Barretos, Brazil. The bull riding competition was sanctioned by the PBR, and Crimber, then a fresh-faced 18-year-old cowboy, earned more than $18,000 for his second-place finish.

I wrote about how Crimber could be a future PBR star because he just seemed to have all of the basic elements for success. He talked about how he didn't smoke, didn't drink, exercised and attended church and regularly rode bulls.

Crimber's earnings in Barretos catapulted him to the 1998 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas where we talked again. I sat down with Crimber after he had won $15,000 by tying for first in a round with a score in the 90s. He was thrilled about the opportunity to compete in North America and by winning a big paycheck.

"Paulo was very brave at the age of 18 when he came to the United States to ride bulls," three-time World Champion Adriano Moraes said during an interview this week. "He didn't know a word of English and it took a lot of courage to step off of the comfort of his culture and it was an adventure."

From 1998 through 2007, Crimber made nine appearances at the PBR World Finals and he has earned more than $1.1 million. His celebratory dances after a successful ride have made him a popular fixture on the tour.

"Paulo has always been a dominant force among the Brazilians and bull riders worldwide," said J.W. Hart, the 2002 World Finals average winner who now serves as a commentator for the PBR's national TV broadcasts. "He's always consistent. This is a guy that I don't ever remember looking at him and saying, 'This guy is a slump.' He's always ridden pretty dang good."

Crimber, who won the PBR's BFTS stop earlier this season in Anaheim, Calif., is among numerous Brazilians who are winning big money this season on the PBR's North American circuits. But when he began competing in the PBR 10 years ago, few Brazilians were making headway in the United States and Canada.

Moraes was the forerunner who jumped into the spotlight by winning the PBR's inaugural world-title race in 1994. Moraes' success in turn influenced other Brazilians such as Rogerio Ferreira and Crimber, who stepped up and won substantial prize money on the North American circuits in the late 1990s. Since then, the success of the Brazilians has snowballed.

Crimber can definitely be viewed as a groundbreaker in the sport. If I had to break the evolution of Brazilians' tremendous impact on the PBR's North American circuits into five stages over the past 15 seasons, it would start with Moraes' success in the mid-1990s, followed by Ferreira and Crimber's success soon after. Ednei Caminhas' 2002 world title would be the next stage, followed by Moraes' record third world title in 2006. Today, superstars such as world title race leader Guilherme Marchi, Renato Nunes, Valdiron de Oliveira, Moraes, Caminhas, and Crimber are setting a new standard on all levels of the PBR.

For Crimber -- who lives in Decatur, Texas, when he is competing in North America -- the victory on Feb. 10 in Anaheim put him back in the forefront. He was the only competitor who stayed on all four bulls, earning him $28,796 and moving him into second place in the PBR's world title race.

"I'm healthy this season and riding well. I'm drawing good and I think right now I have the whole package," Crimber said in an interview with the PBR at the time. "I'm ready for a gold buckle."

However, Crimber's title bid ran into trouble two weeks later when he suffered the vertebra injury in St. Louis.

In late May, Crimber said he had been cleared to begin therapy and working out for what he hoped would be his return to the Built Ford Tough Series in Dallas, which is scheduled for June 21-22. However, Crimber, who has 2008 earnings of $87,036, opted to compete in the BFTS Git-R-Done Invitational in Orlando where he ran into more trouble.

Hopefully, he will defy the odds and can return to competition. But if he doesn't, Crimber will be remembered as a bull riding success story who helped pave the way for his fellow Brazilians.

"Paulo has always been such a delight to have on the tour," PBR Chief Executive Officer Randy Bernard said. "He has always shown so much passion for the PBR and bull riding. It had to be difficult in those early years to come here from Brazil not knowing anyone, not having much money and speaking Portuguese -- all obstacles that he overcame to be one of the most popular athletes on our tour. We will miss his smile, dance and great rides on the tour and our prayers go out to him for a very fast recovery."

With all that in mind, here are some questions for you the fan:

1. What type of impact has Paulo made on pro bull riding?

2. What's your favorite memory of Paulo?

3. What are your thoughts for Paulo and his family during this time of adversity?