[WVGrandma4Kasey]

When the lights dim and the dust settles on the empty arena floor, it’s the bullfighters that limp off with the injuries, blood stains and pride of yet another heroic adventure. The responsibility of a PBR bullfighter is one that involves extreme danger. A bullfighter’s duty is to distract the bull after a rider has been bucked off or dismounted upon the conclusion of a successful eight-second ride.
Not only do the PBR bullfighters entertain fans and viewers alike with their spectacular maneuvers, but they never lose sight of the main job at hand; to protect the rider. Whether the act is rescuing the cowboy from being hung up or taking the blow of the oncoming bull the PBR bullfighter never stops working. Much like the individuals that are putting out fires and defending our freedom, the bullfighters of the PBR will risk their life in order to save another. The gentlemen that proudly stand below the arena lights for 2 hours of non stop rides and wrecks are the unsung heroes of professional of bull riding. PBR tips our hats to the bravest of all, the Dickies DuraBullFighters! The skills of a professional bullfighter involve speed, agility and a keen sense of the bull’s nature. No one knows that better than one of bullfighting’s greatest, the “Kamikaze Kid.” Rob Smets has been competing on the professional level for 27 years and is the best-of-the-best when it comes to fighting two-ton animals in the arena.

Smets has not allowed severe injuries, including two broken necks, stop him from doing what he loves. One of Smets’ trademarks is his enthusiasm that not only projects onto the fans, but onto the riders as well. His skills and great attitude have catapulted him to one of PBR’s legendary cowboys. Ty Murray, 7-time all-around cowboy and current PBR president, once told Smets, “I’d get on a mountain lion if you were there to fight for me.”

Smets seems to be in the best shape of his life, and the 45 top bull riders in the world continue to vote for him to save their lives 31 weekends a year. Smets will continue to take devastating hits and throw himself in harms way as long as 8 seconds are on the clock, and a cowboy’s life is on the line.
www.robsmets.com


Rob Smets

California native Joe Baumgartner draws a crowd as he shows off his dynamite skills in the bull riding arena. He does not cover the bulls for the required 8 seconds, instead he is charged with covering for the riders for as long as it takes to get them to safety. Baumgartner has traveled the country fighting bulls at many of the nation’s most prestigious rodeos and bull riding events. He has been selected as one of the bullfighters for the PBR World Finals since 1994. Joe Baumgartner is part of the PBR bullfighting team and works in conjunction with the best fighters in the world such as Dennis Johnson and Rob Smets. Baumgartner credits stock handler Ted Groene and bullfighter Rob Smets, for getting him into professional bullfighting. He has proven to be outstanding in his profession and a true asset to the PBR.

Joe Baumgartner


At first glance, Dennis Johnson appears to be a quiet laid back cowboy, going about his business with few cares in the world. However take a closer look and one will find a fierce competitor with great energy, passion and skill in his field of bullfighting. Johnson will hook you like a bulls horns with his unique Australian accent and little boy charm but when it comes to protecting cowboys he’s rough tough and ready to put his neck on the line.
Johnson began fighting bulls years ago in his native country of Australia. It began as a hobby, protecting his brothers as they rode bulls. But since then he has turned his love of bullfighting into a full time profession.In 1996, he chose to reside in Colorado and become an essential part of the PBR bullfighting team. The top 45 cowboys in the world competing on this elite Built Ford Tough Series gladly put their lives in his hands event after event and have nominated Dennis to fight at the PBR World Finals since 1999.


Cont. below

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

At first glance, Dennis Johnson appears to be a quiet laid back cowboy, going about his business with few cares in the world. However take a closer look and one will find a fierce competitor with great energy, passion and skill in his field of bullfighting. Johnson will hook you like a bulls horns with his unique Australian accent and little boy charm but when it comes to protecting cowboys he’s rough tough and ready to put his neck on the line.
Johnson began fighting bulls years ago in his native country of Australia. It began as a hobby, protecting his brothers as they rode bulls. But since then he has turned his love of bullfighting into a full time profession.In 1996, he chose to reside in Colorado and become an essential part of the PBR bullfighting team. The top 45 cowboys in the world competing on this elite Built Ford Tough Series gladly put their lives in his hands event after event and have nominated Dennis to fight at the PBR World Finals since 1999.

Dennis Johnson

Frank Newsom is the most recent addition to the PBR’s bullfighting team. Newsom began his bullfighting career during high school at the age of 17. Bullfighting was a natural fit for the Texas cowboy who’s been acknowledge for his achievements in PRCA and PBR arenas. His 14 years of experience and unwavering skills at saving fellow cowboys, once again earned him a position on the 2005 World Finals bullfighting team.

Newsom’s list of accomplishments includes bullfighting at the PBR and PRCA World Finals in 97 and 98. When he’s not facing off the most dangerous opponents on dirt, Newsom enjoys fishing, roping and spending time with wife, Dea, and children Hunter and Cadence in Pauls Valley, OK.

Frank Newsom

[TN_Gal]

Rob Smets will make his final Bullfighter appearance at the Lasa Vegas Finals....here is the Official Press Release issued in July..

A Living Legend Says Good Bye

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 17, 2006) - Legendary PBR bullfighter Rob Smets (Merkel, Texas), 47, initially announced at the end of January during the Express PBR Classic held in Oklahoma City his plans to end his bullfighting career. Smets anticipated that the 2006 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals presented by Wrangler, October 27 – November 5, would be his final bullfighting appearance. However, after 27 years of battling bulls and saving lives, Smets will officially close the curtain on his bullfighting career effective immediately. A tribute to Smets will take place during the World Finals with dates and details forthcoming. “I’m enjoying my time working behind the mic lately. I’ve been given the opportunities so now it’s just a matter of capitalizing on them. I might be retiring, but the PBR is sure not going to be rid of me yet. I want to try and give back to the sport through my involvement now since it’s given me so much,” said Smets.
Smets will join the Amp’d Mobile crew in Tulsa at the Express PBR Classic, a part of the Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, and will work with OLN on the Dickies National Bullfighting Championship events in Cheyenne, Tulsa and Las Vegas. He has also been busy supplying commentary at event promoter Jerry Nelson’s venues and plans to attend the Last Frontier PBR Challenge events in Alaska this September.
Smets set out to win one Wrangler Bullfight Tour World Championship and won five, worked six Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, and was voted to work the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals nine times. One member of the fearless PBR Dickies Durabullfighters team, the “Kamikaze Kid” became famous for the fearless chances he took in the arena.
“Rob Smets has not only saved countless lives in the arena but has become a tremendous role model, teaching a new generation of bullfighters what it means to put everything on the line in the arena. He epitomizes what it means to be a bullfighter and is a living legend,” said Randy Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of the PBR.
Smets sustained the third broken neck of his 27-year career on March 3 during the Reno-Tahoe Invitational presented by Silver Legacy. The injury occurred when Smets was up-ended by a bull landing directly on his head and caused associated nerve compression, shoulder pain, numbness in the small finger of his right hand, and weakness in his right hand. Dr. Andrew Dossett, who incidentally treated Smets’ second broken neck, performed surgery on Smets on March 8 at the Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas to repair the fracture of his C7 vertebra. He was predicted to be out of commission for a minimum of 8-12 weeks, but has ultimately decided not to return to the arena to fight.
Smets is not cavalier about the number of times that he has tempted fate and walked away, “I feel really good. On July 8 it had been four months since the injury. Dr. Dossett told me the last time not to fight bulls again. He told me this time that people that break their neck three times aren’t normally around to give advice to, but he told me not to go back. Carla [Rob’s wife] was in there with me and that helped make it more final I think. The only way I can explain it is that it’s a God thing. It’s sure not a Rob Smets thing. I’ve been arrogant about a lot of things in my life, but not this. It’s part of God’s plan for me and now I just have to see where that takes me.”
Born September 11, 1959 in Palo Alto, Calif. Smets was not exposed to rodeo or bullfighting until his sophomore year in high school. After suffering a break of the C-4-5-6 vertebra in 1992, Smets not only ignored physicians’ advice to seek other employment, but earned his fifth world title in 1994. In 1996 tragedy struck once more when Smets fractured his C-1 vertebra. The blow would have sent most down for the count, but he returned with a vengeance, attending every PBR World Finals from 1997 to the present.
Smets anticipates spending more time with his family, which includes his wife Carla and daughters Corey, Josey, Sammy, and Dylan. An avid team roper, he also foresees devoting more time to cattle business ventures.

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

I will admit I didn't read this whole article tonight, but has anyone heard if hes going to be given a job as an comentator? Sure would be an even bigger loss if not.

[jdelaatjr]

Do you have any information on when the bullfighters hold their championship event? Also is this event televisied?

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by jdelaatjr

Do you have any information on when the bullfighters hold their championship event? Also is this event televisied?

hey jdelaatjr, welcome to gtg,I knw they hold the finals in Las Vegas, this link should be of some help for you..

Professional Bull Riders, Inc. TV Schedule

[luckycowgirl]

Rowdy Barry













A Passion to Thrill

Whether it's his skill protecting bull riders or his rodeo-inspired interpretations captured via sculpting, plenty are taking notice of Rowdy Barry's varied talents
By Guy Clifton
ESPN.com ProRodeo
Rowdy Barry makes his living protecting bull riders inside the rodeo arena. It's an art form, really, to see Barry and his fellow bullfighters in action. They skillfully position themselves between the bull and fallen rider, attracting the bull's attention so the cowboy can get away. Most of the time, things work so flawlessly that their actions are hardly noticed. But things don't always work flawlessly. Sometimes the bullfighter must sacrifice his own body and take a hit so a cowboy can get away safely. And Barry has taken his share of hits over the years. Some of them have resulted in broken bones and torn body parts that have required months of rehabilitation at home. But, as the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. Barry's vision for To Catch A Dream came to him while he was driving.A few years ago during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Barry's wife, Laura Lee, purchased her husband sculpting lessons. An artist since childhood, Barry had always painted, but welcomed a chance to try a new art form. "Laura Lee got me started," the 36-year-old Barry said. "She signed me up for this sculpting class and I've been going every year since." Not surprisingly, Barry sculpts what he knows. His first work was of a bull and his most recent sculpture, entitled To Catch A Dream, depicts a cowboy trying to catch a winged horse. "I was driving down the road one night and the idea came to me," he said. "I had never seen anything where Greek mythology was mixed with Western culture." Barry started the sculpture about three years ago, had it about halfway done and then put it away as the demands of his job had him on the road. Then last summer, he suffered a knee injury while fighting bulls at the National High School Finals Rodeo, and spent most of the year rehabilitating at his ranch in Kennewick, Wash. He pulled the sculpture out of the basement and finished it up. It has since been cast and made into a bronzed limited edition. "Only 30 of them will be made and then they will break the mold," said Barry, who unveiled the work at last year's Wrangler NFR. Barry has donated one of the 30 to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, which helps assist rodeo competitors and contract personnel when they are injured. "We'll be using the sculpture as a fund-raiser at our booth at Cowboy Christmas at Wrangler NFR," said Cindy Shonholtz, director of the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. "Rowdy has always supported it, even when he didn't have to use it." Barry annually works the Columbia River Circuit Finals and the National High School Finals in addition to the Reno Rodeo and numerous other PRCA rodeos. He has also worked the College National Finals, the Canadian National Finals and the Dodge National Circuit Finals. “ I'm not ready to slow down from fighting bulls just yet. ”
— Rowdy Barry In 1999, PRCA bull riders selected him to protect them at the Wrangler NFR, perhaps the highest honor a bullfighter can receive. He and Laura Lee also raise Corriente cattle (the kind used for team roping) on their ranch in Washington, which they share with their daughter, Clay Noel, and son, Miles. Barry said sculpting is something he may pursue more seriously down the road when his bull fighting days are done. "I'm not ready to slow down from fighting bulls just yet," Barry said. "I still love to do it. The day when I'm not fast enough to protect the cowboys or the day it becomes a job, then I'll give it up. Right now, I love what I'm doing."


Rowdy Barry: Rodeo Bullfighter, Artist, Rancher




a cool video...


Reno Rodeo Bullfighter Rowdy Barry - Brightcove