Adriano Moraes
Encyclopedia
Adriano Silva Moraes is a retired rodeo
athlete specializing in bull riding
. He had been one of the leading bull riders in the world since the mid-1990s, with two titles at the National Finals Rodeo
(NFR) and three Professional Bull Riders
(PBR) world titles to his credit.
. He grew up wanting to follow in his father's footsteps, but started riding bulls when he was 15. At age 17, he rode in his first professional rodeo in Brazil, and placed second in his third rodeo, making nine times as much as he did riding a tractor on the ranch his father managed. Shortly after this, he quit school to ride bulls full-time.
, he set a goal of riding full-time in the U.S.
After winning Brazilian national titles in 1992 and 1993, he moved to the U.S. in 1994, riding on both the PRCA and PBR circuits.
He immediately emerged as a major star, winning the average at both the Calgary Stampede
and the NFR, as well as winning the year's PBR title. Most notably, Moraes became only the third man in history to ride 10 out of 10 bulls at the NFR.
Moraes would again win the average at the NFR in 1996, and in 1997 was on track to win his second PBR world title until disaster struck in the form of a broken leg during that summer, forcing Adriano to sit out the rest of the year while Michael Gaffney overtook him for the world title. Moraes did become the first man to win a second PBR world title, which he won in 2001. His success on that circuit was instrumental in the expansion of the PBR tour to include events in Brazil. He went on to win a third PBR title in 2006, just narrowly beating out fellow Brazilian, Guilherme Marchi, despite suffering from severe back spasms during the PBR Finals. In that year, he won an all-time series record of $1.36 million—more than three times as much as any other rider. As of the end of the 2006 season, his all-time earnings on the PBR circuit are $3.37 million, also a record. Moraes is being honored for his accomplishments with a life-size bronze statue of him on Little Yellow Jacket
that stands at the entrance to the new PBR headquarters building in Pueblo, Colorado
.
Moraes announced in January 2008 that the 2008 Built Ford Tough Series
season would be his final season of bull riding. He qualified for his last PBR Finals in October/November 2008. His last ride saw him buck off of a bull named Grey Dog, as Adriano failed to qualify for the championship round. It was an emotional moment and, waving at the cheering crowd, he left the arena in tears, saddened that his career has come to an end.
Moraes' overall PBR career earnings at career's end total nearly $3.5 million.
and Cachoeira Paulista. A devout Catholic
who lists his favorite book as the Bible
and the late Pope John Paul II
as a personal idol, he is also a member of the Cancão Nova missionary community in Brazil, and he and his wife have opened a Canção Nova mission in Texas. Underscoring his religious devotion and athletic competitiveness, he chose to ride only half of the 1998 PBR season in order to participate in a religious mission in Brazil, but nonetheless finished fourteenth in that year's PBR standings
, despite suffering another broken leg in the middle of the season.
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
athlete specializing in bull riding
Bull riding
Bull riding refers to rodeo sports that involve a rider getting on a large bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal attempts to buck off the rider....
. He had been one of the leading bull riders in the world since the mid-1990s, with two titles at the National Finals Rodeo
National Finals Rodeo
The National Finals Rodeo, organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, is the premier championship rodeo event in the United States. Wrangler Jeans is the title sponsor for the 10-day event, commonly just called the National Finals or NFR, which is also sometimes referred to as the...
(NFR) and three Professional Bull Riders
Professional Bull Riders, Inc.
Professional Bull Riders, Inc. is an international professional bull riding organization based in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. PBR events are televised on Versus, Fox, CBS and NBC...
(PBR) world titles to his credit.
Early years
Moraes was born on his relatives' farm in Quintana, but grew up on the ranch his father managed in Cachoeira PaulistaCachoeira Paulista
Cachoeira Paulista is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2003 is 29,254. The elevation is 521 m.The Brazilian Decimetric Array radio telescope is situated in Cachoeira Paulista....
. He grew up wanting to follow in his father's footsteps, but started riding bulls when he was 15. At age 17, he rode in his first professional rodeo in Brazil, and placed second in his third rodeo, making nine times as much as he did riding a tractor on the ranch his father managed. Shortly after this, he quit school to ride bulls full-time.
Career
Moraes began his career at small rodeos throughout Brazil, eventually becoming a regular winner on that circuit. After being encouraged by a former PRCA bull riding champion, Charles SampsonCharles Sampson
Charles "Charlie" Sampson is the 1982 World Champion Bull Rider. He is the first Afro-American to win a World Title in the PRCA- Early life :...
, he set a goal of riding full-time in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
After winning Brazilian national titles in 1992 and 1993, he moved to the U.S. in 1994, riding on both the PRCA and PBR circuits.
He immediately emerged as a major star, winning the average at both the Calgary Stampede
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
and the NFR, as well as winning the year's PBR title. Most notably, Moraes became only the third man in history to ride 10 out of 10 bulls at the NFR.
Moraes would again win the average at the NFR in 1996, and in 1997 was on track to win his second PBR world title until disaster struck in the form of a broken leg during that summer, forcing Adriano to sit out the rest of the year while Michael Gaffney overtook him for the world title. Moraes did become the first man to win a second PBR world title, which he won in 2001. His success on that circuit was instrumental in the expansion of the PBR tour to include events in Brazil. He went on to win a third PBR title in 2006, just narrowly beating out fellow Brazilian, Guilherme Marchi, despite suffering from severe back spasms during the PBR Finals. In that year, he won an all-time series record of $1.36 million—more than three times as much as any other rider. As of the end of the 2006 season, his all-time earnings on the PBR circuit are $3.37 million, also a record. Moraes is being honored for his accomplishments with a life-size bronze statue of him on Little Yellow Jacket
Little Yellow Jacket
Little Yellow Jacket was a three-time Professional Bull Riders "Bull of the Year", winning the title in consecutive years from 2002-2004. His three consecutive titles has made him unmatched by any bull in the history of the PBR...
that stands at the entrance to the new PBR headquarters building in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
.
Moraes announced in January 2008 that the 2008 Built Ford Tough Series
Built Ford Tough Series
The Built Ford Tough Series is the "major league" tour of the PBR competitions. It is a 30-city event series culminating in the PBR World Finals every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top 45 riders of the PBR compete in the BFTS with the rankings determined by points and money won...
season would be his final season of bull riding. He qualified for his last PBR Finals in October/November 2008. His last ride saw him buck off of a bull named Grey Dog, as Adriano failed to qualify for the championship round. It was an emotional moment and, waving at the cheering crowd, he left the arena in tears, saddened that his career has come to an end.
Moraes' overall PBR career earnings at career's end total nearly $3.5 million.
Personal life
Moraes and his wife Flávia, married since 1989, have four children (Victor, Jeremias, Antonio, Pedro) and currently have homes in Tyler, TexasTyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
and Cachoeira Paulista. A devout Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
who lists his favorite book as the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and the late Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
as a personal idol, he is also a member of the Cancão Nova missionary community in Brazil, and he and his wife have opened a Canção Nova mission in Texas. Underscoring his religious devotion and athletic competitiveness, he chose to ride only half of the 1998 PBR season in order to participate in a religious mission in Brazil, but nonetheless finished fourteenth in that year's PBR standings
, despite suffering another broken leg in the middle of the season.
External links
Official site- Official PBR site — for information on Moraes, go to "Riders" section and search for "Moraes"