Post by pbrokie on Jan 26, 2006 13:13:37 GMT -5
Rob Smets Announces His Retirement
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 26, 2006) Legendary PBR bullfighter Rob Smets (Merkel, Texas) is announcing his official retirement after 28 years of battling bulls and saving lives. The ageless warrior turns 47 this year and will close the curtain on his bullfighting career at the 2006 PBR World Finals, October 27 through November 5 in Las Vegas, Nev. Smets will continue to work through the 2006 Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler season with the World Finals being his final appearance.
A press conference is slated for Thursday, January 26 at 11:30 a.m. in the Ice House at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. in conjunction with the Express PBR Classic, stop No. 7 on the BFTS tour, at which time Smets will visit with media.
One member of the fearless PBR Dickies Durabullfighters team, Smets earned the nickname "Kamikaze Kid" early in his career for his skill and daring moves in the arena. Smets' enthusiastic demeanor and longevity, not to mention his selfless determination to deliver lifesaving exploits week in and week out for season upon season, will leave a lasting legacy in the industry.
"I have some real mixed emotions about it [retiring]. I mean I ask myself, can I still play the game, and yeah I could, but at the same time it's been an awful good run and I have no complaints. I set out to win one world championship and I won five. I've worked six NFRs and been voted to work the PBR Finals nine times. I have been truly blessed. It's gonna be tough at the end of the season to say goodbye. I love the game; I love the guys I'm with in the arena. There will be tears," concluded Smets. "I think the biggest thing is that God has put me here for this long for a reason and every once in a while I'm in the right place at the right time where I might influence someone. I'm at the age where I could be the father of about 3/4 of the bull riders on the tour and every once in a while I'm in a position where I can say something to someone that might be headed down the wrong road because I've been down that road. It's all for a reason."
Born September 11, 1959 in Palo Alto, Calif., Smets was not exposed to rodeo or bullfighting until his sophomore year in high school. Despite injuries of the scope that would have ended most athletic careers, Smets captured five world championships. 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 Smets returned with a vengeance, attending every PBR World Finals from 1997 to the present.
Smets attributes his longevity to one key factor, "One thing that God gave – he gave me a big heart and I have always taken a lot of pride in how much I love the game and taken pride in how hard I love to play it."
"Rob Smets epitomizes what it means to be a bullfighter. He will go down in history as one of the greatest bullfighters of all time and you can truly say that no other bullfighter in the world has generated as much press or been seen by as many people as Rob has. We will miss his vibrant personality, his dedication and his athleticism in the arena. I really look forward to being at the PBR World Finals when he takes that final walk into the Thomas & Mack Center on Nov 5. It will be a very emotional and exciting day at the World Finals," said Randy Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of the PBR.
"It has been an honor to have Rob wear the Dickies logo in the PBR arena," said Jon Ragsdale, Vice President of Marketing for Williamson-Dickie, which has sponsored the Dickies DuraBullfighters since the 2004. "I can't think of a better person to represent the grit, determination and perseverance that defines the hard working men and women across America. His unwavering passion and work ethic continues to inspire us all."
When his retirement officially begins on Nov. 6, 2006 Smets says that his plans are not definite but states that "Anything I can do to give back to the sport, I would do." In addition to remaining involved with the PBR , Smets anticipates spending more time with his family, which includes his wife Carla and daughters Corey, Josey, Sammy, and Dylan. An avid team roper, Smets also foresees devoting more time to cattle business ventures.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 26, 2006) Legendary PBR bullfighter Rob Smets (Merkel, Texas) is announcing his official retirement after 28 years of battling bulls and saving lives. The ageless warrior turns 47 this year and will close the curtain on his bullfighting career at the 2006 PBR World Finals, October 27 through November 5 in Las Vegas, Nev. Smets will continue to work through the 2006 Professional Bull Riders' (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler season with the World Finals being his final appearance.
A press conference is slated for Thursday, January 26 at 11:30 a.m. in the Ice House at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. in conjunction with the Express PBR Classic, stop No. 7 on the BFTS tour, at which time Smets will visit with media.
One member of the fearless PBR Dickies Durabullfighters team, Smets earned the nickname "Kamikaze Kid" early in his career for his skill and daring moves in the arena. Smets' enthusiastic demeanor and longevity, not to mention his selfless determination to deliver lifesaving exploits week in and week out for season upon season, will leave a lasting legacy in the industry.
"I have some real mixed emotions about it [retiring]. I mean I ask myself, can I still play the game, and yeah I could, but at the same time it's been an awful good run and I have no complaints. I set out to win one world championship and I won five. I've worked six NFRs and been voted to work the PBR Finals nine times. I have been truly blessed. It's gonna be tough at the end of the season to say goodbye. I love the game; I love the guys I'm with in the arena. There will be tears," concluded Smets. "I think the biggest thing is that God has put me here for this long for a reason and every once in a while I'm in the right place at the right time where I might influence someone. I'm at the age where I could be the father of about 3/4 of the bull riders on the tour and every once in a while I'm in a position where I can say something to someone that might be headed down the wrong road because I've been down that road. It's all for a reason."
Born September 11, 1959 in Palo Alto, Calif., Smets was not exposed to rodeo or bullfighting until his sophomore year in high school. Despite injuries of the scope that would have ended most athletic careers, Smets captured five world championships. 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 Smets returned with a vengeance, attending every PBR World Finals from 1997 to the present.
Smets attributes his longevity to one key factor, "One thing that God gave – he gave me a big heart and I have always taken a lot of pride in how much I love the game and taken pride in how hard I love to play it."
"Rob Smets epitomizes what it means to be a bullfighter. He will go down in history as one of the greatest bullfighters of all time and you can truly say that no other bullfighter in the world has generated as much press or been seen by as many people as Rob has. We will miss his vibrant personality, his dedication and his athleticism in the arena. I really look forward to being at the PBR World Finals when he takes that final walk into the Thomas & Mack Center on Nov 5. It will be a very emotional and exciting day at the World Finals," said Randy Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of the PBR.
"It has been an honor to have Rob wear the Dickies logo in the PBR arena," said Jon Ragsdale, Vice President of Marketing for Williamson-Dickie, which has sponsored the Dickies DuraBullfighters since the 2004. "I can't think of a better person to represent the grit, determination and perseverance that defines the hard working men and women across America. His unwavering passion and work ethic continues to inspire us all."
When his retirement officially begins on Nov. 6, 2006 Smets says that his plans are not definite but states that "Anything I can do to give back to the sport, I would do." In addition to remaining involved with the PBR , Smets anticipates spending more time with his family, which includes his wife Carla and daughters Corey, Josey, Sammy, and Dylan. An avid team roper, Smets also foresees devoting more time to cattle business ventures.
