ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 1999

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS o 31

' Original' kid still O going strong at 40 Courage, grit put Smets in thick of another bullfight title race

PRCA photo

Mike Copeman

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broken necks, and stayed comperitive through it all. In fact,-Smets eined his fifth world ride just two years after shattering three vertebrae. But the injuries have taken their toll on the bullfighter. "I've definitely lost some range of motion in my neck," Smets said. "More so when I go to the left than when I go to r}re right." Despite that, however, Smets is back this year, hoping to earn a measure of redemption. Last year, Smets earned $10,20I during the Wrangler Bullfight Finals - a sub-par showing for the ultra-competitive cowboy. His I 998 performance had some wondering if Smets had finally lost his edge . But what many people didn't know was that Smets was far from I00 per- cent. In fact, the bullfighter had under- gone surgery just two weeks earlier. "The first day I was able to run was the first day I fought bulls," Smets said. _ So Smets is back again. hoping to close out another chapter in his already-astounding career. "Mentally I feel really solid and sound, and physically I feel a lot bet- ter," he said. Of course, to win his sixth world

R ob Smets ain't no spring

chicken, and he's the first to admit it.

Five-time world wrangler Bullfight champion Rob smets turned 40 years old this year, but the bullfight legend finds himself once again in the tirick of a world title race. He finished the regular season second inlhe world standings.

Wick Peth who's credited with practically creating the sport. And, when Miles Hare won the first

tide, Smets will have to knock off his good friend Lance Brittan. "Lance and I have worked a lot of rodeos," Smets said. "I've been on his side and all we wanted to do was go into the Finals one-two. It didn't mat- terwho was on top. And fortunately, it ended up that way." Brittan, 25, qualified for his first bullfight finals last year and finished fifth. He's the man to beat right now, even though there are four former world tidists in the Finals mix, includ- ing Smets. Of course, those former world champs are significandy younger than Smets, and bullfighting is undeniably a young man's game. But Smets has never been about

youthful athletic talent. He was never blessed with blinding speed, and he admits that "in three strides I' m run- ning wide open, and in six strides I' m losing speed." What Smets is about, and what he's {ways been about, is courage: Pure, fear-swallowing courage. 'IfI'd have to pick a hero, I'd say it'd be Wick," Smets said. "He was just phenomenal. He had that grit - thal never-say-die attitude. "I'd hope that's what makes Rob Smets - a lot of grit." Rob Smets may be 40. He may have lost a step. But there's no question that the bullfighter still has grit. He's got enough ofthat to last another 40 years.

tide in I 98 I Smets him. In fact, he

there

Now, second. 18 years later 40-year-old from Shamrock, Texas ls back at National Finals Rodeo, within distance of a sixth world tide the old man got a of in his hat, )) Smets If it's magic ther. Smets has you want) look no fur- conjured up enough comebacks for a network -senes. This Kid has a host of injuries, including two

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