Jose Vitor Leme, of Brazil, was the only rider to go a perfect 3-for-3 on the weekend, finishing with a 90-point ride in the championship round Saturday, to win the elite Unleash the Beast’s PBR Express Ranches Classic at the BOK Center.
It was the 17th annual event of the Professional Bull Riders in Tulsa.
Oklahoma riders Venn Johns (Broken Arrow) and Wyatt Rogers (Coweta) didn’t fare as well this weekend, as neither was able to stay on a bull for the required eight seconds to obtain a score.
Leme made his triumphant return to competition in Tulsa after a jaw injury sustained in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, had sidelined him for two premier series events.
With the win, Leme earned a prize check of $46,348.14 along with a crucial 143.5 world points. He was ranked No. 6 in the world coming into the Tulsa event, but with his second win of the season, he moved into fourth place in the rankings. Leme is 229.5 points behind world No. 1 Joao Ricardo Vieira (Brazil).
If you enjoy the PBR, you’re not alone. The event always draws a big crowd both nights to the BOK Center, and will for many years to come.
Last Wednesday, the PBR and BOK Center, alongside ASM Global, announced a multi-year renewal to continue bringing elite Unleash the Beast competition, featuring the world’s best bull riders and bulls to Tulsa.
Although they didn’t specify how many years has been agreed upon, the multi-year extension will continue to bring the PBR to Tulsa during the month of April for several years to come.
Positioned just weeks prior to the mid-May PBR World Finals, the Tulsa event will continue to hold a crucial role in shaping the race for the coveted PBR World Championship.
“We appreciate PBR partnering with BOK Center and ASM Global to secure an event of this caliber for years to come. Being able to bring the best bull riders and bulls to Tulsa over the years has been a tradition that our community loves,” said BOK Center Vice President and General Manager Bryan Crowe. “It feels good to have a new long-term commitment for this premier event and we look forward to providing an exhilarating experience for thousands of Tulsans year after year.”
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum was also a part of the press conference and declared April 13, Professional Bull Riders Day in Tulsa.
“I want to thank PBR and our partners at BOK Center and ASM Global for their commitment to bring world-class sporting events to Tulsa,” Bynum said. “Our city has shown strong support for event attraction and retention and I’m eager to see Tulsans and visitors to our city be able to enjoy this sport for years to come.”
I know my daughter and I will continue to attend each year, as we have done for the past 17 years.
FLINT STILL KING
Known as the most popular rodeo clown in the world, 54-year-old Flint Rasmussen still does a great job entertaining the fans at PBR events across the country.
I interviewed Rasmussen for this column several years ago, and can tell you the former math and history teacher found his calling when he decided to become a professional rodeo clown.
He has such a huge fan base, the PBR offers Rasmussen plush dolls and jerseys in the merchandise booth.
In the stands at the BOK Center last week, was a young boy of about seven years old, who had on the same clown makeup and outfit as Rasmussen, and when the rodeo entertainer acknowledged him, the crowd went nuts.
He may be a step slower and not as limber as he used to be, but Rasmussen still brings many laughs and smiles to PBR fans, young and old. Including me.