ProRodeo Sports News, June 1, 2018

“They were so supportive of it even though they didn’t rodeo. Every qualification wasn’t just me, it was my entire family who helped me get there.” Moore went on to win the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo title in 2002. “Man, that was so awesome, it’s like it was yesterday,” Moore said. “When the whistle blew, and I knew I won it, I cried like a baby because it was such a big goal I set for myself. It wasn’t just for me, it was for my entire family. They did everything else, and I did the riding.” Moore’s riding was at its prime in 2003 when he became the first year-end champion on the Xtreme Bulls Tour and the only multistop champion. On the Xtreme Bulls Tour in Omaha, Neb., Moore scored 94 points onWestern Rodeos’ Louisville Slugger and 90 points in the semifinals on Burns’ Bull Frog. “It (2003) was so crazy; I was just smoking hot and everyone wanted to know how,” Moore said. “I said I was keeping my hand closed and making the whistle. I looked at the pen of bulls and said he couldn’t throw me off. I wasn’t being cocky, I just felt like nothing could throw me off.”

Mike Moore, far right, married his longtime girlfriend, Jeanette, and is now the proud stepfather of two sons, Ty and Grant. Photo courtesy Mike Moore

hand and ride my bull.”

VISUALIZING SUCCESS Bull rider Jason McClain witnessed Moore’s pre-ride routine many times while traveling together most of their careers. “He would listen to his headphones for an hour before he got on and not talk to anyone,” McClain said. “It was all focusing on what he had at hand.” Moore imagined it before accomplishing it. “A big part of my riding was me visualizing my rides before I get on,” Moore said. “When I got hot, nothing could throw me off. I rode bulls guys didn’t like to get on and my try helped me succeed.” There were consequences to never giving up. In 2003, Moore suffered a tear to his bicep muscle in the first round of the Wrangler NFR, but he continued to compete in all 10 rounds. “You’re at the bull’s mercy,” Moore said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” Despite his injury, Moore scored 92.5 points on Powder River’s Mojo Dippin in the first round. “When I got off, my bicep felt funny, like a muscle strain, so I talked to Tandy (Freeman with Justin Sportsmedicine). He said I tore the tendon and that I couldn’t make it too much worse, so I said, ‘Good, I’ll keep going.’” Moore was in hot pursuit of winning the world. In the second round he hyperextended his bicep and tore it completely off the bone. “It was gross, but that comes with the territory,” McClain said. “Everyone is going to get it one way or another, so you either fight through it or go home. We never babied each other. When something happened, we did what we could to get through it, like stop at 7-Eleven to get ice or carry their bag for them.” All Moore could do was tape it up and ice it every night. “It was the worst pain I’d ever felt – but it couldn’t get any worse,” Moore said. “It was only eight seconds, and we can put pain out of our mind if you want it bad enough. So I blocked the pain out and tried to focus on my job at

RETIRING ON HIS OWNTERMS Moore missed four months of competition in 2004 due to the injuries he sustained at the 2003Wrangler NFR. “When he got hurt, that’s all he did was stay in the gym for hours and hours, and the guy wouldn’t stay hurt for long because he worked out so hard,” McClain said. “He came back faster than anyone thought he would every time he got wiped out.” Moore bounced back and qualified for the Wrangler NFR again in 2008. By then, he’d met his future wife, Jeanette, and was about ready to retire from bull riding. “I never gave up on getting to the NFR again,” Moore said. “It’s an experience I could never duplicate again. I’ve done a lot of crazy things, but none compare. The closest was sky diving, I always said I wouldn’t do it, but Jeanette had done it before, so we went. It was exciting but not the same rush as riding bulls. Especially riding rank bulls, the ones most guys don’t make the whistle on. When you accomplish that it’s hard to put into words.” Moore competed at the 2008Wrangler NFR with what was later diagnosed as a torn labrum. From there, he went to a few rodeos in 2009 but his hips were never the same. “They still bother me from time to time, and it’s part of the game, you got to give something up to enjoy yourself,” Moore said. Moore’s last time on a bull was during a bull riding school in Colorado about three years ago. “I still miss it every day, I really do,” Moore said. “I could still do it now because I’m in shape, but it wouldn’t be like how I want it. I am an all-or-nothing guy. I knew that would be the last one, I didn’t make the whistle, I was 7.5 seconds and I knew I was done, my time had passed. …One of the best things about being retired is being able to pass on the knowledge I have.”

ProRodeo Sports News 6/1/2018

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