Happy trails Relief, regret and retirement: Lambert (Part 2 of 4)

LAS VEGAS (November 4, 2008) - Following the final round of the 2008 World Finals, two of the greatest bull riders ever to compete in the PBR will retire. Adriano Moraes and Justin McBride are not only celebrated for their accomplishments, but also for their strong personalities in and out of the arena. It’s because of that dominating presence that both Moraes and McBride – two very different cowboys – are more than World Champions. They’re legends.

They will surely be missed among the Top 45 standings, but no one rider is bigger or greater than the sport. Another generation of young riders is sure to come along and define the next era of professional bull riding.

In any case, it’s difficult for either Moraes – who’s had an entire season to prepare for this moment – or McBride – who only recently announced his plan to retire – to know what it will feel like Sunday afternoon when they hear the 8-second whistle one last time.

PBRNOW.COM caught up with four legends – Michael Gaffney, Cody Lambert, Jerome Robinson and Ty Murray – to find out what that moment felt like for them. In the second of a four-part series Lambert talks about taking in the moment immediately following the last ride of his career.

In his own words, this is Cody Lambert’s story…

“When I rode my last bull at the 1996 PBR World Finals, I knew that that was going to be my last bull ever.

“When I got off there, was a little part of me that didn’t want to walk out of the arena. The fans were really nice to me and I could see some tears in the crowd. I know we’ll see a whole lot of that (this year).

“For me, there was a little part of me that wanted to slow down just a little bit to soak it in, and 2 seconds later I knew I needed to get out of the arena. I think we’ll see a lot more of it with Adriano and Justin.

“It’s going to be great. It’s going to be something people will tell their grandchildren about—they were there. They saw the last bull that Justin ever rode. They saw the last bull that Adriano ever rode.

“It’s great to tell your grandchildren that you watched Johnny Unitas play or you watched Babe Ruth or something like that, but to say you saw their last game or their whole career would really mean something. It does to me.

“I feel really proud and honored to have been around to watch those guys. You get to know ‘em and that’ll be something that will be missed. For me it’s different than it is for a lot of people because those are my friends and we will keep in touch. It’s not like I’m not going to see them ever again or a time or two each year. I’ll still see ‘em quite a bit.

“For me, it wasn’t necessarily a moment leading up to it. It was a summer leading up to it that was such a weird … it was such a weird interesting time and there’s so much to think about.

“I started out that year never thinking that that would be my last year.

“Then in the middle of the year, some stuff happened. My son got hurt real bad in a school bus wreck and then I got wiped out the week after we got out of the hospital with him. I just demolished my knee at my house practicing.

“I was pretty well done, but it was the first time we were going to have  $1 million up for grabs at the Finals, so I could still ride good enough to make the Finals anyway, even with a knee that needed to be repaired.

“That was my thought … ‘Well, I’m going to have to get my knee fixed and sit out for a year and I’m going to be 34 years old, and haven’t been on a bull in a year so I’ve probably reached the end.’

“Randy Bernard really convinced me that it was probably time.

“My deal was kind of forced on me, but it was probably a year later than it should have been. I should have probably called it good the year before, I guess.”

—by Keith Ryan Cartwright