 Rob Smets |
 |
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. 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 Website |
 Jennifer Smith |
|
Some wives, such as Jennifer Smith, travel with their husbands. That's especially true if the wife is a barrel racer who competes in the same rodeos or if the couple does not have children in school. Smith is a commentator for Outdoor Life Network, which covers the rodeos in which her husband, Stran, competes. |
