Mike Lee (bull rider)

Michael Lee (born June 11, 1983) is an American professional rodeo cowboy who specializes in bull riding. From 2002 to 2017, he competed on the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) tour. He is the 2004 PBR World Champion. Lee announced his retirement from the PBR in January 2018. He now competes in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding Tour (THBRT). He also competed in Championship Bull Riding (CBR).

Mike Lee
Mike Lee in Edmonton, Alberta on July 26, 2008
Personal information
Full nameMichael Lee
Nickname(s)Mike Lee
Born (1983-06-11) June 11, 1983
Billings, Montana
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) (2019)
Weight160 lb (73 kg) (2019)
Sport
SportRodeo
Event(s)Bull riding
Turned pro2001
Achievements and titles
Highest world ranking2004 PBR World Bull Riding Champion
2004 PBR World Finals Event Champion

Career milestones

Lee rode bulls while growing up, and he joined the PBR Touring Pro Division when he was 18 years old. Lee also competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and filled his permit within months.[1] Lee first broke onto the PBR scene in 2002. He became the first rider to win both the PBR World Finals event title and World Championship simultaneously, which he accomplished in 2004. He is also the first rider to win the PBR World Championship without a regular-season event win. He qualified for the PBR World Finals every single year from 2002 to 2017.[2]

Lee was an early adapter among bull riders who favored a helmet to the familiar cowboy hat, which he attributes to avoidance and exacerbation of career and life-threatening injuries. He credits the helmet for having saved his life after incurring a severe head injury and skull fracture at a PRCA rodeo in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 2003, which required brain surgery.[3] Lee is the first world champion bull rider to have competed his entire professional career with a helmet. The year 2007 was a difficult year professionally for him due to severe head injuries.

On Saturday night, April 16, 2016, in the Stanley Performance In Action Invitational, in Billings, Montana (Lee’s place of birth), he joined Guilherme Marchi as the second bull rider in PBR history to complete 500 qualified rides. He rode Tahonta's Magic for 86.75 points during Round 2.[4] At that time, Lee was 500-for-1,068 (46.82 percent) in his Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) career. He has 14 event wins, 23 90-points rides, and one gold buckle (championship). He has obtained 50 or more qualified rides in a season three times. One time was a career best of 54 qualified rides in 2008.[4] About all of his success at the time of his 500 ride accomplishment, Lee had this to say, "It is all thanks to God that I am still here," Lee concluded. "Just to stay healthy and be blessed this much is something to be happy for and have joy for."[4]

Lee qualified for the PBR World Finals a record sixteen consecutive times (2002-2017).[5] In November, 2017 Lee announced via Facebook that he was going to focus his bull riding career in other associations.[5] He rode in 2018 on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA)[6] and Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding (THBR) tours.[7]

Faith on the road

Lee credits his successes to his Christian faith. "Taking a knee after each ride, no matter the outcome, Lee thanks God on the arena for safety and protection. Lee has a cross appliqué on his chaps and, whenever a fan asks for a signature, he accompanies it with three crosses".[1] Lee was an instructor at the former Christian Bull Riding and Bull Fighting School which was held at the Frost Ranch in Lane, Oklahoma. It was an annual event in honor of Lane Frost, an iconic bull rider who died of injuries from a bucking bull in Cheyenne, Wyoming. On October 8, 2017, the school announced it was closing. It ran every June from 2005 to 2016.[8]

Personal life

Lee was born in Billings, Montana, on June 11, 1983.[1][9] When he was 4 years old, the family moved to Paradise, Texas. Later on, they moved to Decatur, Texas, where he still lives.[4][10]

References
  1. "Mike Lee World Champion Bull Rider |". thelemonadedigest.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  2. "Lee wins PBR World Finals championship, season standings". Plainview Daily Herald. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  3. "Facing the Bull: The Most Dangerous Eight Seconds in Sports". National Geographic News. news.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  4. "Lee's spirit carried him to 500 rides". Professional Bull Riders. www.pbr.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  5. Kusek, Joe. "Shane Proctor, Mike Lee stepping away from Professional Bull Riders". 406 MT SPORTS. www.405mtnsports.com. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  6. "Mike Lee World Champion PBR Bull Rider". Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  7. "Finding his Second Wind Mike Lee Wins Legendary Tuff Hedeman Fort Worth Challenge". Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  8. "Lane Frost Memorial Christian Bull Riding and Bull Fighting School". Facebook. www.facebook.com. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  9. "Lee Inspired By Faith And Family". Professional Bull Riders. www.pbr.com. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  10. "About Mike Lee". Mike Lee World Champion. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.

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