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On the eve of his retirement, Adriano Moraes and others ponder his legacy

By Sam Eifling
ESPN.com

McKennon Wimberly was 5 years old when he met Adriano Moraes, and even then, the young aspiring bull rider could see the qualities that, 15 years later, have made Moraes a legend in his sport.

There was Moraes' astonishing form -- the arm held in perfect position and the torso immobile, the fruits of doing 2,000 sit-ups in his workout sessions -- and the ease with which he seemed to ride bulls that overwhelmed other riders. "He was a big, strong guy, and just dominated the bulls," Wimberly said. "I would ride my bucking machine and act like Adriano."

But Wimberly, now a pro wrapping up his second season on the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series, could also see the ease with which Moraes interacted with fans, even though, as a recent immigrant from Brazil, Moraes knew only scant English. Still, he would smile, sign autographs, pose for photos. His charisma always came across, and it was only a matter of time before his English caught up.

"He was a great bull rider when he came over here," Wimberly said. "But there's a lot of great bull riders. Fans like to watch a great bull rider, but they like even more to be friends with a great bull rider."

Now 38 years old, Moraes has been on a final lap this year as he nears his announced retirement. He has won more money -- $3.5 million -- in bull riding history than anyone other than Justin McBride (more than $5 million). He has won more acclaim: three PBR world titles (1994, 2001 and 2006). Next week's PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals will be his last.

A résumé doesn't equal a legacy, though it's pretty clear Moraes will have both. Two years ago the PBR built a new headquarters, and put to a fan vote which bull rider should grace the massive statue at its entrance. So now Moraes sits immortalized in bronze upon Little Yellow Jacket, head down, right arm straight.

He goes out as the face of the sport: depending on your perspective, either "the Muhammad Ali of bull riding," in the words of Wimberly, or perhaps "the Wayne Gretzky or the Joe Montana," in the estimation of PBR CEO Randy Bernard, a friend and admirer of Moraes.

The truth is probably somewhere in between. He's among the greats to ride, but he's also an ambassador, both to American fans and to Brazilian riders. He waves off the notion that he's solely responsible for the influx of Brazilian talent, but in housing, guiding, tutoring and translating for many of the riders who have come to the United States from Brazil, he has undoubtedly changed the face of the sport in both countries.

"He is an inspiration to all rodeo competitors: American, Brazilian, Mexican, all of us," said Guilherme Marchi, the brilliant 26-year-old Brazilian bull rider, in Portuguese. "But for Brazilian bull riders, he's a great example. He was the first. It must have been very hard, but he's a champion. For us he opened doors. Now, when people think about great bull riders, about the sport, no one can deny our contribution."

"Every single year Adriano comes to me and says, 'I've got another Brazilian. He's better than me, he's better than me,'" Bernard said. "Adriano probably speeded up the process by 10 or 15 years of seeing great Brazilian bull riders up here. There's a strong, valid claim that if it weren't for Adriano Moraes, there would be a tenth of the Brazilians we see here today."

Moraes dismisses this line of reasoning. "All this invasion is due to their commitment and their decision to come over," he said. "I don't take credit for bringing them. If it wasn't me, it would be somebody else."

He had begun pondering retirement as far back as 2003, a year in which he didn't win an event and banked less than $60,000 on tour, finishing 30th just two years after being the champion. But he turned things around the next year, finishing second, and won his third title in 2006 (barely edging Marchi at the finals).

Last year Moraes came to Bernard and said he was feeling ready, again, to consider leaving. The physical toll had become too much, and he was finding it harder and harder to get excited for the prospect of riding. Injuries made it hard to exercise. Not exercising made him more susceptible to injury.

He's ready. When Justin McBride announced his retirement this week, it reminded Moraes that his own time was definitely at hand.

"I believe that Justin is retiring on top -- he can ride any bull any day anywhere. I think he will miss it a little bit more than me," Moraes said. "I'm gonna miss bull riding. But I think this last two years that I had has prepared me for another time."

A riding school and a breeding project will come next. For the first time, though, he feels that tingle of fear at the unknown. "That uncertainty," he said. "That's a thing that's bothering me a little bit now.

"It was a heck of a ride," he continued. "So many injuries. So much pain. So much fears. So much blood. So much sweat. But also a lot of great memories. A lot of happiness. A lot of feeling of achievement. Day by day, I cried. Day by day I laughed. I had glorious moments. And I had bad moments too.

"It was a heck of a ride, and I'd do it all again."