News

Dirteater likely out for a year

Dislocated kneecap, torn ACL, MCL and PCL will take time and surgery to heal

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (October 19, 2009) - For Ryan Dirteater, the next 12 months are about patience.

That’s what it will take for Dirteater to come back from his latest injury.

Dirteater dislocated his left knee cap and tore his ACL, MCL and PCL during the third round of the Mohegan Sun Invitational, when his left leg got hung up in his rope on the dismount after making a qualified ride.

The 20-year-old spent Monday flying home to Oklahoma, where he’ll remain off his feet until next Tuesday. He’ll then travel to Dallas for the first in a series of surgeries that will be performed by Dr. Tandy Freeman.

The decision to wait a week will give the knee time to heal enough to hold water, which will make the arthroscopic surgery easier to perform. According Dirteater’s agent Darren Epstein, Dr. Freeman also recommended “that we fix the knee ligaments in stages to avoid problems of stiffness later on.”

Although he’ll have to continue keeping his knee immobile and “it will takes months” before he can even begin intensive rehabilitation, Dirteater hopes to be back on his feet within a few weeks. However, it is expected to be at least nine months, if not an entire year, before Dirteater can even begin to think about getting on a bull.

“Overall, this injury is much more severe than the broken femur he sustained early in the season,” wrote Epstein, in an email.

The good news is that no major arteries or nerves were severed in the wreck. And though it matters little in the grand scheme, Dirteater’s score of 87 on Country Boy was enough to win the round.

Earlier this year, Dirteater won the first Built Ford Tough Series event of his young and burgeoning career at a three-day event in Dallas.

“He’s a tough kid that has been through an awful lot in his first full year on the BFTS,” wrote Epstein. As previously mentioned, Dirteater broke his right femur at an event in Tacoma, Wash.

“We all will be praying for him to make a full recovery and have the patience and strength to get through this.”

Fans and friends are encouraged to leave their messages of support at http://www.pbrnow.com/ryandirteater.

NEWS and NOTES

Road to Vegas: All roads are leading to Las Vegas! At this time of the season, the PBR is all about the World Finals, which is Oct. 30 through Nov. 8. Call  866-PBR-SHOW  866-PBR-SHOW  for ticket information or log onto www.unlvtickets.com to order your tickets for what will be one of the tightest finishes for the world title.

Winter reading program: The PBR has released a new 176-page hardcover coffee table book, “The Official Guide to the Toughest Sport on Earth,” this month through Triumph Books.

The book is available wherever books are sold. It retails for $29.95, and will available at all PBR merchandise stands throughout the upcoming World Finals.

In fact, plans are in place for an official book launch signing featuring Flint Rasmussen. Other signings are also in the works with various bull riders competing at this year’s Finals. The book, which is illustrated with 211 full-color photos, was authored by Jeff Johnstone and Keith Ryan Cartwright. Ty Murray wrote the forward.

—by Keith Ryan Cartwright

 **Want to be a PBR VIP, tour the chutes, party with other PBR diehards and meet a star bull rider? Now is your chance to be a VIP.
Click HERE for 2010 Ticket Information