LaToya Bicko Former bull rider recalls Jesus in the rodeo

Sep. 22—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Bull riders are assumed to be tobacco-chewing, women- chasing drunkards who face the possibility of death, said Mickey Harris, of Johnstown.

According to Harris, 80% of riders are actually respectful, God-fearing and well-mannered men.

"A lot of bull riders, often called cowboys, come from small towns," he said. "They bring their own beliefs into the rodeo world. Bull riders do Bible studies and prayer circles."

The former bull rider also said the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) has its own traveling pastors.

"When a rider gets hurt, a pastor comes to the hospital," Harris said.

Pastors also keep an eye on the men's personal hardships.

"During one rodeo event, I broke my rib," he said.

"I worked on a farm, and I got behind on my bills. Someone told a pastor and the riders took up a collection for me."

Because of their charity, Harris focused on his health, but he later returned to the bullpen.

Harris got on his first bull at age 16. During that time, there were no age requirements and no riding experience was needed, Harris said.

"I just needed a T-shirt, jeans and cowboy boots," he said.

"I made $100 to $300 for riding a bull for eight seconds on an animal weighing 1,900 to 2,400 pounds. Today, bull riders make millions."

But Harris prides himself on his 1999 rodeo win in Florida, which amounted to a belt buckle and less than $300. Like Harris, early bull riders did not gain multiple belt buckles or big bucks.

According to rookieride.com, bull riding originated in the 1500s and was closely related to the ranching industry. Bull rides grew out of Mexico when Mexicans moved to the United States to help American ranchers; the tradition came with them.

Harris' bull-riding origins began in Franklin, Tennessee.

While his fascination with the sport furthered his ambition of eat, dream and sleep rodeo, his aspiration did take a toll on his body.

As a bull rider, he suffered 15 to 20 broken bones. With every bruise, he said, he saw it as part of being a rider. But his thought process changed when he was unable to dissuade a friend blinded in one eye from bull-riding.

"My buddy got thrown from the bull," Harris said. "The bull missed a major artery in his groin area."

After his friend's accident, he kept seeing bull riders escape major and minor encounters with bulls. It was his own close call that brought the fear of God.

"God woke me up on my last bull ride," he said. "That day, I realized there was more to life than drinking and acting stupid."

"I stopped drinking and chewing tobacco," he said. "Then I went to a Bible study. That's when I received my first Bible."

Harris, who is 55, left the rodeo at age 30.

"I fully persuaded God when I met my wife Bobbi," he said.

"Jesus would make a great bull rider. First, he has the faith to go up against danger. Secondly, Jesus knows both sides of life and death."