North Texas cowboy crowned PBR World Champion

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Mike Lee of Paradise scored 89.25 on Butler/El Charro bull Lightning at the 2004 PBR World Finals. Lee took home the World Champion title and $1.4 million. -- Courtesy photo by Andy Watson

Nov. 18, 2004 - Halloween was a treat for Mike Lee of Paradise as the 2004 Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) season came to an end on Oct. 31, in Las Vegas. Lee was crowned the World Champion and made history as the first ever champion to also capture the PBR's Built Ford Tough World Finals. The 21-year-old Texan earned the two titles simultaneously with 12,138.25 Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) points.

After the last ride, Lee said, "I have no idea what I've done yet; I just tried to do my job this week. I feel great and I'm no better than anyone else. I stayed calm and blocked the rest of the world out. There were people trying to get me to look at the points, and I wouldn't do it."

Lee's 2004 winnings were a record, totaling $1,435,826, in which $1 million was the Built Ford Tough Million Dollar Bonus.

The win was characteristic of Lee's riding abilities who rode 44 out of 75 bulls attempted, giving him a 58.67-riding percentage. At the finals, the bull rider covered seven out of eight bulls, bucking off in the fourth round, but recovered to win the fifth and sixth rounds.

All season, Lee and the rest of the field chased Brazilian Adriano Moraes, who had a strong lead going into the PBR Finals in Las Vegas. But, like the saying goes, it isn't over "until the fat lady sings," or in this case, a 5'8", 140-pound Texan. Moraes ended the season in second place.

Lee wasn't the only Texan chasing the coveted title. Mike White of DeKalb also showed a strong contention for the race, but had a lot of ground to make up. Coming into the finals, White trailed Moraes by more than 2,500 points, but Moraes was hindered somewhat by a torn bicep on his left arm (which happens to be his riding hand). White had hope. He rode six out of eight bulls and at one time dominated the event's average standings. When the dust settled, White finished third, winning $286,934 for the year. He was presented with the Bud Light Top Qualifier award for winning four events throughout the year, which included a $22,500 bonus.

Texans faired well at the PBR finals and two finished in the top 20: Brian Herman of Victoria and Dave Samsel of Stephenville. Herman finished 14th in the final standings, with a season dollar total of $93,159.66. Samsel, ending in 19th position, won $67,917.50 for the season.

Texas was well represented at the PBR Finals with Adam Carrillo, Stephenville; Cory McFadden,Coleman; Jared Farley, Snyder; Gilbert Carrillo, Stephenville; Jason Bennett, Honey Grove; and Ross Johnson, Alvord.

Johnson captured the top honors for the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) Challenger season, winning $64,438 on the season. The Challenger tour is "comparable to baseball's minor league."

"Winning the Challenger season title is one of the biggest honors I've received in the PBR. I had to work very hard and travel many miles. It was one of the goals I set for the year and to achieve it - it's great and exciting," Johnson said.

The 2005 PBR season begins this month at the Nov. 19-21 Mohegan Sun Invitational in Uncasville, Conn. They will take a break for the holidays and bull action will resume in January.