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Tom Reeves
Indian
Rodeo News missed Tom Z. Reeves this year at the Wrangler
National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.
The
Saddle Bronc Riding was a spectacular event this year, as
always. We
witnessed some of our forever lasting heroes with yellow flags
on the ground and some cowboys just had some tough draws.
Tom
Reeves, we all missed you; and were glad your back! Indian Rodeo News wishes you the absolute best in 2004.
This what Tom had to say about his absence and recovery.
Carmela
Scott/ IRN/ PRCA reporter
Courtesy
of the PRCA, PSN and WildCard Rodeo, RoughStock Inc.
By
Kevin Carmody
PRCA
Writer/Publications Manager
"THAT
CRAVING FEELING"
Though
his perspectives on life have changed somewhat Tom Reeves is
still in good shape and hungry to compete again after playing
the role of spectator since May
After
a fateful flying dismount last May in Stephenville, Texas, Tom
Reeves saw his season come to an abrupt end. However, several
months away from rodeo didn't exactly sadden the 2001 saddle
bronc riding world champion.
The
wear and tear that goes hand-in-hand with being a full-time
rodeo cowboy had caught up to Reeves, even as he began to defend
his first world championship for which he so long persevered.
Reeves
had already taken a month off, then got hot in the spring,
winning his event title at the Clovis (Calif.) Rodeo and placed
high at the Angelina County Benefit Rodeo in Lufkin, Texas. It
wasn't long after that when Reeves entered the Top 15 for the
first time. He had thoughts of finishing up his career at the
2003 Wrangler National Finals.
Then,
those plans changed.
"I
like to jump off a lot," Reeves said. "After the
whistle in Stephenville, I jumped off, but the horse lunged at
the same time, and when I landed, I stuck my foot in the ground,
and the knee spun all the way around. It pretty much ripped my
knee all the way out.
The
injury, which consisted of torn ACL and MCL ligaments in the
knee, required surgery the following month. He knew his year was
over, but he knew he could still compete.
But
while he was recovering, Reeves kept himself quite busy.
“
I started laughing after the knee quit hurting. I thought about
it, and I needed the time off. ”
— Tom Reeves
He
started a home building business, bought a few quarter horses
and established a rodeo livestock company, for which he has been
contracted to work the South Dakota high school finals and a
handful of college rodeos.
The
time off also gave back Reeves the desire to ride.
"I
started laughing after the knee quit hurting," Reeves said.
"I thought about it, and I needed the time off. I guess I
could have ridden with it, but in saddle bronc riding, your legs
have to be 100 percent, to me, if you want to win.
"I'm
still in good shape, and I'm still craving it. The injury just
changed my perspective, not for any reason other than rodeo is a
sport that has been really good to me, and I'm totally thankful
for that. I'd just as soon compete."
Reeves
plans on riding practice horses in the near future, then heading
out to the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour, starting in Denver, Jan.
15-25. After that, Reeves hasn't set any concrete goals.
"If you're going to rodeo, you try and win
the world," Reeves said. "I'm going to practice, work
out, try my hardest, and maybe I'll be a winner.
"Which is something most people in rodeo know
anyway.
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