Mike Lee

Playing a sport for about one hour total over the course of 10 or more years might not sound impressive, but consider that in professional bull riding, that equates to over 500 eight-second rides. Only two people have achieved that feat in the professional sport’s 23-year history.

Mike Lee is one of those two riders. The 33-year-old rancher and horse trainer also owns a small trucking business in his home of Decatur, Texas. He started in the PBR circuit in 2002 and became the first rider to win both the PBR World Finals and World Championship in the same year, 2004. He’s currently 12th in the world standings in the 2016 season.

This week, he heads to Salinas to compete. Lee spoke to the Weekly about what he has learned from riding 1-ton animals for more 15 years.

Weekly: Why would anyone want to ride a bull?

Lee: It doesn’t make a lot of sense and that’s why a lot of people don’t do it. It’s not for someone who doesn’t like to be sore.

What is going through your mind in those eight seconds?

Hopefully, not much. When your brain is thinking too much, you’ll fall off. I think of a lot of stupid things, and I’ll look at the bullfighters and try to keep my mind distracted. You just have to relax and be quick. It’s all about muscle reaction.

As one of the early advocates for helmets in the sport, what was the catalyst for you to promote more safety in bull riding?

I got knocked out when I was 13. My dad got me a helmet and it’s saved me a few times. He forced me to wear it. It was either, “Wear it and ride,” or “Don’t ride.”

With the sport being stereotypically macho, was there any fallout from other riders after you pushed for wearing helmets more?

I was kind of a dorky, shy kid and I didn’t talk much when I was younger. I got made fun of a few times. Winning helps quite a bit with that. A lot of people wear helmets now.

What are some of the worst injuries you have sustained?

Shoulder surgery in 2004 was the hardest. I had dislocated it a lot and broke a bone in the rotator cuff from riding so much. I was out for a year. Brain surgery in 2003 wasn’t that bad. I was back after three months. A bull horn hit the side of my head and cracked the skull. I still have some loss of vision in one eye.

What misconceptions do people have about bull riders?

A lot of people think bull riders are rich. [Winning] looks like a big amount of money, but that’s not what goes into my bank account. And a lot of people think we’re pretty wild as well.

Do you have any superstitions or good-luck rituals before you ride?

All the professional athletes have weird things. I’ve got some really old socks with holes in them that I wear. I like my riding shirts and don’t like changing them much, but I’m sure it’s all in my head. I could ride just fine in a T-shirt.

What extreme sport would you never want to try?

I’ve been surfing, but I really don’t like water that much. I’m scared of heights, but I went skydiving to get over it. I have an itch when something scares me and I feel like a coward if I don’t face it.

How does Salinas differ from other rodeos?

It’s one of the biggest of the year and it’s got the most money. It’s all California bulls too, which are part of the regular rodeo and a lot of them are spinners [instead of bucking a lot]. I like that Salinas’ arena is outdoors, and the weather is nice.

What do people not understand about bulls?

They’re athletes, too. The owners take pretty good care of them and don’t abuse them. They’ll live long lives and be used for breeding later. Bucking is just part of who they are. You can’t train a bull to buck.

What does life look like after PBR?

I’ve got a few more years left. I feel healthy and I’m in good shape. All I’ve done my whole life is ride bulls. That’s a problem with a lot of bull riders – they’re not sure what to do after.

THE PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDING AT THE CALIFORNIA RODEO SALINAS takes places Wed, July 20. 7-9pm. Salinas Sports Complex, 1034 N. Main St., Salinas. $10-$55. 775-3100, www.carodeo.com