I watched Sunday and Marchi drew a third bull that was a dud. He made a ride but the bull didn't do much so he only scored in the low 70's.
He was offered a reride and he declined. Now he had been three for three and was in real good shape points wise and still 2000 points up in the seson standings. There was one guy left to ride that if he made a ride would win that particular event. The next guy made a good ride and won with Marchi placing second but still on top of the points standings.
Commentators were blistering in their critizism of him for not riding to win.
I think it is much smarter to take a long term view. He had made three rides. His points lead was not in jeporady. he finished second in the event. He did not get killed trying to ride a fourth bull that he may or may not have ridden for a score.
sometimes the cowboy up mentality is just a little bit too macho.
couple of years ago Adriano rode thru a whole season with a torn up knee. He didn't do worth a hoot that year but he rode all season, with every ride offering an opportunity to totally blow out the bad knee from a bad dismount.
I know you have to be unafraid to ride bulls in the first place, but sometimes the push is across the line into abject stupidity.
