Broken Bones, Close Calls Worth The Thrill Of Competition, Bull Rider Says
(CBS) – Thirty-year-old Markus Mariluch figures he's broken a lot of bones, and had some close calls over the years.
"I've been stomped on, knocked out a couple of times. I've shattered my face, broken my ribs, tore my shoulders up," he tells WBBM's Lisa Fielding.
But that's all part of being a professional bull rider.
Bull Riders Converge On Chicago This Weekend
Growing up in Nevada, he says he always knew he'd make a career of it.
"I knew at a young age that I wanted to do this. My dad started me with a sheep. Then I was riding calves and steers," he says.
Mariluch and 34 others will be competing for $30,000 at the Professional Bull Riders Chicago Invitational, this weekend in Rosemont.
"We love coming to these big cities and competing with the best riders in the world. You gotta stay on the bull for eight seconds, and you hope you draw a better bull, place better in the rounds and it's easier to place in the event," he explains.
All top 35 bull riders will get one bull each in Round 1 on Saturday and Round 2 on Sunday. After Round 2, the riders' individual two round scores will be totaled, and the Top 15 riders will advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round for one more ride and a chance for the top prize.
Mariluch knows it's a dangerous sport but says the risk is worth it.
"I've seen a guy die. I've seen a lot of guys get hurt, career-ending injuries, but it's the chance we take but I love this sport. It's like any other sport. This one is a little bit more risky," he says.
Outside, he introduces WBBM to Airbender, a 6-year-old, 1,700-pound bull, one of 100 animals featured in the two-day event.
"Airbender is a good bull. He bucks pretty hard. He's a bull a cowboy really wants," Mariluch says.
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