Not football, but World Champion Bull Rider and former UofA student has died.

[brickhousehog]

Rob McDonald, former U of A student, 1977 IRA World Champion Bull Rider passed away Saturday of a heart attack, while working horses in McCrory, AR.  I want to let hogville know who he was, because I believe he deserves to be in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.  To find out more about the truly great Arkansas cowboy visit this facebook page dedicated to him: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rob-Mcdonald-1977-IPRA-World-Champion-Bull-Rider/188974867893650

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[DeltaBoy]

Prayers sent for his Family

[OptimusHog]

Forgive my ignorance, but how did he die "working horses"?

[pigture perfect]

There are many ways to die working horses. I don't know for sure, but I assume he was breaking them, and got thrown somehow.

[bulldog04]

Could've got too hot and had a heat stroke or heart attack

[Inhogswetrust]

Very sad. I don't particularly understand why anyone likes rodeos or that culture but anybody willing to get on a bucking bull and try to ride them enough to win a championship is alright in my book. Because of that he deserves to be in the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. Thoughts and sympathy go out to his family.

[Magic_Hogg]

Thoughts and prayers to his family.  Sounds like he died doing what he loved. 

[brickhousehog]

He had a heart attack.  Sorry I didn't say that before.

[DeltaBoy]

At least it was a quick way to go.

[1highhog]

Very sad, prayers go to his family.  I've been a part of the rodeo circuit in my young life, and still love riding today, nothing like the bond between a man and a good horse.  I hope he gets in the Arkansas HOF, he deserves it.

[tophawg19]

i tried bull riding a few times . to explain it's 10 to 15 seconds of adrenaline , followed by 8 seconds of hard work and jolts all through your body , followed by 5 to 6 seconds of sheer terror trying to find him and get away. if you want a rush . this will do it but it hurts like he-- when you hit the ground and worse when he hits you. want to improve your 40 times , this will do it

[PorkRinds]

i tried bull riding a few times . to explain it's 10 to 15 seconds of adrenaline , followed by 8 seconds of hard work and jolts all through your body , followed by 5 to 6 seconds of sheer terror trying to find him and get away. if you want a rush . this will do it but it hurts like he-- when you hit the ground and worse when he hits you. want to improve your 40 times , this will do it

I've ridden a couple of cows in my day, but they weren't bulls.  And they both worked me over pretty good.

[tophawg19]

i learned three things . 1 i'm to heavy in my shoulders to be good at it . especially with fast spinners . 2 . Shoulders that dislocate aren't good for bull riding . 3  I don't run near fast enough to want to do that job. one other thing i have great respect for the bull fighters . they take a beating every night , keeping bulls off the rider is a bad job. Just grateful for the ones brave/crazy enough to do it

[rzrbackramsfan]

I've ridden a couple of cows in my day, but they weren't bulls.  And they both worked me over pretty good.

Didn't the cows just stand there?

[HogFanatic]

Bull riding and surfing are alike in the fact that they are sports that have sprung up evolving from a way of work. Each are crazy as hell and anyone who is capable of "going big" doing either one deserves a tremendous amount of respect.

Thoughts to his family.

[Großer Kriegschwein]

Didn't the cows just stand there?

They do get a little irritated if they aren't socialized.

[jmb1973]

Didn't the cows just stand there?

I believe he was referring to the cows you might find at Electric Cowboy. The ones hanging by the bar with that hungry look in their eyes.

[brickhousehog]

Rob McDonald, Pontiac Silverdome, 1978

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[brickhousehog]

Rob and his van.

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