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Divino: ‘Cowboys for a Cause is probably my favorite event’

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – Sunglasses, crisp cool winds, a great charitable cause, highlight-worthy bull rides, an outdoor setting like none other, and even some post-event Pendleton Whisky were just some of the reasons so many were left smiling at the conclusion of the 2020 PBR Air Force Reserve Cowboys for a Cause event on the USS Lexington.

The inaugural charity event featuring 15 cowboys helped raise $250,000 for Operation Homefront and other military charities as five teams of three attempted to ride some of the rankest bulls in the world on top of the 870-foot launch deck of the “Blue Ghost.”

It was a sight like none other before in the PBR.

On Thursday, the world’s top bull riding organization announced that the PBR Air Force Reserve Cowboys for a Cause will be returning to Corpus Christi, Texas, and the USS Lexington this year on Sept. 4.

Lucas Divino led Team Bad Boy Mowers to victory last year with a walk-off ride of 89.75 points on Soup in a Group. Divino celebrated by politely removing his red sunglasses and taking a petite bow with his teammates Luciano de Castro and Tye Chandler hollering from the back of the bucking chutes.

“That was probably my favorite event,” Divino told PBR.com this week. “I loved riding on the big boat and raising money for a good reason. It was so different because I never imagined riding bulls on a boat. This is an experience you will never be able to feel anywhere else.”

Castro and Chandler set Divino up for the chance to push his team to victory by riding Safety Meeting for 90.5 points and Black Cadillac for 86.5 points, respectively, in the exhibition bull riding event.

“It is awesome to have the opportunity to give back a little for the big stuff they do for us,” Chandler told CBS Sports Kate Harrison last year. “Every guy here was happy just to have the opportunity to be able to come out and put it on for them.”

Chandler will likely be unable to compete again this year as he continues to recover from reconstructive surgery on his elbow. He told PBR.com he may not be cleared for a return to action until late September or possibly even November.

Meanwhile, Divino may be able to ride once again at Cowboys for a Cause as he announced earlier this summer his plans to put off a second hip surgery and pursue a spot at the 2021 PBR World Finals.

Divino has a video follow-up appointment with his surgeon, Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd, on July 23 with the goal of getting the thumbs up to return for the PBR Express Ranches Classic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on July 31-Aug. 1.

“Hopefully, I can ride and still make the Finals,” Divino concluded. “Then I get surgery in my right hip.”

If he were to qualify for Cowboys for a Cause, the event could also help Divino make up ground in the world standings as he attempts to qualify for a third consecutive World Finals. The PBR announced Thursday that this year’s Cowboys for a Cause will have world points up for grabs. There also will be more teams and riders competing for charity than last season.

In 2021, Cowboys for a Cause will feature eight teams of three riders each, providing nine more chances for rides and wrecks in the long round. The Top-2 scoring teams will be brought back for a six-rider championship round and the event win.

The one-day event will offer riders points equivalent to a 15/15 bonus round in Round 1 and ride-score bonus points in the championship round.

Fans who cannot attend the limited access VIP event will be able to see the most unique PBR event of the season on CBS on Sunday, September 5 at 2 p.m. ET.

VIP PACKAGES

Whether you’re local or traveling in from out of town, let the PBR Premium Team plan your Labor Day Weekend. Opt for the VIP Travel Package ($2,500/two guests) or VIP Locals One-Day ($350/person) or Two-Day ($450/person) Packages and enjoy exclusive experiences and access. Click here for more information.

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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