José Adolfo Neto, “The man of a thousand and one stories”
By: Jorge Cardoso
José Adolfo Neto is one of those guys who make a difference wherever he goes. He always has a good story to tell and, in most cases, a lot of humor.
Born in Uberaba, Mins Gerais, he demonstrated his passion for the farm and the rural lifestyle early on.
“I always went with family to the site and I would like to be in touch with that environment,” he said. “It was fun for me at first. It was only after I got older that I started wanting to stay there, even if it was to help with something.”
It was in one of these aids that the desire to start riding bulls was born.
“My uncle had some bulls, and a friend of ours rode some,” Neto said. “One day they came with a calf and I decided to try it out. I liked it, and haven’t stopped since.”
In his youth, he went to his uncle’s or friends’ farm to ride bulls, always, of course, running away from his mother, who did not accept it.
“My mother was afraid of something happening,” Neto said. “She was angry when I said I was going to ride to the point of checking if my pants were soiled with dirt.”
But to escape his mother’s scolding, Neto always told a story.
“I really like to pay attention to what people are saying,” he said. “I make friends easy, and I like to talk a lot, not to mention the adventures that we go through in life.”
One pass by the back of the chutes is enough to notice Neto there telling a story or two. Even when the event ends, he is the center of attention.
“I have known José Neto since we were small,” said fellow PBR Brazil rider Pablo Assunção. “He’s like a brother to me. He has always been like that, full of good and funny stories. And the man has a story, huh? On his side, there is no bad weather.”
Marcos Menezes is well aware of Neto’s various stories. The two have been traveling companions for years, both on the PBR Brazil circuit and to open rodeos in Minas Gerais.
“Think of a good guy to travel with, a companion for all the time,” Menezes said. “The trip with him is more joyful on the way back and forth. He goes on telling the ‘stories’ all the time.”
However, Menezes jokes about the veracity of the stories.
“Look, there are times when it is a lie, there are times when it is true, but I keep listening,” he said.
Neto made his PBR Brazil debut in 2019 during the Divinópolis stage, in Minas Gerais. His first bull was Traficante, from Cia Paulo Emílio, who won the matchup. His last ride of the season took place in Brasília, during the dispute for the national title, when facing the bull Marco Zero, from Cia Rancho 3 Irmãos, earning 87.50 points.
Neto also competed for the Rookie of the Year award and finished 12th in the overall ranking, with 707.50 points and a 53.8% riding percentage, having made 26 outs and 14 ride (two of them among the top five).
PBR Digital Editor Darci Miller contributed to this report.
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