Chili the bull shakes off Shivers

The PBR's first 3 million-dollar man suffers a broken leg in the event at the Blaisdell Arena

Chris Shivers got the ride he wanted at the Professional Bull Riders Hawaii All-Star Challenge last night at the Blaisdell Arena, but paid a severe price for it in the process.

Shivers landed a top score of 91.5 in the first of two rounds for lasting a full 8 seconds on Chili the bull, but was thrown violently to the ground underneath the bull on the seventh ride of the night. Shivers tried to scramble away, but Chili bucked high in the air and landed directly on Shivers' left leg, breaking both the tibula and fibula.

A rowdy Blaisdell crowd of about 4,500 cheered on Shivers' impressive ride, but quickly quieted when he yelled out in pain and didn't get up off the arena dirt near the pens. Paramedic crewmembers quickly rushed to his aid with a stretcher and he was lifted off several minutes later.

Shivers raised his left arm to the crowd in salute on his way out, drawing a huge cheer.

Shivers' agent, Mark Nestlen, said his client was transported to the Queen's Medical Center with his wife, while their son remained with officials at the arena.

"They'll evaluate him for the (possible) need for surgery this evening," Nestlen said. "Chris was in severe pain. They were able to ease the pain with medication, they got him to about an eight out of 10 by the time he was transported to the hospital."

Nestlen downplayed the injury, saying he expected Shivers to be back at full strength in no time.

"Chris is fine, he has a broken leg," Nestlen said. "As silly as it might sound, it's no big deal, he has a broken leg. I would imagine he'd be back riding in Madison Square Garden the first week of January.

"Chris has been transported to the hospital (in the past) barely breathing, (with) concussions and serious injuries," continued Nestlen, the president of Cowboy Sports Agents.

Shivers, of Louisiana, is a nine-year PBR veteran and was the World Champion in 2000 and 2003 with more than $3 million in career earnings. His opening-round 91.5 was his seventh career 90-plus-point performance. The next-highest score was an 89 last night.

He qualified for the PBR All-Star Challenge, the first in Hawaii, with a 2006 Built Ford Tough rating of ninth. He won last week in the PBR's All-Star event on Maui.

The somber mood continued for several more minutes after the accident, but things picked up four riders later when Maui native Myron Duarte fittingly rode out on the bull Mr. Aloha. Duarte was ejected 6.85 seconds into his ride -- in bull riding, the cowboys must stay on the full 8 seconds to receive a score.

"I messed up," Duarte said. "That's the thing about this sport -- you got no one to blame but yourself. (Mr. Aloha) turned back (around), and I felt myself let go and I hit the ground."

Duarte, 38, didn't see Shivers' brutal accident, but said such things happen in the sport.

"It's kind of a freak thing," Duarte said. "It happens on a weekly basis but not usually so bad like that."

Duarte's second bull of the night was Pandora's Box, one of the most feared and respected bulls on the circuit. He was thrown off 2.89 seconds into the ride. Each competitor took on two bulls yesterday and will challenge two more again tonight; the rider with the highest cumulative score for the two days will be named the winner of the all-star event. The winnings go toward the 2007 PBR standings, so the incentive was there for each rider.

The second day of the event takes place today at 8 p.m. at the Blaisdell Arena. Ticket prices are $20 and up.