When 25-year-old Silvano Alves walks the streets of Pilar do Sul, he doesn’t walk alone.

“He has many, many fans,” Guilherme Marchi says of his Brazilian bull-riding buddy.

“Bull riding is real popular right now, the second sport after soccer, I think. We’ve got events, thousands of people come to see us.”

Marchi and Alves are among 35 competitors in the 17th annual Ty Murray Invitational, which concludes this afternoon in the Pit.

The bull Johnny Rocker falls and rolls over rider Silvano Alves during Saturday’s Ty Murray Invitational at the Pit. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal.)

The bold Brazilians are also among the most popular in the three-day event.

Which they very much appreciate.

“That makes me happy,” Alves said through Marchi, who helps out as a translator when the two are on the Built Ford Tough Professional Bull Riders Tour. This weekend’s stop is the 12th of 26 this year.

“It makes me proud to have kids look up to me. I like that people see me do very good at what I do for a living. I like to talk to the kids. Talk about a career, if they want to do the bull ride. The dedication they need to the sport.”

The GQ-looking Alves, who resembles a young Robert De Niro, showed plenty of dedication on Saturday. He suffered a nasty spill during his scheduled ride, when his bull – Johnny Rocker – stumbled and landed on him.

Because the bull fell, Alves was given a re-ride. He had a better ride, but was thrown again by Jack Wagon. As the winner of last week’s event in Fresno, Calif., Alves even got to ride a bonus bull at the end of the night for a chance at $3,000. But he was thrown again.

Marchi also had tough night on Saturday in front of a rocking Pit crowd of 10,861 – more than capacity for the event. He also got tossed during his ride. He had a solid 84.25 (out of 100) on Friday and was tied for 14th. But will probably need a stellar ride today to qualify for the championship round. Either way, he will still get one of the loudest rounds of applause.

Alves and Marchi have certainly earned their international popularity. Marchi, who was born in Itupeva, Brazil, and now lives in Ferris, Texas, has won more than $4 million during his 10-year career. The 30-year-old husband and father of two won the World Championship in 2008 and finished third last year.

Alves is the current star of the PBR. He is the reigning two-time world champion, becoming the first man ever to win back-to-back titles. He also captured rookie of the year honors in 2010.

Marchi says Alves should be a mega-star for the next decade, and that he’s a fearless competitor.

“Nothing, you know, makes him change,” Marchi says. “His plan is to ride all his bulls (the full eight seconds). He keeps low, he’s really a tough bull rider. He’s young, has health and a lot of courage.”

Alves says he began riding bulls when he was about 13, and he had a couple of good teachers – father, Silvano, and his grandfather, Lazaro. Both were big-time bull riders in Brazil, where the sport increased in popularity each year.

“It really started with Adriano Moraes, who was a champion in Brazil,” says Denise Abbott, director of public relations for the PBR. “He came to the United States and won the first of his three world championships in 1994, and the sport really took off in Brazil.

“They say Moraes is like Elvis down there. He’s followed and chased by everyone down there, and the crowds are huge. He really started the road from Brazil to the United States, and now we have nine or 10 riders from there. Guys like Silvano and Guilherme are getting that kind of popularity like Moraes has.”

Alves, who along with wife, Evelin, has two children; son Eduardo, 20 months, and daughter Hanyelle, 3, is ranked third on this year’s tour but could reclaim the top spot with a win this weekend.

“I think I can win another title,” he said. “I’m gonna try.”

As far as this weekend, both Alves and Marchi said this is one of the best events on the tour.

“People here love the bull riding,” Alves said.

“They know the bull riding,” Marchi said, “and it makes it something we all want to come every year. It’s a big name – Ty Murray Invitation(al), one of best on tour.”

TODAY: Emilo Resende – another Brazilian – has the lead after two rides in the event. Only seven competitors have completed rides on each of the first two nights, meaning only the top 10 after today’s third round will qualify for the championship round later in the day. Any competitor who completes a full eight seconds on all three rides also qualifies for the finals, up to a maximum of 15.
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal