June 13, 2001:

After dislocating my free arm shoulder at the Bud Light Cup in Nampa, Idaho, the end of April, I got back on for the first time this last week in Nashville.

I was 81 points on my first bull, a bull they call Curly Bill. He was a strong bull that made a few rounds to the left, then came back to the right. I've been working out really hard every day, and after I rode him I knew my shoulder was in good shape.

My second bull really put me in a position to test my shoulder because he was spinning into my hand, and I really had to get my free arm up over my head to get over there. He bucked really hard. I was 92 points on him, and won the round.

Only five of us rode our first two bulls, so I came back in the short round with a good shot at winning the event. I drew Freddy Cordell's Happy Hopper, who's a bull that threw me off at my bull riding in Albuquerque this spring in about two jumps. I thought I had him knocked out this time, but he got me right at the whistle. Happy Hopper's a lot like his dad, the great PRCA Bull of the Year Grasshopper. He's one of those bulls that if you stub your toe at any time during the ride it's over. We got into a little rumble after the whistle blew, which luckily wasn't as bad as it looked. I got out of there with six stitches in the head, which isn't too bad for a stomping like that.

I ended up winning fourth in the average at Nashville, and $7,530, so that was a pretty decent welcome back. But the best news is my shoulder feels strong and I'm riding good. That's the main thing.

I'm back in Nashville today. Jewel and I are going to present the song of the year award at tonight's Country Music Awards. Jewel's also going to sing a song with John Michael Montgomery. They're going to show PBR footage of me riding, so that ought to be kind of neat. It'll be on TNN (The National Network) if you get a chance to watch it.

My episode of the "ARLI$$" show will air this Sunday night on HBO. It's supposed to be on at 9:30ET/8:30 CT, but you might want to check your local listings to be sure when it's on in your area. The L.A. Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal, Derek Fisher and Rick Fox, and several NFL football players are making cameos on this episode.

I'm off to Australia the end of this month for Troy Dunn's PBR bull riding. I'll let you know how that goes in next month's update.

Until then, take care. And have a happy and safe Fourth of July with your family and friends.