Diffee just wants back in the saddle
Posted on Wednesday, July 4, 2007
SPRINGDALE — It’s not the potential for injury that worries saddle bronc rider Jermiah Diffee.
What really causes the Smackover native to shudder is the thought of taking time off because of an injury.
Diffee competed Tuesday in the 63 rd annual Rodeo of the Ozarks at Parsons Stadium, but is in the process of finding out just how tough a break can be. He’s back on the road after taking six weeks off because of torn tendons in his left foot and will likely take another break after rushing back sooner than he says he should have.
“This is about as bad as it’s been for me as injuries go,” said Diffee, who sustained the injury when he was caught in the chute. “The worst part is having surgery. Boy, when you have surgery, you can’t do anything. I laid on my back and watched rodeo tapes a whole lot. It’s pretty miserable.” Diffee, 28, has had few of those moments in his career. Unlike many of his counterparts, Diffee has remained relatively healthy since he turned pro in 1999 after graduating from Tennessee-Martin. He’s earned more than $ 150, 000 during that span and enjoyed his best year in 2005, when he finished 26 th in the world standings.
Career highlights include a cochampion finish at the 2006 Deep South PRCA Rodeo in Winnsboro, La. He also nabbed co-champion honors at 2005 rodeos in Franklin, Tenn., and Waxahachie, Texas, and won the Heart of North Rodeo in Spooner, Wis.
“I’ve been fairly in the thick of things a few years,” Diffee said. “I’ve done well in a couple of big ones. I can’t complain. This is what I’ve wanted to do from the start.” Money and victory have been nice, but Diffee’s primary motivation is the joy he gets from being on an untamed horse. That feeling makes the travel and injury worth it for Diffee.
It’s what led him to ditch his crutches almost as soon as he got them in May. Diffee was determined to be back on the road before ever receiving clearance from his doctor. He had his bags packed for a June 28 rodeo in Pecos, Texas, in anticipation of a clean bill of health he wasn’t supposed to get until Tuesday.
“I think the thrill of riding the bronc horses keeps him going,” said Diffee’s wife, Ashley. “If he could get on one every day in his back yard, he’d do it. It’s a different lifestyle. It’s tough, but he loves what he does.
“ He’s not one to sit around. He gets extremely antsy.” Diffee’s attitude toward being idle carries over into his day-to-day life. He works with his wife’s family in their south Arkansas oil fields when not on the road, spending the bulk of his working hours outdoors. Sitting behind a desk doesn’t interest him at all.
Working with family allows Diffee to continue riding in 70 to 100 rodeos a year. He’s on the road most of June, July and August and working his day job when possible. Other months, Diffee travels only on weekends.
“I’m sort of full time for both,” Diffee said. “I’m real fortunate. My wife’s family are real supportive of it. I can be gone for two months, come back and have my job. Not many people get to do that.” Rodeo became a passion for Diffee before he was in high school, despite no family history with the sport. He began competing locally in the eighth grade, then joined the Smackover High rodeo team as a freshman. Diffee went on to compete in college, first at Fort Scott (Kan. ) Community College and then at Tennessee-Martin.
“I didn’t grow up on a ranch or around rodeo, but we had a few horses and I got to know a guy who competed,” Diffee said. “He asked if I wanted to try it. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I did it. I’ve been doing it since.” Tuesday might be Diffee’s last competition for a while. His foot hasn’t responded well to time on the road, and Diffee knows forcing the issue could cause more damage.
“I probably need more time off,” Diffee said, a tinge of disappointment evident in his south Arkansas drawl. “This hasn’t been a very good year for me. I need to try to get healed up.” Of course, time off is the one thing that seems to hurt worse than injury.
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