Mortal Cornada

An amateur  torero, Laureano de Jesus, was killed this weekend at a capea in Yucatan, Mexico.

Details are vague right now, but he evidently took a goring in the right eye and into the brain, almost identical to the wound that killed Manuel Granero in 1922.

Happy Birthday, Curro Romero

Respected  matador de toros, Curro Romero, celebrated his 80th birthday recently.

During his prime, Romero was an icon known for moments of extreme unpredictability and also great art, depending on the circumstances at hand.

In a career that spanned from  the 1950s onward, he saw great triumphs in Sevilla, Nimes, Madrid, Valencia and all the other major plazas.

He remains unique in the world of the bulls.

  

Spaniards In Mexico

With the end of the official 2013 Spanish season, a number of Spaniards have come to Mexico for the winter, as has been the case for decades.

Among the two most notable would be El Juli and Juan Jose Padilla.

Juli, now a mature matador, started as a child sensation years ago. Over the years, he has become one of the top draws in all of bullfighting. A major goring earlier this year has done nothing to damper him. In his Mexican return, he has already triumphed in Tijuana, Mexicali and elsewhere.

Also leading the list is the phenomenal Juan Jose Padilla , who lost an eye to a horn in the face. The injury that should have forced him into retirement has made him a super hero instead. Performing with a patch over his eye, his "pirate" image has caught on. people often wave skull and crossbones flags when he appears and cheer him on.

Other Spaniards are coming or already in Mexico, but these are the most noted.

Belmont & Paz Vega Split Ways

Mari Paz Vega and her Mexican representative, Ernesto Belmont, ex-matador de toros, have apparently split ways, though the business deal being terminated was reportedly on good terms.

Gravisima Cornada In Pachuca

Juan Luis Silis received a major goring in Pachuca this week, but incredibly is expected to make a total recovery and even return to the bulls should he desire. At this moment he is in a medically induced coma so reparations may be made on his jaw and face following this nightmare of a goring.

The torero was gored in the neck, with the horn extending through the interior of his face and by the eye.

Doctors have announced no evident damage to the brain or the eye. Though blood loss was tremendous, the torero's life has been saved mainly due tot he brilliance of the medics.

Decades ago, a going of the magnitude of this one would have surely been fatal.

Meet David Navarro

Meet David Navarro, a graduate of the  Marcial Lalanda bullfighting school in Madrid.

A promising novillero who has scored triumphs in the smaller rings and is now ripe for the bigger plazas, Navarro may be a face to watch out for in the future.

For those unable to see him live and in person, there are some good videos of Navarro in action on You Tube, showing he has considerable talent which could be developed into something outstanding in the future.

Manuel Fernandez Mazzantini

Meet Manuel Fernandez Mazzantini, a promising and capable novillero (con picadores) who may soon be taking the alternativa in his native Cordoba, Spain.

He has already shown great art in tradition of the forerunners from this area who came before him. He has especially shown skill with the muleta.

Mazzantini was born in Cordoba in 1988, but presently lives in Madrid for bullfight/business reasons.

He is yet another torero to keep an eye on.

Mari Paz Vega In Mexico

Mari Paz Vega returns to Mexico this season after a lengthy absence. One of Spain's leading toreras or lady bullfighters and a veteran performer known for ability with the muleta that can rival any male counterpart, she will be seen in several major plazas from November through February.

Silveti Returns To Mexico

Diego Silveti returns to his native Mexico with an upcoming corrida in Jalisco, followed by several more bookings in the major plazas in the interior throughout the winter season.

Silveti appeared numerous time sin Spain and France this season, which included a dramatic corrida in Madrid where he performed during a rain and hail storm, cutting an ear.

Silveti is the son of the late matador David Silveti and nephew of Alejandro Silveti. His grand father and great grand father, Juan and Juanito were also famed toreros.

El Juli In Mexicali

Spanish master of masters, El Juli, will appear in Mexicali in November.

David Reus & Mexico??????????

David Reus, a popular Spanish torero, seeks bookings in Mexico for the winter season. Hopefully, he will have luck in setting this up.

Festival At Santa Alicia

There will be a festival at the hacienda Santa Alicia in Tijuana this September 21 with El Soro from Spain, along with Rafaelillo, Mayito and Climent facing four novillos from El Llano.

For information on a tour to the festival from California, contact alfonso@fourstartours.com

Zotoluco in Zacatecas

Zotoluco cuts ears in Zacatecas this week during the annual feria and continues to show amazing stamina in spite of age, especially when working with the muleta.

The triumph comes following an earlier triumph in Juarez

Festival In Juarez

There will be a special post-season festival in Ciudad Juarez on September 28 with Fabian Barba, Jose Mauricio and two novilleros facing novillos from a ganaderia to be announced.

Many area aficionados have already been left extremely disappointed in this temporada that featured only three bullfights the entire season. Sad when considering several years ago, this Mexican border city had weekly corridas through summer and fall.

Bad Luck For Fabian Ruiz Hijo In La Mexico

Fabian Ruiz Hijo, the son of the Mexican matador of the same name, had a long day during his much anticipated presentation in Plaza Mexico on September 15.

The matador tried, but especially encountered problems with the sword. He heard two avisos with his first bull and silence from his second.

El Juli in Tijuana

The Spanish fenomeno El Juli will appear in Tijuana, Mexico in October. Alternates on the cartel to be announced shortly.

Zotoluco Triumphs in Juarez

During the annual Labor Day Weekend bullfight in Juarez, Mexico, Zotoluco left on the shoulders of the crowd. Zotoluco, Juan  Pablo Sanchez and Arturo Saldavir faced bulls of Callanco.

 Though only mildly applauded with his very first bull, the veteran Zotoluco turned things around with a tremendous faena and kill to his second, which won two ears.

The other two toreros won one ear apiece.

Sadly, Juarez has  had only three corridas this year.

QEPD Jorge San Roman

Details are not fully available, but the Mexican matador Jorge San Roman, was killed in a car crash this week.

Silveti's March In Europe

Some months after cutting an ear in Madrid in the midst of a rain and hailstone  storm, the Mexican matador Diego Silveti's successful march through Europe continues with triumphs both in France and Spain.

In a recent August corrida, Silveti scored yet another triumph in Cieza. While alternating with Rafaelillo and Ferrara, he cut an ear. The triunfador of the day was Rafaelillo, however, who won an ear from each of his bulls as to Silveti's one.

Diego's style in many ways serves as a reminder to older aficionados of his late father, David, who sadly committed suicide in a  fit of depression years ago,which has come to be regarded as one of bullfighting's great tragedies. With the muleta, David was known as a fiery performer and Diego seems much the same.

Charlotte Reid

In California, longtime member of the Los Aficionados De Los Angeles club, Charlotte Reid, passed away this week from a  heart attack.

Reid was an instrumental part of this American bullfight club and for years was an attendant at corridas in Tijuana.

Remembering Yiyo

August again marks the anniversary of the death of Jose Cubero "Yiyo" who wad killed in Colmenar  Viejo.     Spain in 1985.

The fatal goring took place with the last bull of the day. Yiyo, who had come to this fight as a last minute substitute for Curro Romero, had just finished a tremendous faena and placed the sword, when he was knocked to the ground. There, the bull hooked into him from the side, demolishing his heart and lung. Lifted into the air and unceremoniously dropped on his feet, the dying torero took a few faltered steps and passed into legend.

The goring may be seen on You Tube, but is not pretty viewing.

Posthumously, Yiyo was granted the ears of the bull that killed him, fort he animal likewise died from the sword a few seconds after doing its fatal work.

Almost two decades have now passed, yet Yiyo remains immortalized in works of art, books and song. There si a massive statue in his honor by the bullring in Madrid and another statue at his grave site int hat city. There si likewise a statue in Colmenar erected in his memory.

He was 21 at the time of his death.

Sympathy To Federico Pizarro

Condolences to matador Federico Pizarro on the death of his mother.

Manolete

Manolete was the icon to end all icons as far as bullfighting was concerned and still may well be. August again marks the anniversary of his death in 1947 and he is still remembered decades after the fact.

Manolete died following a goring to the groin in Linares, Spain, delivered by a bull from Miura by the name of Islero. He cut ears and tail from this beast due to  a tremendous faena delivered right before he went in with the sword and took the fatal wound.

Gitanillo  De Triana and Domnguin shared the card that fatal day.

Throughout his career, Manolete triumphed throughout Spain, Mexico and South America. Madrid, Mexico City, Barcelona, Valencia, Tijuana, Hellin, Cordoba and Sevilla were scenes of some of his greatest triumphs.

Even with the passing of several decades, he is still remembered.

Sanchez Mejias

August marks the anniversary once again of the late Ignacio Sanchez Mejias. Writer, poet, intellectual, brother-in-law to the Gallos and a matador de toros, Mejias died from the effects of gangrene following a leg wound. His death was the focal point of the poem, Lament For Ignacio Sanchez Mejias by Lorca.

As a torero, Mejias was especially known for his work with the banderillas and the placing of the sticks el quiebro.

 He was also reputed for extreme valor with both the capote and muleta, marking his work with adornos that could rival those of his brother-in-law, Joselito.

 His lone flaw as a torero was the fact he was not always reliable with the kill.

Mejias died following a goring in Manzanares, where he was caught and pinned against the fence while doing a kneeling pass with the muleta, sitting on the wood stirrup  surrounding the ring.

The goring in itself should not have been fatal and had it happened in modern times he would have been out for only a few weeks before being back in action. In his day, such antibiotics were not available. Thus, infection set  in, which became gangrene and resulted in his death.

Mejias rests in the San Fernando cemetery in Sevilla.

The Death Of El Tio

For the first time in the passing of many years there has been a professional death this  year though scarcely covered by the media due to the obscurity of the torero and the location.

The portly novillero Santos Gaspar "El Tio" of the state of Yucatan, mexico, known exclusive Mexican state following a disastrous goring in one of the pueblos.

While trying to   place a pair of banderillas in a difficult bull, the unfortunate torero received a major goring in the side and lung, which took his life a short time later.

Bloody Pamplona

Many veterans of Pamplona and the bull run have been disgruntled by the events of this year's San Fermin. Critics who have gone there fro years defined it as the "worst" set of runs ever. Reasons include too many drunks and hung over people, excessive crowd and twice as many runners with few knowing what they are doing. .

The runs were constant disasters, most vividly seen by a bottleneck that had men and bulls literally trapped on top of each other. The similarity to a cork in a bottle might do.

One of the worst gorings came at the height of the fiesta when one horribly misguided runner took a goring that was so severe it led to the amputation of an arm

The professional corridas, however, were up to par with Padilla and others excelling..

Diego Silveti on The Move Again

Diego Silveti, the son of the ill-fated matador, David Silveti, continues on the move to the rank fo true fenomeno.

In May, Silveti cut a difficult ear while fighting in a terrific thunder and hail storm in Madrid's Las Ventas, delivering an outstanding faena on dangerous ground. While some purists felt the ear a bit generous, others felt the award well-earned and the torero's performance under such extreme conditions to be way beyond the call. In any case, the performance established Silveti as a definite favorite in Madrid.

In his native Mexico, Silveti has likewise established a series of impressive triumphs and shows no indication of slowing down.

He is clearly in his moment.

San Fermin In Full Swing

San Fermin is in full swing with the running of the bulls,   corridas and other festivity actions. Many web pages and blogs online will cover this. The runs should also be seen at http://www.tvtoros.com

For A Change In Pace

For a change in pace from my usual bullfightign work, check out my new wrestling/lucha libre book from Arcadia Publishing, available or deliverable at any books store in the USA or via http://wwww.arcadiapublishing.com or http://www.amazon.com

Mayito Returns

After a lengthy absence, Mayito makes his return to Tijuana in the suit of lights this July.

An absolutely charismatic yet soemtimes unartistic performer, Mayito enjoyed great popularity in Tijuana in  the 1990s, alternating alongside Manolo Arruza, Mauricio Portillo  and others. He was especially known for his work with the banderillas.

The Death Of Pepe Luis Vazquez

In May,  the legendary Spanish matador Pepe Luis Vazquez passed away at the age of 91.

In the time of Manolete, Vazquez was considered a figura in his own right, known  as complete with capote, muleta and sword.

Vazquez was also a ntoed bull breeder. During his ranch's debut in Barcelona one of his animals fatally gored the movillero, El Zorro

Brandon Campos

Born in Queretaro, Mexico in 1994, Brandon Campos is fast becoming a sensation in the bullfighting world.

  After a stunning set of novellas in Mexico during the 20102 season he was off to Europe, where he has already gained recognition for himself.

With a triumph in Avila, Spain to his credit and showings in France as well, Campos has suddenly become a favorite in Madrid.

A recent novillada in Las Ventas is still being discussed because to two things. Foremost would be the goring of Rafael Cerro, which was senseless at best. Cerro had placed the sword in the bull  and was profiling to show his defiance. He felt certain the beast was about to drop, but the animal had one good charge left and delivered a serious horn wound tot he torero's leg by barely moving its head.

The second topic of discussion was the performance of Brandon Campos. Though he also took a severe tossing while working with the lure, he was luckier than Cerro and escaped unharmed. He also demonstrated a tremendous prowess with the muleta, comparable to veteran maatdores and not just young novilleros. Though in this event he did not leave on the shoulders of the crowd, he was loudly and vociferously applauded. The people of Madrid seemed eager to see him again.

Several young and promising toreros have come on the scene lately. Campos is surely one of them.

Watch Bullfights Online

Watch free bullfights and other taurine programming at http://www.rtvtoros.com

Jose Garcia "El Charro"

Jose Garcia "El Charro" spent most of his life living in the Mexican border town of Nogales, though for whatever reason, he never received an opportunity to perform as a novillero in the bullring there. He did serve many times as a mozo de espadas or other functions, btu never received a chance to fight in the place he made his home.

He still lives in Nogales and while there are sadly few corridas due to the lack of an  empresario,  he takes part in local bulflight club actviities.

During his prime, Charro, not to be confused with matador Eliseo Gomez :El Charro" did appear in some of the border plazas and rings within the smaller towns in the Mexican interior.

Garcia was especially known for flashiness with the banderillas and for his work with the muleta.

Sadly, like so many other capable toreros, Charro lacked the confident management and backing to become a major star in Mexico,

He made his mark among those who saw him, but who knows how far he might have gone.with the right management!

The Death of Patricia McCormick

Patricia McCormick, an American female bullfighter and pioneer in the fight toward recognition of matadoras has passed away. Though she was never able to take the alternativa, she helped paved the road for recognition of females in the plaza.   .

In the 1950s, McCormick was a draw in Mexico and especially the border area. Though she escaped fairly well unharmed in the trade, she did take some gorings, six in all, including two big ones and was also injured rather badly in Nogales, when she cut her hand on her own sword.

Her exploits may be read about in the book, Lady Bullfighter.

Though long out of print, this book may still be found in some libraries, rare book stores and online.

Critics from the time who her in action were usually impressed with her style. Much like Conchita Cintron, another pioneer for women in the ring, she was said to be able to give her male counterparts a run for the money on the sand.

A New Armillita In Spain

Fermin Espinosa  "Armillita" is the son of Fermin Espinosa hijo "Armillita:" and grandson of the founder of the dynasty, Fermin "Armillita, as well as nephew to Miguel and Manolo "Armillita."

In keeping with the Armillita tradition, the new Armillita is now heading for Spain.

As of now, the young   torero remains relatively new tot he profession and as such it is premature to judge his total worth. Thus far, however, he has shown great resolve in the Mexican plazas, while exhibiting the traits his family has shown for several decades.

One wishes him luck in Spain and may he find the same success his relatives from the past did there.

Frausto

The city of Aguascalientes has produced a number of great toreros over the decades. The Sanchez brothers, Moro, Estudiante, Barba  and many more come to mind. Among the most recent of potential fenomenos has been Ricardo Frausto.

Frausto has registered a great string of triumphs in his native town, as well as other parts of Mexico, where he has been regarded as a great promise.

Artistic, daring and full of charisma, Frausto has all the makings of a potential maestro if he continues to improve. he has especially shown skill with the big capote and his faenas have continually  been creative.

To see photos and receive updates on this interesting and exciting new torero go to his web page at http://www.ricardofrausto.com

Carlos Sulbaran

Venezuela has produced some great toreros in the past. Morenito De Maracay, the Giron family and maybe even Bernardo Valencia. The tradition continues in the form of Carlos Sulbaran. if he continues to improve, he may well go down as one of the best after all is said and done.

Born in Merida, Venezuela in December of 1994, Sulbaran graduated from the local escuela taurina as one of their most promising of students. he has since kept up the pace.

Early novilladas saw him exhibit a complex style, mingling kneeling passes with slow and pure artistic work..

He has not allowed the pace to falter.

San Cristobal has been the scene for some of his best showings to date, impressing the aficion in this town and the critics as well.

Again, keep an eye on Sulbaran as he continues to improve and hopefully triumph.

He is a great promise for the future.

Film Review: The Mercenary

Not a bullfight movie, but with bullfight footage of sorts. This is a western film set in the Mexican Revolution, starring Franco Nero, Jack Palance and Tony Musante. Brilliant direction by she late Sergio Corbucci and magnificent music by Ennio Morricone.

The film deals with the adventures and double-crosses in a relationship between a Polish gunfighter played by Nero and a reluctant revolutionary played by Musante. Jack Palance is the villain out to kill both.

The bullfighting comes in when on the run, Mustante and his gang are hiding out as comic bullfighters.

This leads to a bizarre gunfight with Palance and Musante squaring off, with Nero looking on and the music from Morricone's duel theme blaring louder than any pasodoble.

Palance is killed in this in-ring gunfight and his death scene is priceless.

Though not a bullfighting film by any means, the brief comedic bullfight clips and of course the gunfighting scene in this plaza de toros are worth a look.

As far as westerns go, this is a pretty good movie also.

The film has been released on dvd as The Mercenary and also in composite sets under a number of different titles.

Antonio Prates

Child bullfighters are nothing new. Manolo Mejia, Eloy Cavazos and even Manolete fought as children on foot. Off of horseback there was Arturo Ruiz Loredo and his sisters in the 1960s. (Ruiz Loredo later went to perform as a matador on foot when his sisters retired and then went back to rejoneo). There was Fonton in the 1980s. Now  there is Antonio Prates, a young rejoneador from Vendas Novas, Portugal  who started gaining acclaim at  the age of 12.

As he grows older and refines himself  great things should come from this cavaleiro, who already has shown mastership equal to that of many veterans in the profession. Already appearing numerous times in his native Portugal and becoming much in demand, great things should be in store for him.

Antonio Prates is a name to keep an eye on.

Clarin Magazine

Clarin magazines are now how to come by as they have been out of print for years and dedicated editor Lyn Sherwood has passed away.

From the 1960s into the 1990s they had a long run.

Known for covering the bullfights along the border  the magazine had an outstanding staff of photographers who took some of the finest pictures ever. Tijuana, Nogales and Juarez were constantly featured and this "Bullfight Review In English" as it was called was often sold at these rings. There were other times, however  where it wad not, when certain empresarios grew angry over the honesty of the editorials.

Editor Lyn Sherwood also gave out a trophy every year tot he torero deemed the best along the border each season. Mariano Ramos and Manolo Martinez were continual winners.

For a long time, Clarin was THE publication in English for aficionados. Sadly, there is nothing like it now.

Editor/photographer  Sherwood also penned some books on bullfighting, most notably Yankee in the Afternoon, on American toreros and an early photographic book on Carlos Arruza.

Maera Of The Tragedies

Manuel Garcia "Maera" remains a tragic figure in bullfighting and one of la fiesta's most bizarre figures. Hemingway praised him in Death In The Afternoon and Barnaby Conrad did the same in How To Fight A Bull. The odd part was Maera never originally needed to be a matador. Nor did he intend to be at first.

Maera gained fame as a banderillero for Juan Belmonte  who did not place his own banderillas due to many  leg gorings which kept him from running. Belmonte's two greatest rivals, Joselito and Gaona, were masters with the barbs and as such, Belmonte used Maera to counter their actions. Aficionados came to know Maera as a banderillero as much as any matador.

When Maera went to Belmonte and demanded more money, he was refused, though Belmonte was making a fortune at the time.

Maera then announced he would become a matador himself and show up his former employer.

Maera entered the ranks as a novillero  and rose rapidly in the eyes of the fans. Already established as a banderillero  he came to be recognized for insane bravery with the capote and muleta as well. He did, indeed  take the alternativa and become a matador de toros.

Many contend Maera knew his time was short  as he was suffering from tuberculosis and he knew if the bulls did not kill him, this sickness was going to. This is where the true tragedy is found. How far a healthy Maera might have gone in the bullfighting world remains anyone's guess. History will never know.

Maera eventually died from his affliction, coughing blood in bed and painfully fighting off the Grim Reaper as long  as he could.

He rests within the San Fernando cemetery in Sevilla, where curiously  enough  the tomb of his former employer, Juan Belmonte, may also be found.

In The Shadow Of The Father! Lomelin!

Antonio Lomelin continues to look impressive in his bid to become a figura in the ruedos. One cannot help but wish him luck.

Lomelin is the son of the ill-fated Antonio Lomelin who was a phenomenon ion the 1960s and 1970s, though a series of major gorings and personal problems away from the ring took their toll  on him, leading up to his being found dead via what appeared to have been a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The demise of Antonio Lomelin remains one of bullfighting's greatest tragedies, for in his prime the man took both Mexico  and Spain by storm. He was especially known for his skill with the banderillas  though it was in this act he took two near-fatal horn wounds, one in Tijuana where the horn entered his back and another in Mexico City in the intestines.

For those who remember the father, it is almost spooky to see the new Lomelin in action. It is obvious just who the father was. They have the same dark and brooding features. They have marked similarities in style. From the seats higher up in the plaza de toros, it almost looks as if the original Lomelin has returned from the  grave and is young again.

On the other hand, the new Lomelin is his own man as a torero, as other blogs have noted  While much in his style resembles the famous father, there are other elements uniquely his own.

He is not just Antonio Lomelin...son of a great torero...but Antonio Lomelin, period, as far as this generation goes.

Again, the bullfighting world wishes him luck in his chosen trade and may he too, become a figura.

Barnaby Conrad Dies

American bullfight writer, Barnaby Conrad, passed away this February.

Conrad wrote two novels about bullfighting, The Innocent Villa and Matador.

He also wrote several nonfiction books about the same, including How To Fight A Bull, La Fiesta Brava and Encyclopedia of Bullfighting.

Tucson's El Torero

Bull bars and restaurants are common in Spain, but America has a handful of them as well.

One such place is the Torero at 231 E 26th Street in Tucson, Arizona.

A fine place to dine, with bullfighting decorations.

Worth a visit....

Padilla: The Rage Carries On

Padilla took Mexico  by storm. There is no denying that one. Few, in recent memory, have been able to match his rage in front of the horns and his raw determination to triumph. The goring that would have destroyed a lesser man has made him a  bullfighting super hero.

One can only imagine the triumphs that await him when he returns to Spain and to wish him well.

Fuerza Padilla! Padilla, si!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Film Review: Bolero

If you have never seen this 1984 release, do not bother. The horsemanship of the Peralta brothers may be appreciated, but little else.

Bo Derek and Ana Obregon play college grads who head for Spain to live the wild life after all their schooling. Derek meets and romances a rejoneador, seduces him, nearly loses him and ends up with him in the end.

Yawn.

Not even George Kennedy in a supporting role can save this fiasco.

One images Bo Derek proves as she always has  that no clothes make sup for no talent among some viewers.

As for the rest of us....

Again, yawn.

There are some bullfighting scenes, but they are minimal and dull. The Peraltas do their best as doubles for the actor and they might be worth giving this film a one time viewing over, but do not set your expectations too high.

The movie bombed when it was released in theaters and should rightfully bomb even now, decades later.

Ana Batista

Women's libration has clearly reached the bullring and one of the top figures in la fiesta brava now, as far as fighting off horseback in the style of rejoneo would be concerned would be Ana Batista.

Having obtained attention in Spain as well as her native Portugal, the veteran torera has constantly proven her skills as a rider and bullfighter.

One may learn more by visiting her own webpage at http://www.anabatista.com