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.