July 23, 1999
Bullfight World...
by Lyn Sherwood
It wasn't really a terrible afternoon. `Dull' might be a better word to describe it. A herd of bulls from Yturbe Hermanos closed El Toreo de Tijuana's share of the 1999 bullfight season, last Sunday.
Toro Bravo is judged by three precepts: bravery, nobility, and stamina. The ganaderos of Yturbe Hermanos might well have concluded, "Hey, two out of three ain't bad." But, it is, and was. With the exception of only one, which was manso, the animals were brave and noble. But, in the third acts, five of the six ran totally out of gas, leaving very difficult and dangerous situations for matadors Enrique Garza, Miguél La Hoz, and Uriel Moreno "El Zapata."
Bulls that run out of steam tend to go on the defensive, something that isn't conductive to triumphant performances. Such is especially true at the supreme moment. Four avisos were sounded in the afternoon.
Enrique Garza isn't a bad torero, but he's a long shot from being a good one. His biggest fault is in making poor decisions. He opened the afternoon with poor Verónicas to the 460-kilo Jumero. After one pic, the matador placed banderillas as well as could have either of his subalterns. In the third act, Garza put the crowd to sleep. He never attempted to figure out the problems presented by the bull. He then compounded his lack of dedication with poor sword work. He heard two avisos and was vociferously boo'ed.
Attempting to redeem himself with his second bull, he opened with a pair of Puertas Gayolas, which are really nothing more than kneeling largas cambiadas, in the center of the arena, at toro's. Bad decision, Enrique.
After the pic'ing, Garza made still another bad decision by attempting to place short banderillas to a bull that had a very short charge. Garza looked inept. With the muleta, he enjoyed some decent moments, placed a decent sword, and won a very generous ear.
Hilandero, with 480 kilos, was a good-looking cárdeno, but that was the extent of its appeal. Hilandero was manso. Miguel La Hoz, who is a fine prospect for the immediate future, opened with a fine set of Verónicas. After some hard picking, the animal was attacking with an empty gas tank. Nevertheless, La Hoz handled it correctly, extracting a decent faena, especially on the right. But, difficulties with the sword denied any consideration for an ear.
La Hoz whose efforts were the best of the afternoon, again opened with Verónicas to the very brave, but physically impotent, Marinero, which fell down, several times, during the faena. Nevertheless, La Hoz gave the bull the letter-perfect lídia, a technical performance that saw the matador extract some excellent muletazos from the toro aplomado. Unfortunately, his hard work was unappreciated by the fans. But, once again, La Hoz encountered problems with the sword and heard two avisos. He was, nevertheless, applauded.
The always willing and charismatic Uriel Moreno opened with two largas cambiadas followed by a nice set of Verónicas and a kneeling Media Verónica to the 455-kilo Endrino, the best bull of the day. After a pair of pics, he placed banderillas very well. In his faena, he had some fine moments to a bull that wanted to surrender its ears. Unfortunately, El Zapata raised the sword while the bull still had a lot to offer. The matador was applauded, warmly.
The entry of Arguendero provided the hope that the afternoon could still be saved. The 430-kilo, black toro was full of fury as it demonstrated excellent style. Following a very nice set of Verónicas and a hard pic, Zapata placed banderillas. But, the animal had already expended all of its energy.
The faena that followed contained some very good moments. Had he not missed his first sword placement, the animal might have surrendered an ear. But, such was not to be. El Zapata did not have a good afternoon.
TORO TOPICS:
The Tijuana season now moves to the beautiful bull-ring by the sea. The opening card, Aug. 1, will feature Eloy Cavazos.
El Juli, rejoneador? On July 5, in Huelva, Spain, El Juli alternated with Rivera Ordoñez and Dávila Miura in a festival, benefiting a local orphanage. After each had performed on foot, the matadores, using horses of Fermín Bohórques, fought a novillo. El Juli placed both long and short banderillas. At the end, the novillo was indultado.
Spanish novillero Hugo José Molino "El Morocho," who suffered fractures of the vertebrae, while attempting a péndulo, July 6, has undergone surgery at the Jackson Memorial hospital, in Miami Beach. It is still not known if he will recuperate well enough to resume his career.
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