October 1, 1999
With a week off from the season,
the opportunity is presented to analyze the state of toreo in
Mexico, more specifically, toreo along the frontiers.
Every era has been marked by crossover, in which well-known
toreros are replaced by upcoming newcomers. Aficionados have had
to be patient, to give the new kids the opportunity to gain enough
experience to be worthy of their membership in the world's most
exclusive and dangerous fraternity.
And, therein lies the problem of Mexican toreo. There are some new faces who offer the promise of future greatness, if only we will give them the chance to mature. Nevertheless, these upcoming kids carry the title of Matador de Toros. In the eyes of the mundo taurino, they are professionals. And, "professional," particularly along the frontiers, doesn't translate to toreros of natural ability, technical excellence, or of greater importance, respect for their titles, for the bulls of brave blood, or for those who spend their money to watch them perform.
In a recent interview with retired North American Matador Robert Ryan, the torero/artist told me, "The goring that I receive in Torrejón happened because of high winds. It's impossible to fight in the wind. Oh, I could have run away from the bull, but I'm a Matador de Toros, and that title carries heavy responsibilities."
"That titles carries heavy responsibilities." How ironic that a matador from a country in which bullfighting is not integral to its culture could speak a truth that should pertain to all toreros of all countries in which La Fiesta is part of their cultural heritage.
Such sums up the situation in Mexico. Most Mexican novilleros perform in fewer than 100 novilladas, before seeking their alternativas of matadorship. The result is men who are matadores de toros in name, only. That isn't fair to the aficionados, to the bulls of brave blood, or to La Fiesta Brava.
All Spanish novilleros initiate their career via the off-season económicas, facing two-year-old novillos, without picadores. From there, they graduate to novilladas picadas, facing three-year-old animals, with picadores. Only after they have faced 200 or 300 novillos, and have established their professional credentials, do they seek their alternativas.
But, such is not the case in Mexico. Are the Mexican novilleros responsible? No!
The Chinese philosopher wrote "The fish smells at the head." And, that is where the blame belongs. Mexican empresarios never schedule economicas, and they offer far too few novilladas pica-das. Without enough preliminary experience, novilleros must learn their trade with the larger, less forgiving, novillos. Most of them fail.
Confucius wrote, "The fish smells at the head." By failing to invest in the future of the art, the powers in control are killing the goose that lays golden eggs.
With the exception of sons of famed matadores or ganaderos, Mexican novilleros must purchase their own novillos and pay all of their own expenses. Look at the case of the Tijuanense, Paco Aviña. Lacking natural talent, but possessed of incredible desire and courage, he was lucky to have survived his first year on the novillada picada circuit, 1998. Although he could hardly swim, he was cast into a pool of hungry sharks. So far, in 1999, he hasn't worn the suit of lights, even once.
The classic story of "poor boy makes good as bullfighter and saves sister from whorehouse" is a remnant of the past. Today, any Mexican youngster who shows potential is rushed into his alter-nativa. And, what does the word, "potential" really mean to the average Mexican novil-lero? It isn't natural talent or technical ability, but his personality, his charisma, and, of far greater importance, his impact on the crowds.
Novilleros and new matadores discover that giving the proper lídia is not nearly as important as cutting ears. And, especially along the frontiers, that usually translated to conning the crowds with deceptive tremendismo, rather than honest toreo. A prime example is Rafaél Ortega, who, early in his career, demonstrated outstanding artistic potential. But, he has since become jaded: his artistic spirit has been emasculated. The same could be said of the otherwise brilliant Venezuelan matador, Leonardo Benitez.
"I have to cut ears!," Ortega told me. "But, the frontier crowds don't reward serious toreo, so I give them what they want, anything that it takes to get them to pull out their handkerchiefs and impress the empresarios. Ears, not ability, is what the empresarios consider when offering contracts," he added.
On any bullfight afternoon, six bulls sacrifice their lives, and they demand justification. The only justification for bullfighting is the pursuit of art. Not necessarily the realization of it, for after all, not every canvas is a masterpiece. But, the bulls don't know that they're dying in a frontier plaza, rather than in ring of greater taurine prestige.
So, what does all of this mean to local aficionados? With few exceptions, the only first category Mexican matador who stands a chance of competing with a Spaniard is Eloy Cavazos. In the years to come, such a reality may apply to Fernando Ochoa, Jeronimo, Mario del Olmo, Paco Gonzalez, El Zapata, and a few others. But, for the present, bullfighting along the frontiers is in the doldrums.
Attendance is down. One reason may be that the powers that determine such things have, in their infinite wisdom, concluded that their major market is Tijuana, so all of their advertising and publicity is targeted, exclusively, at that market. They see no reason to attract aficionados from north of the border.
During the past few seasons, it has been rare to see many members of California peñas taurinas in the stands. An increasing number of experienced aficionados have concluded that, for what they pay for a season of corridas in Tijuana or Juárez, they can spend a couple of weeks, watching world class matadores perform in any of Spain's major ferias.
And, by offering a constant diet of figuras such as Enrique Garza, El Zotoluco, Antonio Urrutia, Manuel Capetillo, et al, those in control are failing to offer a product that aficionados from either side of the border are willing to buy. Even though corridas in Mexico, compared to those of Spain, are a great financial bargain, the crowds buy tickets only when Eloy or a Spaniard is contracted.
And, the situation doesn't appear to have any resolution.
TORO TOPICS
With only two corridas de toros remaining in the 1999 season, the next card will be presented, Oct. 3, in the downtown ring, and will feature Rejoneador Geraldo Trueba and matadores Enrique Garza, César Castañeda, and El Zapata, facing bulls of Doña Pilar Labastida.