October 15, 1999
With only a 50/50 chance that El
Juli will perform in a post-season November corrida, there will
be no more bullfights in 1999, in Tijuana. But, according to a
reliable source, aficionados will see some big changes in the
summer of 2000.
There will be only eight corridas —four in the downtown ring and four at the sea— in the next years' season. The reason, in this observer's opinion, was the decision by the empresarios to target all of their advertising and promotion exclusively at the Tijuana audience, ignoring the aficionados from north of the border. The trouble is that most of the Tijuana crowd cannot economically support a 13-corrida season. Thus, they are very selective in attending only those Sundays that featured particularly attractive cards.
Another change in 2000, said my source, will be that Licenciado Portugal will no longer be acting as empresa in Plaza El Toreo. He'll be replaced by ex-Matador Raul Garcia. No comment needed.
The season just concluded had its share of great, good, and poor afternoons. But, it was a fine season, albeit a bloody one. Two serious, though not grave, gorings were recorded, one to Spanish Matador Domingo López Chávez, and the other to Mexico's rising star, Fernando Ochoa.
Computing the two, life-sparing indultos as ears-and-tail triumphs, there were 34 ears and three tails awarded. There were also 12 avisos sounded, for exceeding the time limit to kill. One bull received all three avisos and was returned, alive, to the corals, where it was shot.
There were excellent herds of bulls
from Pilar Labastida and Doña Célia Barbabosa. It
was a great season for Begoña, which presented three excellent
encierros, June 13, Aug. 8, and Sept. 19, and registered
both indultos. Less than desirable herds were presented from Cerro
Viejo, Los Martinez, Piedras Negras, San Pablo, Fernando de La
Mora, Yturbe Hermanos, Jaral de Peñas, Julio Delgado, and
Santa Rosa de Lima.
It would be easy to conclude that either of the indulto bulls should be considered the best of the summer. But, this observer, who is known for swimming against the tide, selects the 495-kilo Don Martin, of Pilar Labastida—which made five honest entries to the picadores— as the bravest toro of the season.
Naming the most triumphant matador of the year was simple.
With an indulto, plus an additional three ears and a tail to his
credit, and for the second time in two years, the geriatric wonder,
50-year-old Eloy Cavazos deserves the honor.
Had he not encountered so many difficulties with the sword,
Uriel Moreno "El Zapata" might well have been considered
the most pure lidiador of the summer. He worked in five
corridas, cutting six ears. But, had he killed better, he could
easily have doubled his trophy count.
There were two revelations of the season. The first was newcomer Jeronimo, who, likewise could have had much greater success, has he not encountered so many problems with the steel. nevertheless, he demonstrated that he has the potential for the future. Jeronimo worked on two cards, cut one ear, and heard three avisos.
The other revelation was the young Spaniard, Domingo López Chavez. Although, by Spanish standards, he is not a top-ranked matador, he offers the potential to become a first category torero. In his Tijuana debut, Aug. 15, his first bull was granted the indulto, and he cut one ear from his second toro. Then, on Aug. 29, he was awarded an ear from his first bull, and suffered a deep goring in the thigh from his second toro.
Disappointing were Leonardo Benitez, Federico Pizarro, Jorge Gutierrez, Enrique Garza, Humberto Flores, Manuel Capetillo, Rafael Ortega, and Eulalio López "El Zotoluco."
But we saw some fine work in their limited appearances by Fernando
Ochoa, Luis Fernando 
Sánchez, Oscar
San Román, Alfredo Gutierrez, Alfredo Lomelí, Iñaki
Eliaz, Mauricio Portillo, Miguel La Hoz, Paco Gonzalez —who
I especially liked— and Miguelito Armillita Chico. An honorable
mention is extended to Tijuanense César Castañeda,
whose previously great sword work turned sour, denying him awards
in two corridas. In the last afternoon of the season, the desperately
hungry Castañeda triumphed, but at the expense of his artistry.
To his credit, César worked very well with a couple of
the season's toughest toros.
We saw three rejoneadores in the season. Giovanni Aloi was awarded two ears for a clean action with an excellent bull. José Hernandez Andres worked well, but didn't cut; and Gerardo Trueba didn't have a chance to show his stuff, for he received a terrible animal.
The best Verónicas of the season were offered by Jeronimo. The best faena is a dead heat between Eloy Cavazos and Domingo López Chavez, with honorable mentions to Fernando Ochoa, El Zapata, Alfredo Lomelí, Jeronimo, Mauricio Portillo, Paco Gonzalez, and Miguel La Hoz. The best banderillas by a matador were placed by Oscar San Román, with an honorable mention to César Castañeda.
The best sword placement goes to Enrique Garza, for his patas arriba estocada in the last corrida of the season. The best subaltern of the season was Alfredo Acosta, banderillero for Jorge Gutierrez, who on May 16, received a strong round of applause.
In Summary
Best Corridas: All three herds from Begoña
Bravest Bull: Don Martin, of Pilar Labastida
Triunfador: Eloy Cavazos
Best Faena: Eloy Cava-zos/Domingo López Chavez
Best Verónicas: Jeronimo
Best Banderilllas by a Matador: Oscar San Román
Best Estocada: Enrique Garza
Best Subaltern: Alfredo Acosta
So, unless El Juli performs in November, until next season, that's it for Bullfight World, Edition 1999. Thanks to the readers —especially those who disagreed with my reviews— to Daniel Muñoz Sr. and Jr., to Plaza Judge Jaime Gonzalez, Empresas Pepe López Hurtado, and to the many excellent toreros and toros which, combined, made it a memorable summer.
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