, 1935-06-09
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: The Il:
: Sports 49,:
|: Spade W |:
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OPENING OF the new "Bien-
venida" plaza de toros In Matamoros
Sunday afternoon will be a gala
burst OF color and spectacle with
thousands OF Americans in the
But very few Americans, with ex-
ception Of those living in Latin
countries or along the border.
learn n fine points OF the torero's
art They are satisfied with the
pomp, color and spectacle, and do
not bother with i~ntricacies OF the
eStocada, the veronicas, molinetes
and passes de muleta-
TO them the picador Is lust a
with a spear, and the matador Is
a very handy fellow with a sword
testoque). All must be nimbie on
TIER feet, the American admits
OF they would not be at all.
The fight gets under a with
n band playing a tune which IL
vaguely sad. yet exciting. The
'cuadrila," the company OF fight
erS. marches into the ring 70 make
us bow before the Judge C~cam-
biador de suerteS'). The matador
holds In the center position, flank
ca by the capaS. banderilleroS and
me picadores. All are dressed in
flaming costumes which permi, A
maximum OF splendor and Ease OF
action.
After the parade around the
ring, 10 the accompaniment or fla
mencos and other gay Spanish
music, the performers take their
posts around the circles.
Inc first bull Is released from the
small "toril." and the "monoSabio"
wise monkey jahS a small dart,
known as the flor" In the animals
shoulder as II rushes into the arena
Then the fight Is on.
The first group TO take the field
Is the "capas," young bull fighters
who play the animal with their
capes. Their job is TO tire the ami
mai, and II Is no disgrace for them
10 take 70 the barreras. the little
wood walls Just inside the ring.
The picadores, the horsemen with
the long lances. are next. The fine
point OF being a picador is the
ability to hit the animal ~suuarely
In the shoulder with the lance. TO
lit the animal in any other part
OF his anatomy might be called n
foul by the "cambiador de suertes."
This would make the picador liable
70 a fine.
The picadores. believe Il or not.
90 all IN their power TO save their
horses.
After the picadores have their
innings, the capas appear on the
scene once more 10 give the bull
another twirl. When the bull aD-
pears a bit down in the dumps over
ln66ility 70 get his horns into
flesh. out come the banderllleroS,
me boys who usually give the
Americans a thrill.
With no cape and only two short
darts ('banderillas"D in his hands.
TIT banderillero strides 10 the center
OF the ring. He lifts the b~anderillas
nigh over his head. waves them
slightly 70 attract the bulls atten-
ton, and then the animal charges.
The banderillo runs forward as the
Least charges. leans over the bulls
horns. sets the banderillas in the
animals shoulders - and sideslipS
out OF the animals way, II possible.
II the bull appears too tame. the
matador requests permission from
the cambiador de suerteS (judgel TO
use banderillas de fuego. These
darts have powder caps which 20
off and burn the animal when they
touch his shoulder.
That done. then the stage Is set
for the matador-the ace OF the
cuadrilla. He plays the bull with a
large cape, going through a myriad
o. intricate steps and flourishes.
Each has its own name. all well
known TO the "aficionadoS." The
fight nears the last roundup when
the matadOr reaches for the muleta.
q short blood red cape. With this
he makes the bull lower its head
repeatedly. the object being 70 tire
the animal and TO get II to lower
its head.
Then he brings out the trusty old
eStoque Sword. and delivers what
he hopes will be the death thrust.
This Is known as the estocada.
The band strikes up, the crowd
cheers. and then they prepare for
the next bull. hoping against hope
that the cambiador de suertes nil
MOI call fouls punishable by fineS),
and that the crowd will not be too
critical.
But, regardless OF what you might
think OF bull fighting, brother, you
can't frame the bull.