During a recent break in the Primary action, Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton poured herself a glass of red wine and talked to the traveling press aboard Air Force One. Seems the topic of conversation before centering on the primaries was about Hillary’s choice in booze. Hillary mentioned she had a preference for Ales, in particular Blue Moon Belgian Ale. Its great to see this side of a public figure, I just wish the article dove more into what wines Bubba and Hillary prefer. Well, if the primaries continue to progress the way they are and Barrak Obama wins the Democratic nomination, I’m gonna have to buy me a couple of six packs of Blue Moon and gain the nerve to cast my vote for John McCain. There, I said it Brian! I will vote for McCain because you gotta love anybody who pisses off conservatives the way McCain does.

On the heals of being named as the only Mexican Matador in “lista de los triunfadores de Temporada Grande 2007-2008 en la Plaza México” compiled and released by Bibliófilos Taurinos de México A.C., Rodolfo Rodriguez “El Pana has arrived in Spain ready to spread his disease. Pana is scheduled to partir plaza with none other than Morante de la Puebla in Madrid’s Palacio Vistalegre on Leap Day, 2/29/08. I really anticipate a blood bath not only in the ring, but in the Spanish press. How does El Pana think the Madrileños are gonna accept his brand of “Toreo”. This guy is and has always been a clown. His clown act will be dealt with without mercy. I can’t wait. Others on the list of “truinfadores” en La Mexico included: Mejor Faena: Sebastian Castella lidió a “Cincuentón” del hierro de Teófilo Gómez 2/4/08 (below left). Mejor Toro: “Pitito”, de Barralva, lidiado e indultado por Antonio Bricio el 1/27/08 (below middle). Mejor Encierro: Barralva, lidiado el 1/27/08. Mejores Lances: José Tomás, al toro “Notario”, de Barralva, el 11/4/07. Mejor Quite: Alejandro Talavante, “gaoneras” al toro “Cedacero”, de San José, 11/11/07. Mejor Puyazo: Español Francisco de Borja, de la cuadrilla del español José Tomás, al toro “Bailador” de Xajay, 2/5/08 (below right). Mejor Par de Matador: Rodolfo Rodríguez “El Pana”, al toro “Consejero”, de Los Ebanos, 2/6/08. Mejor Par de Subalterno: Christian Sánchez, por el tercer par al toro “Cubetero”, de Los Encinos, 2/5/08. Mejor Estocada: José Tomás, al toro “Purito” de Barralva, el 11/4/07. Triunfador: Francés Sebastián Castella.

Although DBB is mostly about my beloved Toros, I do as the title implies post on occasion about wine. DBB 1.0 had blog entries documenting my expanding wine exposure but I somehow was giving the illusion of becoming a wino. DBB 2.0 fell into the pattern of posting interesting articles surrounding the world of wine. So, based on the recent history of my wine post, I feel and believe besides being a primarily Toros Blog, DBB is also a Wine Blog. In no way is it a Wine Blog like the 500 to 700 hundred wine blogs currently on the internet. One of them, Fermentation has gone so far to award the Annual American Wine Blog Awards. Currently taking nominations, the awards will be announced later this Spring. This got me to thinking. Why not name DBB’s favorite Wine Blogs of 2008? So here they are. darkbrownbucket.com’s Top Five Wine Blogs of 2007:
#5. quaffability, the fruggle approach.
#4. Dr. Vino, lots of cool stuff from the Doc, Tyler Colman.
#3. elmundovino, Cuz Spanish wine rules!
#2. Vinography, new look for a all time favorite blog.
…and the Number One Wine Blog of 2008…
#1. Wine Library TV, Gary Vay-ner-chuk is the man!

On Friday February 15th 2008, the Taurine world lost one of its greatest Aficionados and Photographers. Gary Sloan of San Diego California left us a legacy of fine memories, photographs, writings and friendships. Gary’s best work was his fotos in black and white. He resisted the easy way out of digital color photography and insisted on the traditional method of creating photographic art. By far the best Taurine photographer in the northern Mexican Plaza’s, Gary’s art captured the emotions and struggles of both toreros and toros. You can view Gary’s fine work on his web site here. I believe Gary’s single best foto was that of the lone toro on hind legs with extended front legs. It is a perfect display of life of Toro Bravo at a stand still, while displaying the typical characteristics of a Mexican Toro Bravo. We in the San Diego/Tijuana area will miss dearly seeing Gary on the sand, in the callejon and after the corridas. Foto courtesy of Maestro Gary Sloan, QEPD.

From last Sunday’s corrida in Guadalajara, pictures of Morante la Puebla appeared in Burladerodos.com documenting the Maestro’s throwback style of Sevillano school of toreo. As I reviewed the fotos, I could not help compare past fotos of “El Gallo”, “Joselito” and mostly Juan Belmonte. I got to thinking, without the color, the zoom lenses and digital mechanistic (aka mecalisgraphics) nature of Taurine Photography today, would Morante stand out then as other top Toreros of that era. I would love to attend a Mano a Mano between Morante and Belmonte. That would be the ultimate. Of course when speaking of throwback toreros, one cannot over look Luis Fransisco Esplá. This dude thinks he’s there right now, and he is a better Matador for it. So, as a tribute to the great Toreros from “La Epoca de Oro” I give you todays Retro-Maestro, vintage Morante de la Puebla.

Nobody does them better. Estatuarios are normally performed at the beginning of the faena to recieve the toros initial charges, thus having the momentum carrying the animal through the pass. José Tomás performed in Plaza México on Tuesday February 5th with Mexico City favorite, but everywhere else unknown Humberto Flores and Nacho Garibay. Tomás did not have a good afternoon but what did transpire from his performance was this classic photo taken by Burladerdos photographer Paco Tijerina. The ‘Estatuario” is a pass performed as mentioned in the beginning of the faena but also as a closing high pass to provide the bull with punishing high passes to lower his neck, ready for the kill. Manolete and Luis Procuna have been subjects of taurine photography folklore which have documented this timeless pass. This shot of José Tomás is right up there.

The Mexican city of Torreon inaugurated its new Plaza de Toros on Friday February 8th, 2008. The Coliseo Centenario which sports a roof is modeled after a roman colosseum on the outside with definite influences of Sevilla’s Real Maestranza on the inside. Where the architects got it wrong is the callejon wall. The first pictures published after the inaugural Corrida with Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, Zotoluco and Nacho Garibay show the monster wall standing out like a sore thumb. What could be the practical reasoning for such a hugely grotesque wall which appears to be at least 18 feet tall. Could it be fallout from Pajarito’s flight of the toro in Plaza Mexico in January 2006. Either way, the builders of Mexico’s first roofed Plaza de Toros (not counting Palacio de los Deportes in D.F.) really dropped the ball on this architectural mess.

When Juan José Padilla wasn’t breaking up Bullfighter Brawls, he was applying his unique brand of Toreo in front of the Autlán de la Grana crowd. Probably the most punished Spanish Matador, Padilla never ceases to thrilling faroles, quites, banderillas, desplantes and volteretas. Probably Spain’s most gored Tremendista, I had the fortune of seeing him in Haro, La Rioja two years ago. The Victorinos didn’t cooperate that day in 2006, but JJP pulled out his bag of tricks and cut a tail for the Carnaval goers.

There is a brotherhood among Toreros. As with other groups, there is a code of conduct. “Estar en Torero” is a term which describe how a Torero carries himself in and outside the ring. Outside the ring it may entail a perspective of life and respectful behavior no other individuals understand except for Firefighters, Police or Warriors. Respect for death. Death of el toro bravo and possibly the torero himself is the main catalyst in this manner of behavior. Inside the ring its more evident. The Toreros are poised, focused and for the most part in control of their emotions. To aid this cohesive behavior and keep the festivities going there exist a set of Reglamentos (rules). Each Torero knows their role. Roles switch and change throughout the corrida according to seniority and circumstance (injury). One reglamento is at the conclusion of the picing the Torero who will face the next bull, the torero who follows in turn by seniority can perform a quite with the permission of the torero who the toro belongs to. Dissing a torero by cutting in to perform a quite without permission or out of turn is not cool. In Autlán de la Grana, México on Sunday February 3rd, Mexican Matador Alfredo Rios “El Conde” disrespected Spanish Matador Antonio Barrera by rushing out to perform a quite without Berrera’s permission. Barrera did not hesitate to stop “El Conde” in his tracks. What ensued was a slap fest between two Matadors while the toro was in the ring. In the photos you can see fellow Spanish Matador Juan José Padilla rush to separate his countryman from the fray. Members of both cuadrillas eventually pulled their Matadors apart, while others kept the toro at bay. Realizing his mistake and in a attempt to save face, “El Conde” later dedicated his toro to Barrera. I don’t know if an apology was involved but Barrera didn’t look convinced.

Morante de la Puebla continued his Mexican temporada with Corridas in Autlán de la Grana on Saturday February 2nd and in Plaza México on Monday February 5th. There’s an old Taurine saying, “no hay fiesta si no hay toros”. With out bulls, the is no fiesta. This was the case with the Maestro’s latest appearances. Blame it on the sorteo, but in all his artistry Morante couldn’t buy a break. Nevertheless, in Autlán, Morante was accompanied by Alfredo Gutiérrez and Uriel Moreno El Zapata with toros from Jorge de Haro. In Plaza México, the much awaited and overly unorganized Mini Feria brought Morante to Insurgentes alternating with Sebastian Castella, El Zapata and Tijuanense Alejandro Amaya with no result. No white washing his bad luck, so I’ll leave it to the foto resumen. Above Autlan de la Grana and below Plaza México.

I watched the Super Bowl from beginning to end. I drifted when the defensive struggle lasted beyond the lame Tom Petty concert at halftime. I do have to say, not being a fan of either the Patriots or the Giants I found myself pushing for both teams at different points of the game. You gotta understand, I first and foremost am a Minnesota Vikings fan. I live in San Diego, but over the years have drifted from investing all my energy in the Chargers. Both New England and New York have had something to do with the Chargers destiny. Eli Manning dissed San Diego by refusing to play for the Chargers. San Diego got Phillip Rivers out of the deal. The Patriots have now knocked the Chargers out of the playoff two years in a row. This year hurt more because it was in the AFC Championship Game. Despite this, I went into the game leaning towards rooting for the Pats. I was drinking my Samuel Adams to solidify the deal. As the game rolled on though, I did what no sport fan should do. Switch teams in the middle of the game. After the Patriots went up 14-10, I knew the scrappy Giants could do it. Joe Namath could not have predicted it closer. The play, the catch, the moment I will always remember was when Eli Manning scrambled out of the Patriots grasp, launched a bomb down the middle of the field to WR David Tyree. Tyree out jumped Rodney Harrison for the ball and managed to maintain possesion against his own helmet as Harrison struggled to strip the ball. The pass was complete and Manning found Plexico Burress in the endzone after “The Play” to secure the upset win. The Giants win which spoiled a perfect season for the 18-1 Patriots provided a huge television audiance with the most trilling Super Bowl upset since the other team from New York, the Jets beat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in 1968. Super Scramble, super pass, super catch and super win for the Giants.