2008 DBB Taurino Awards: And The Brownie Goes To…
José Tomás: Mejor Matador del Año 2008
No mystery here. 2008 was the year of José Tomás. This is too bad for Miguel Angel Parera who is well deserving, but there is no denying José Tomás stamped his name as one of the greatest Matadors in Spanish history with his epic performances in 2008. In Madrid on June 5th, José Tomás performed two phenomenal and memorable faenas all the while being tossed and gored yet managing to cut four ears in Las Ventas. This has become a disturbing trend for JT since coming out of retirement in 2007. Many have said Tomás is on a suicide mission or self fulfilling prophecy to die in the ring. Others say his tossings and gorings are testament to where Tomás is willing to take himself and his bovine foes. In essence, Tomás has established a zone few Toreros ever venture into. In September, Tomás faced Idilico from Nuñez de Cuvillo and performed his best faena of the year. In doing so he did his part in sparing the life of the extraordinary Toro. Nevertheless, I a self proclaimed Morantista cannot deny there is no other Matador in the same stratosphere as José Tomás. 2008 was the year of El Monstruo de Galapagar.
Ruben Pinar: Mejor Novillero del Año 2008
Otro torero hecho en Mexico. Ruben Pinar made his debut in Las Ventas in 2007, but his break out year was 2008. While Pinar spent his novice years applying his trade in Mexico, he demonstrated a level of maturity not seen since El Juli did the same in his first years as a Novillero. Pinar returned to Las Ventas in 2008 and cut 2 ears in two afternoons. It was not long after solidifying his dominance as a well prepared torero, he received his Alternativa in Nimes and cut three ears (below). Honarble mentions go to José Manuel Mas and Mexican “El Payo” who since has taken the doctorate to Matador de Toros.
Idilico: Mejor Toro del Año 2008
Idilico from Nuñez de Cuvillo fought and given the Indulto by José Tomás in Barcelona on September 21st receives the 2008 Brownies as the best Toro of the year. Although in my judgement and from some 3000 miles away, it not the best faena of the year, the Idilico and Tomás duel presented the two protagonists at the top of their game on that Sunday in the Monumental. Tomás extracted and showcased the bravura of Idilico with countless series with both hands. Throughout, Idilico maintained his honor, sin humilllar and attacking to the very end. In this case, the end will be years away as Idilico was returned to the campo under the watchful eye of the Spanish media.
Miguel Angel Perera: Mejor Faena del Año 2008
I don’t give Miguel Angel Perera enough credit. Especially since G.C. gushes over him at any opportunity. He is a great artist. There are few toreros who are willing to perform in the proximities as Perera, Tomás, Castella and Talavante. 2008 was a great year for Perera. Triumphs in Sevilla, Santander, Dax, Valladolid, Logroño, Castellon and Madrid certainly would classify him as one the most consistant Matadores. Perera’s problem is he performed in the shadow of José Tomás all of 2008. If it weren’t for Tomás’ phenomenal year and mythical performances, Perera would hands down be the best. On June 6th in Madrid, with “Berlanguillo” Nº 101 from Núñez del Cuvillo, it was Perera who turned in an all around better faena to answer to Tomás historic afternoon the day before. Perera was tremendous. His text book series on the right were surpassed only by his masterful Naturales. His toreo en redondo was complemented by his refusal to flinch. He cut two ears from Berlanguillo after an aviso, but his performance solidified his place a one of the best of 2008.
Diego Ventura: Mejor Rejoneador del Año 2008
Without a doubt the best Rejoneador of the 2008 season was Diego Ventura. Ventura cut a total of 167 ears and 16 tail in 67 appearances in 2008, including 7 ears in two appearances in Las Ventas. He was the most consistent of all Rejoneadores and definitely the one the crowds went to see. In addition to Madrid, Ventura had big afternoons in Sevilla, Puebla del Río, Ecija, Barcelona, Antequera, Murcia and finally in Ronda. In the Ronda Encerrona, Ventura cut 12 ears an one tail and was inspired enough to dismount and fight a pie. Many were wondering why Ventura didn’t bring his act to the Americas, but Ventura spent the off season training new horses.
Morante: Mejor Caballo Torero del Año 2008
While Diego Ventura was collecting applause, one of his horses was making headlines. Morante, a horse Ventura uses for banderillas emerged as a star because he began to show his bravura in front of the toros he faced in a particular way. Morante developed a habit of biting the toros on the foreheads, flanks and on one particular afternoon in Sevilla, he took the horn of the toro in his mouth and bit it. Many horses show their bravura in many different ways, but the biting displayed by Morante was something not seen before. Morante soon became known as “el caballo que muerde a los toros”
Fernando Cruz: Mejor Traje de Luces del Año 2008
Fernando Cruz has style. He blends in the background as far as what he has etched for himself on the bullfight landscape, but the dude knows how to dress. This year he debut this nice verde botella traje with a design he has used before with white/azabache and red/gold suits. The whimsical and loopy motif is a rare asymmetrical design and is a fresh deversion from the familiar patterns used in Mexico and España. Below are the second and third best trajes used in 2008. First is Sanchez Vara who debut a fine purple/gold traje with the old John Fulton motif. Sanchez Vara has used this motif with the a number of his trajes. Uceda Leal rolled out this gem of a traje during San Isidro. The light blue/gold traje is nothing special, but as with Cruz, Uceda Leal really pick some good looking trajes.
El de José Tomás: Mejor Cuardilla del Año 2008
Banderilleros José Chacón, Miguel Cubero, Raúl Izquierdo, and the picadores Francisco de Borja Ruiz and Vicente González made up the cuadrilla of José Tomás. Special honor should be placed on this special group of professionals who kept Tomás alive. I tried to count the number of times Tomás actually got gored in 2008 but I could not come up with a number. Fact is, Tomás was the most punished Matador in 2008. Three gorings in one afternoon in Madrid. Bleeding for two hours after being gored in the “gluteo” in Puerto de Santa Maria. The list goes on. The best work as a cuadrilla goes to these exceptional men.
Carlos Casanova: Mejor Subalterno del Año 2008
“Quite providencial” is what it was called. On April 8th in Sevilla, Carlos Casanova sacrificed his life by grabbing the horns of the Victorino who was malling Matador Pepín Liria on the day of his despedida from the Sevilla crowd during the faena de muleta. Earlier, Liria had attempted to receive the Victorino Martin a Porta Gayola but the toro cut short and caught Liria in the medios. Liria, determined and taped up continued and what transpired was one of the most emotional moments of the 2008 Temporada. In the video below, you can relive the emotion, fear, danger and desperation. This one brave and instinctful act by Casanova provided the best Quite of 2008 by the best subalterno of 2008. Ole Torero!
Eloy Cavazos: 2008 DBB “Ya Basta” Award
I use to enjoy Eloy Cavazos in the 70′s. I saw him fight along side Manolo Martinez, Curro Rivera and Mariano Ramos. I saw him a couple of times in the 80′s and missed him in the 90′s. This year Eloy retired for the 3rd time and hopefully the last time. El Pequeño Gigante Regiomontano has stretched his career over four decades which started as a Matador de Toros in 1966 at seventeen years old. Those who know him, and consistent with the stereotype of those from Monterey, Mexico say he was just too cheap to stay retired. There are many stories of his infamous frugality which support this. The fact remains Eloy is and will always be one of Mexico’s best ever Matadors, but “Ya Basta”, stay retired this time Maestro! Foto by Gary Sloan, QEPD.
With Spain winning the European Cup 2008, thus shedding the underachiever monkey off their back it did bring a great injustice to light. With all the Spanish talent in La Liga as well as playing abroad, it has made picking the Spanish squad a difficult task. This past Sunday though, the Spanish playmaker applying his trade in the EPL at Everton F.C., Mikel Arteta proved one more time he either deserves a shot at the Spanish National team or he needs to become a English citizen. Disfrute!
The results are being tallied, and the winners are being notified. Stay tuned to this, the worlds foremost Spanglish blog about the Toreros and the Toros for the first annual DBB Taurino Awards. Oh yes you can turn to Burladero.es, 6Toros6 or Esto for who they think the headliners were, but will they award the best Traje de Luces or the special “Ya Basta” award? Only DBB will call it like it is. The Best Matador, Novillero, Subalterno, Toro, Ganaderia and Come Back Torero of the year are amoung some of the awards to be dealt out. Please feel free to submit your own. After all, its us the aficionados who pay the boletos, so if you feel “El Pana” or Eloy Cavazos are desrving of the “Ya Basta” award. let me know.
Like most non-Red Devil worshippers, I agree Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the worlds best players but he is a fucking royal pain in the ass. Arrogance, crybaby and diving are some of most annoying traits, but you cannot deny his quality of play. His little skip hop run is faster than many defenders. His spread eagle stance before taking another magically placed free kick. His improved heading ability, until recently his weakness. All these are what sets this son of a bitch apart from many great footballers applying theirs trade in the top leagues in Europe. So a couple of days after Ronaldo got sent off in the Manchester Derby, he is awarded the Ballon d’Or. In the Derby, Ronaldo was sent off after second yellow card for handling the ball in the Man City box. Alex Ferguson and Ronaldo spent the next couple of days crying about it. I don’t deny his talent, but when this guy who dates models and draws fouls left and right gets his due, he whimpers and pouts and gets awards. He’s gotta a hell of a right foot too. Damn it.