Spain’s leading matador has stunned the bullfighting world by staging an unexpected farewell, symbolically cutting off his ponytail in the ring after a “historic” performance.... His departure marks the end of a unique career whose “classicism” and “mysticism” often exhausted critics’ superlatives....
Is it surprising that there is still bullfighting in Spain?
Ernest Urtasun, the culture minister from the populist left-wing Sumar alliance, scrapped the national bullfighting prize last year and set about abolishing the sport outright, calling it a spectacle based on “animal torture.” But last week the Socialist-led government declined to let parliament vote on a motion to remove bullfighting’s protected cultural status....
The hair-cutting begins around 10:00.
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42 comments:
From the looks of the video, he didn't symbolically cut off his pony tail. He cut off his pony tail. There may be symbolic meaning to his act, but he really did it.
What do leftists ever do except wipe out a Nation's culture and replace it abstract art and Gay porn?
I used to belong to three different "animal" charities and was sensitive to animal suffering. Still am. Yet, I've seen three bullfights in Spain and, let's say, appreciated them - maybe even enjoyed them. Feel free to ridicule that incongruity, if you wish. Hemingway's "Death In The Afternoon" led me to it. Recommended to anyone who wishes to have a little better understanding of 'la corrida.'
Love bullfighting ever since I saw Joey Cabell of the Wind and Sea surf team climb into the ring in Tijuana and take half a dozen passes. Amazing art form. That said, I generally root for the bull to win and then be retired to a golden field with a heifer harem and throwing his junk for $500K a pop.
In high school, in England, I ended up in a long-distance relationship with another American kid from a DoDDS school in the Netherlands. His dad was Mexican-American, his mom Spain-Spanish. After graduation, my parents let me go stay with his aunt and uncle (and him) in Madrid for a week. I was very surprised to learn that bullfighting was still a thing back then (forty years ago now!), and a spectator sport shown on TV: the uncle and my boyfriend were glued to the set for the ??Sunday afternoon bout.
Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez, known as Manolete, could not be reached for comment.
I saw a bullfight years ago. It was definitely animal torture, and not just for the bulls. The horses didn't look like they were having a lot fun. Every so often a bullfighter gets gored so sometimes the bull gets back a little of its own, but it's an unfair contest. It's an ugly spectacle, and it does no one any honor.
Sunday UHF television in LA featured Bullfights from Mexico.
Ky May Eh Ekes canal trenta y quatro
Spain’s culture is vanishing. They need another Franco. Glad to see Morante didn’t get killed like Ignacio Sánchez Mejías
Obviously, William the moralist vegan, has never worked in a slaughterhouse.
I prefer Portuguese bullfighting to the Spanish tradition.
The wife and I honeymooned in Mexico in 2002 and saw a bullfight. I wouldn't go out of my way to see another one, but I am glad I had the experience.
(After the first pass, I commented on the blood. My wife said, "Wait, why is the bull bleeding?" I just said, "You do know they kill the bull, right?" She was not aware.)
William: Every so often a bullfighter gets gored so sometimes the bull gets back a little of its own, but it's an unfair contest.
A guy is attending his first bullfight. He decides to get a plate of Rocky Mountain Oysters from the concession stand. When they give them to him, he's surprised at how small they are. The vendor says, "Señor, the bull - sometimes he wins."
The horses didn't look like they were having a lot fun.
The horses are always old nags who'd otherwise be on their way to the dog food factory. They too are sometimes horrifically killed when the bull manages to slip his horns under their armor, disemboweling them or puncturing their hearts in a shower of blood.
I've seen bullfights in Mexico and Spain. It is the last vestige of the public spectacles of mortal combat that defined Ancient Rome. On the one hand I would like to see cultural traditions of such antiquity be preserved, especially when they horrify the leftists, but on the other hand, it really is a gory spectacle that panders to the blood lust of the crowd. My wife and I will never see another.
On the other hand, have never heard Spaniards complaining about Figure 8 Demolition Derbies.
I'm thinking of the Roman Empire. They called it venationes.
Thanks Q. After looking up Portagee Bullfighting, I definitely like the Real Madrid style even more.
Ai No Corrida ... Quincy Jones
In my "youth", I was 65, I participated in the running of the bulls in Pamplona. You could complete the run inside the bull fighting arena. But if you entered you had to stay for the entire show.
The bulls passed me by well short of the arena. My "run" was over. I passed on the bull fight..
RCOCEAN II said...
What do leftists ever do except wipe out a Nation's culture and replace it abstract art and Gay porn?”
Back in my early twenties, so the early nineties, a couple of the women I knew stated they would never watch porn because it was degrading to women. But they said they might be tempted to watch gay porn because the idea of two sexy guys going at it was hawt. (Not that they would ever admit to watching it, though.)
I'm afraid I'm of the Ban It school. I see no redeeming value in torturing and killing animals for sport.
I took Spanish in 7th and 8th grades. In 8th grade we saw a video of a bullfight. I only then learned about the picadors who stab the bull to bleed and weaken it before the matador makes his appearance. Not the one man, one beast battle I always assumed, rather a wholly unfair fight. I dropped Spanish after that.
“Is it surprising that there is still bullfighting in Spain?”
It’s a sick, sad world.
I saw a bullfight during the Corpus Christi festival in Toledo. We sat next to the family of one of the matadors which seemed like quite an honor until he failed to deliver a quick death (relatively speaking) to the bull. Then the crowd turned against him and our seating arrangement became uncomfortable. We left soon after even though there were two more fights to come. I'm glad I saw it, but I wouldn't be heartbroken if it gets banned.
Bullfighting in Dune is primarily associated with Paulus Atreides, also known as the “Old Duke,” who was the grandfather of Paul Atreides. Paulus was known for fighting bulls for sport on Caladan, the Atreides’ ancestral home.
His final bullfight took place in the Plaza de Toros in 10156 AG, which was orchestrated to be fatal and ultimately led to his death, marking the last bullfight on Caladan.
The head of the bull that killed him became a treasured heirloom for House Atreides and was displayed at Castle Caladan, later moved to Arrakeen Keep.
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"I'm thinking of the Roman Empire."
Of course you are. This is the most reliable way to distinguish between men and trans men.
I bet Trump loves that outfit.
Pretty serious sport, but I would need more cowbell.
I thought this was going to be about the Italian novelist, but I guess even her brilliant friend wouldn't praise her so extravagantly. I don't suppose "bullfighting critic" Lorca is the famous poet, either.
How much is there to criticize in bullfighting? I'd suppose bullfight critiquing would be something like the SCTV sketch about the two guys blowing things up: "He killed that bull real good."
I reject cultural relativism. Some cultures are more cruel, vindictive, heartless, and ruthless than others.
"Some cultures are more cruel, vindictive, heartless, and ruthless than others."
True, but diversity is our strength!
“I’ve thought of death as a relief.”
He is retiring due to ongoing mental issues. There’s an interview with him on YouTube but it’s auto-dubbed so very unsatisfactory. (Reminding me of the movie Beaver)
(Grok)
Morante de la Puebla, the bullfighter, cited a dissociative disorder as a key reason for his retirement in October 2025. He described it as a “complex, sad, and painful illness” that he’s managed since age 22, impacting his ability to continue the high-pressure demands of bullfighting.
He’s 46.
There is a cockfighting arena next to the San Juan, Puerto Rico airport. It's close to several tourist hotels in Isla Verde (Club Gallistico de Puerto Rico).
We were in the Isla Verde area and asked about tickets -- at the time they cost $5 for tourists to stand at the back. Before committing, we watched a few Youtube videos. Not our thing, as it's just birds killing other birds on the floor without direct human involvement.
Hispanic culture is what it is. This is part of the gambling subculture, so the touchy-feely left will never be part of it.
I’m surprised. I hadn’t heard about bullfighting in decades and assumed the EU would have outlawed it.
A Planned spectacle, but not admired in some sects. Cultural relativism.
Top of the hill Andover street, San Francisco. Hell's Angel had 2 boxers in his back yard. 9 year Brother and his friend would climb on to p off fence on opposite sides . One kid agitate dogs, when dogs rushed to that side to attack, other kid drops into the yard shouting ToroToro! Hejumps back up fence as dogs rush him. Second boy jumps down from other side. ToroToro.! !
Never got killed, or even bit.
Not me, little brother has always been more adventurous.
I hadn’t heard about bullfighting in decades and assumed the EU would have outlawed it.
Back in the days of Franco, when the European Community was created in the late 1950's, and again in 1993 when the EU was formed, Spain refused to join the rest of Europe unless they were allowed to continue bullfighting.
It's doomed in its homeland, I think. I would expect it to be outlawed by 2040 at the latest. The young people hate it, especially in places like Catalonia, Galicia, and the Basque Country that define their regional identity as being not-really-Spain. It will continue for another couple of generations in Latin America, especially Peru and Mexico, but will eventually die there too.
I'm not getting it. He got tossed by the bull. Maybe gored. At about 5:15 the bull seems to be down. Edited?
looks more like attached hair extension than real hair . compact and non-swish=able
hmm ... do lord judges in UK retire their wigs?
the bull seems to be down. Edited?
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canceled with sword from atop horse!
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