European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 21, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cover Story from the cover the four men grabbed the Matador under his arms and legs and carried him to a stadium infirmary where doctors started emergency medical Aid. The bulls a a Success was Short lived. Minutes later another Matador killed him with a thrust of a sword. All in a Days work at Madrid a Plaza do Toros. Its Spain a Premier bullring a pressure cooker for the glamorous matadors where the fans arc As hard charging As the bulls. Not a place for amateurs or for the faint of heart. The bullring a managers have to take special measures to nip in the Bud any potential unruly Ness among the fans a no matter How harmless it May appear. That a Why on the first Page of every program sold at every bullfight comes this Stern if not somewhat be musing warning 1 caution Cushion throwing at the menu is strictly prohibited against a severe Fine. That Sok. Anyone looking to let off a Little steam need not worry because what takes place inside the bullring is no Mere Pillow fight. It is a spectacle that seems repulsive to its opponents and confusing to foreigners but which inspires its Many aficionados to describe it with a theatrical flourish. A bullfighting is likened to an opera or a play rather than a sporting event a said Anita Unrath a knowledgeable fan. She helps escort american tour groups from Torr Jon a to nearby Madrid for sunday evening bullfights during the season from april to october. Not everyone in Europe shares Unrath a enthusiasm. Groups such As the association for the defense of animal rights a Spanish organization have been trying for years to get the government to curb a or ban outright a bullfighting. And in recent years there have been various efforts As yet unsuccessful to get the european parliament to take up proposals that would Lead to a ban on bullfighting by the european Community. A there is a big movement in Western Europe including Many Spanish that looks on bullfighting not As a sport but As cruelty to animals a said Joe Hernandez a technical sergeant at Torr Jon a who also escorts americans to bullfights. Hernandez believes bullfighting will survive because it is so firmly fixed in the country a culture. A bullfighting is part of Spanish history. It goes Back to the Middle Ages a even to Elcid a he said of the legendary 1 Ith Century Spanish Warrior. Many americans tend to take the View that not seeing a bullfight when in Spain would be like missing the Beach when visiting Miami or the statue of Liberty when in new York City. A this is a must. If you come to Spain and you done to see a bullfight you Haven to seen Spain a said or. Walter Santiago a paediatrician from Torr Jon a who saw his first bullfight with up Rath on a recent sunday evening. A i done to know if i approve of it but i wanted to see it a said maj. George Jones of Orlando fla., who is also stationed at Torr Jon. A a it a so much a part of Spanish  often americans know Little More about bullfighting than what they be gleaned from to shows such As wide world of sports. So during bullfighting season Hernandez and Unrath try to prep tour groups with a Quick lesson on the basics of bullfighting As Well As background on the history of the complicated and controversial sport. And perhaps no bullring reverberates with As much history As Madrid a. Officially opened in 1934, the Plaza do Toros is Spain a largest Bull left a tourist checks out the Days lineup outside Madrid a Plaza de Toros. Below a Matador gets dressed for the occasion with a bullfighting Cape. Bottom the Keyhole design opens the Plaza do Toros doors to a loud crowd. Ring with a capacity of 23,000 fans. Bullfighter cannot perform there until they have completed their apprenticeship  in me country. Madrid has the reputation of having the toughest most knowledgeable fans in Spain. A the matadors want to come to Madrid a Unrath said. A to please the crowd Here is More  Madrid also takes Only mature bulls a those Between 4 and 6 years old. With Only one of every 10 bulls Ever making it to any bullring in Spain the chances that a rancher will get one of his bulls to Madrid makes it a hotly competitive prize. It All adds up to the strongest bulls the bravest matadors and the toughest fans a often a wild and unpredictable brew in Madrid. A and its this unknown Quality that makes every bullfight different Here a Unrath said. A you never know exactly what will  with that warning Unrath recently led a group