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El Cordobes

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Athlete

The Resume

    (May 4, 1936- )
    Born in Palma del Rio, Spain
    Birth name was Manuel Benitez Perez
    Matador
    Known for his unorthodox acrobatic style

Why he might be annoying:

    As a teen, he was arrested for stealing and for illegally entering a bullring.
    He was illiterate until after he was drafted and served in the army.
    He made his living killing animals for sport.
    He was accused of fighting bulls that were undersized and had their horns shaved down to minimize the danger.
    His manager allegedly bribed reporters to not comment on his stylistic faults.
    He became Generalissimo Franco's hunting partner.
    He retired (1972), then returned to the ring seven years later.
    His reputation as womanizer was summed up with 'six bulls in the afternoon and six women in the hotel.'
    He lost a paternity suit when he refused to take a blood test, which he called an affront to his honor, but the court called 'obstructionist behavior.' (2002)

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was orphaned after the Spanish Civil War when his father died of tuberculosis after being released from a political prison.
    He returned to the ring just 22 days after a near-fatal goring by the bull Impulsivo (1964).
    He fought in 111 corridas, breaking Juan Belmonte's record of 109 (1965).
    He was the highest-paid matador in history.
    His 60s popularity led him to be dubbed 'the Beatle of the Bullring.'
    He said about hanging out with Franco, 'When a head of state asks to see you, you go. I never had any politics and I never will.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 8 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 91.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 12 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying