Outsiders may debate whether is sport or art, but within the normally close circle of Spanish aficionados, there is only one correct answer, and it has nothing to do with basketball. Yet if bullfighting is an art, does that make all its practitioners artists?



Most definitely not, has been the answer of many bullfighting insiders ever since Spanish Culture Minister C'sar Antonio Molina,announced on Feb. 27 that this year's prestigious Fine Arts medal for bullfighting would go to Francisco Rivera Ord??ez. The 35-year-old matador has killed more than 2,000 bulls, but because of both his family ties ? he descends from Spain's most important bullfighting dynasty and was briefly married to the Duchess of Alba's daughter ? and his abundant good looks, Rivera is as well-known for his presence in the gossip rags as for his work with the cape and sword. (See pictures of bullfighting.)

And that may be precisely the problem. Announcing the award, Molina described Rivera's technique as ?now more aesthetic, relaxed and profound.? But ?aesthetic? is not exactly how many in the bullfighting world see Rivera's efforts. ?I think we're all in agreement that he doesn't represent the artistic side of the toreo,? says Israel Vicente, a master in this art and director of Tauropress, a public-relations company that specializes in bullfighting. ?He's been given the prize because he's a name that people recognize, not because he's an artist.?

Vicente isn't alone in that characterization. Upon hearing of the award, bullfighter Jos? Antonio Morente de la Puebla told the press, ?I think it's shameful that they would give it to him,? and added that he saw the decision as clear evidence of how little those behind the prize understood ?about bullfighting and about art.?