Name this Japanese cartoon and, if possible, web site links where I
can purchase graphic novels and the episodes.

Earlier this year, Cartoon Network aired a Japanese cartoon, maybe at
5 p.m. or 5:30 p.m., under the banner of "Toonami" and Dragon Ball
followed this cartoon.

The cartoon has several characters.  The characters fight in a
stadium, like a baseball stadium.  The characters that fight change
frequently.  The fans are shown in shadow outline, and most look like
monsters, some with horns.  The sports announcer is usually a girl.

During the fight or after the fight, the characters go to another
realm where they encounter other characters or creatures.  In one
episode, the guy gets beaten to a pulp in the stadium.  He goes to
another realm, a beautiful green forest.  A little creature with wings
flies up and murmurs like a baby.  A girl talks to him.  He realizes
that to win the battle, he has to take care of the little creature,
which is like an inner child or a small child.  I think the scene then
changes back to the stadium.  In one scene, a girl runs up just in
time to take the announcer position and, in this scene, the good guys
nearly forfeit when they almost do not make it to the stadium on time.

The seasons's final episode was a cliff hanger.  I think a witch
appeared, or a character like a witch.

Note:  I'm 48; I only like this one cartoon; I don't care for the
other Japanese cartoons; I am not familiar with the language (such as
anime and magna) but I get the gist.

Please ask any questions to help me identify the cartoon.

Thank you.

Cynthia Diane

Hello.

I believe that you're thinking of "Yu Yu Hakusho." 

The episode summaries of the "Dark Tournament Saga" in this "Yu Yu
Hakusho" episode guide sound very similar to what you're describing
(i.e., characters fighting in a stadium).
http://www.pojo.com/yuyu/epsumm.shtml

Later episodes revolved around "The Makai Tournament."

The show has female announcers/referees named Juri and Koto.

Here's an image of Juri standing in a stadium:
http://www.absoluteanime.com/_bin/imgwin.htm?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.absoluteanime.com%2Fyu_yu_hakusho%2Fjuri.jpg&w=528&h=386&title=Juri%20%28Yu%20Yu%20Hakusho%29
"Koto also comes back later and is announcer for the Makai Tournament. "
http://www.absoluteanime.com/yu_yu_hakusho/koto.htm

"Yu Yu Hakusho" has aired on the Cartoon Network as part of the Toonami series:
http://www.cartoonnetworkla.com/english/toonami/watch/yuyu_hakusho/showguide.html

A wide array of "Yu Yu Hakusho" videos and other items are available.
Use this eBay link to browse:
http://search.ebay.com/Yu-Yu-Hakusho_W0QQsokeywordredirectZ1QQfromZR8QQsatitleZQ22YuQ20YuQ20HakushoQ22

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search strategy:
toonami "the stadium"

I hope this is the show that you had in mind. If not, please let me
know via the "request clarification" feature. Thanks.

Cool.  Yes, I believe Yuyu Hashiko is the cartoon.  Great referrals to
get the narrated story and to find merchandise.  Thanks, juggler. 
--Cyn

Yes that is a great anime the full series runs aroun 150 episodes.