Antonio Cassano boarded a private jet in Madrid and let out a huge sigh of relief. Another snatched holiday was ahead of him, to be spent partying in Rome. His cousin was on board the plane with him, and, by his own testament, he was anticipating 24 hours of bad, irresponsible behaviour. "It was then," recalled Cassano, "that I took a good look at myself and said: 'This guy is on his way to a sad end'."
At least, that's the confession Cassano made on Friday to the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in a frank interview partly aimed at persuading Italy's football public that the game's most controversial maverick has matured and can be trusted to make the most of his considerable talents. Cassano's Sampdoria, until last week the surprise pacesetters in Serie A, play the champions Inter Milan today and it is an opportunity for Cassano to showcase the form that has made him the subject of passionate discussion around Italy for much of the last 12 months.
Samp have been thriving in large part because the gamble they took in recruiting the 27-year-old has paid off; the big debate surrounds whether he should be recalled to the national squad in the lead-up to the World Cup. Plenty argue that his wayward past testifies to an untrustworthy character, not the sort to take to a long international tournament. Plenty of others think that Italy cannot afford to ignore his brilliance. At the moment, national coach Marcello Lippi belongs in the first camp.
Jose Mourinho, the Inter head coach, is not so dogmatic. His club tentatively explored the possibility of recruiting Cassano earlier this year, but instead renewed their forward line with the uncontroversial Diego Milito and with a different sort of maverick, Samuel Eto'o.
Neither of those would be likely to unburden himself on the pages of Gazzetta full of remorse and admissions of self-disgust. But the reformed Cassano does, taking up the themes of his candid autobiography, published earlier this year, and reminding Lippi, among others, that he is fully aware that he was unprofessional for a chunk of his career, but that he has mended his ways.
Transferring to Real Madrid, who recruited him from Roma, where he had become the world's most expensive teenager, was a mistake, he now says. He never established a place in the first-team and partied at nights, letting his physical fitness suffer. Sampdoria, he adds, had reawakened his enthusiasm for the game, made him think of the team ahead of the individual.
"I can't imagine anybody could be happier than I am right now," he claims, "because of everything being at Sampdoria has given me. I look back on the Madrid time and know it was an error to go there, but it made my spirit stronger suffering those setbacks." Consistent form, he hopes, will oblige Lippi to call him up, and he wants to continue an international career that started young and fell away.
It is a big day, too, for Serie A's other enduring maverick, Cristiano Lucarelli. Lucarelli's Livorno take on Fiorentina in the Tuscan derby and will look to their ageing totem to rise to an occasion that will genuinely move him. Lucarelli is one of a rare species in the modern game, a fan of the club who employ him.
He is in his second spell with Livorno after a much-travelled career in which goals have usually come at a good rate and controversy been a feature. Like Cassano, Lucarelli was viewed with suspicion as a young man, not least when, on scoring for the Italy Under 21 team, he stripped off his Azzurri shirt to reveal a T-shirt bearing the image of Che Guevara. That identified him strongly with Livorno, whose supporters carry to matches left-wing paraphernalia and celebrate the city's long tradition of socialism.
Lucarelli has always been very public about espousing the same views, which makes him popular on the curvas at Livorno, but eyed with mistrust by some of the Italian football establishment.
What Livorno most need from Lucarelli tonight, though, is not gestures but goals. Newly promoted, they are struggling, and will hope that Fiorentina's boardroom upheavals - president Andrea Della Valle resigned on Wednesday - spread uncertainty onto the field.
ihawkey@thenational.ae
Sampdoria v Inter Milan, KO 8pm, Aljazeera Sport + 1
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
TV (UAE time);
OSN Sports: from 10am
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.
The trip
Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
The view from The National
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match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
9.25pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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If you go
The flights
Etihad flies direct from Abu Dhabi to San Francisco from Dh5,760 return including taxes.
The car
Etihad Guest members get a 10 per cent worldwide discount when booking with Hertz, as well as earning miles on their rentals. A week's car hire costs from Dh1,500 including taxes.
The hotels
Along the route, Motel 6 (www.motel6.com) offers good value and comfort, with rooms from $55 (Dh202) per night including taxes. In Portland, the Jupiter Hotel (https://jupiterhotel.com/) has rooms from $165 (Dh606) per night including taxes. The Society Hotel https://thesocietyhotel.com/ has rooms from $130 (Dh478) per night including taxes.
More info
To keep up with constant developments in Portland, visit www.travelportland.com. Good guidebooks include the Lonely Planet guides to Northern California and Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The specs
The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:
1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition
Company%20profile
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%20Profile
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If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Kanye%20West
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
