A racket in heaven

PIETRANGELI
Have you ever heard of the farewell that's owed to a great figure in the country's history? Well, this happened, at Tor di Quinto in Rome, for Nicola Pietrangeli. Those red shirts, worn by the Italian national team in 1976 in Chile, with him as coach, will always be the emblem of how sport can express its dissent, without offending anyone, but by breaking out of an unbearable bubble.
IMMENSE

FIORENTINA
There's something vaguely mystical about the Viola's shocking crisis, which, I admit, I had predicted would be among the top four in the league and found itself, in December, at the bottom of the table. I only know that the passing of a spiritually splendid young man like Davide Astori was the beginning of the end: Barone's death, Commisso's escape to the States, and Bove's illness. Truly a collapse.
CONVICTED

DON BURGIO
There are many Don Boscos in Italy who receive little visibility, and one of them is Don Burgio, the priest leader of the Kayros community, active since 1996 in the Milan suburbs. There, troubled youths are offered the opportunity for recovery. Don Burgio suggests a psycho-spiritual path. "Our mission is not to save them, but to challenge them to improve." It was the AC Milan Foundation that donated a synthetic soccer field to the community.
CHALLENGING

DEL PIERO
It would take competence and balance to revive Italian football, like those of Alessandro Del Piero, or Platini, or Chiellini. Indeed, the fans are still the same as when I was born in 1955: entirely sentimental. They cannot be fooled by people intent on making people believe that the concession of a piece of land and the construction of a shopping center are more important than a championship or any other cup.
COMPETENT

PASQUINI
The president of the John Paul II Foundation for Sport, Daniele Pasquini, referred to the second edition of the Games of Hope, held in December in the women's section of Rebibbia Prison. "We must overcome the belief that sport in prison is a pastime." Sport is not just competition, but an opportunity to improve the quality of life of inmates, which is always poor.
EDIFYING

JUVENTUS PLAYERS
Since I don't want to be the one who sees only flaws in the football business, I believe it's right to recognize the contribution of Juventus players, both male and female, to a Christmas day dedicated to many patients at the Regina Margherita Children's Hospital and the UGI. The Juventus group consisted of four players from the men's first team: Kalulu, Kelly, Bremer, and Koopmeiners.
ALTRUISM

JUVENTUS CLUB
The Juventus club won the Sustainable Game Award. Executive Greta Bodino stated: "This is a thrilling victory because it recognizes and values ​​the extraordinary work of all our employees, who deeply believe in sustainability. Juventus was the first football club in Italy to be recognized for its commitment to promoting an inclusive work environment."
DEMOCRATIC

Carlo Nesti
https://www.facebook.com/NestiChannel
NP January 2026