Osman Samiuddin offers a review of the five most notable things from the week that was in the world of sport. Click on the arrows to view the next photo or just swipe on your mobile device.
Best quote
"The thing is I love him so much I can't tell him: 'You're not going to be great again." Thus spake Michael Jordan to ESPN's Wright Thompson in a long, compelling read about the downfall of Tiger Woods since his father Earl passed away. Jordan's love for Woods is so great that he cannot come to tell him, presumably, face-to-face, or phone-to-phone but can through such a major publication? Way to be a buddy MJ.
Biggest fall
Shane Sutton is the man who mentored Sirs Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins to Olympic success. He then became technical director for British Cycling. This week though has been bad. He was first accused of sexism by the rider Jess Varnish: he allegedly told her “to move on and go and have a baby” after her contract was not renewed. Swiftly came the revelation that the Australian made derogatory remarks about Paralympic cyclists on multiple occasions. Two separate reviews have now been launched and Sutton stands suspended.
Thorniest reprimand
From the South African government to Cricket South Africa (CSA): The government has said CSA will not be allowed to host or bid for any international tournaments after it failed to meet transformation guidelines for the composition of its team. Cricket was not alone, with rugby, athletics and netball authorities also hit with the punishments. CSA has been better of late, selecting players of colour, but still fell a little short of the 60 per cent quota the government has insisted upon.
Biggest anti-climax
One of European football’s new and coming powers came up against one of its most established and gloried ones on Tuesday night. It should have been a showcase meeting yet Manchester City and Real Madrid produced no goals and just eight shots on target between them in a turgid first leg of the Champions League semi-final. City will be pleased with their progress so far, but against a side missing Cristiano Ronaldo, was this an opportunity missed?
Biggest scare
For a while, as news filtered in of the blow to the head sustained by Sri Lankan Kaushal Silva in a practice game in Pallekele, many would have feared the worst. He was fielding at short leg when struck and though he did not fall unconscious, he had to be airlifted to a hospital in Colombo. Since then, thankfully, he has been cleared of serious injury, suffering from a mild concussion. He was struck, it is said, on the extra bit of padding added to helmets in the wake of Phil Hughes’ death.
Film: In Syria
Dir: Philippe Van Leeuw
Starring: Hiam Abbass, Diamand Bo Abboud, Mohsen Abbas and Juliette Navis
Verdict: Four stars
pakistan Test squad
Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
If you go
The flights
The closest international airport for those travelling from the UAE is Denver, Colorado. British Airways (www.ba.com) flies from the UAE via London from Dh3,700 return, including taxes. From there, transfers can be arranged to the ranch or it’s a seven-hour drive. Alternatively, take an internal flight to the counties of Cody, Casper, or Billings
The stay
Red Reflet offers a series of packages, with prices varying depending on season. All meals and activities are included, with prices starting from US$2,218 (Dh7,150) per person for a minimum stay of three nights, including taxes. For more information, visit red-reflet-ranch.net.
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A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
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The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Race card
4pm Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m
5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections:
4pm Zabardast
4.35pm Ibn Malik
5.10pm Space Blues
5.45pm Kimbear
6.20pm Barney Roy
6.55pm Matterhorn
7.30pm Defoe
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldof v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)
Sunday
Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)
MORE FROM CON COUGHLIN
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
RESULTS
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Palestine and Israel - live updates
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital