BatiGol Weekly 37: Vanities

In honor of the 544th birthday of Baccio della Porta, better known as Fra Bartolomeo, we're going to take this week's BGW in a sort of opposite path from the dire direction the team is traveling. We're going to look at some of the really beautiful stuff that this team has given us. Keeping with the Fra Bartolomeo theme, we're also going to avoid the ugly stuff--you know, like a sudden stretch of crushingly mediocre results, or supporting Savanarola--in favor of all the pretty things this club has done for us recently.

So, how about those swell shirts? Le Coq Sportif has done a great job of making Fiorentina look as sharp as (or, considering recent events, sharper than) they play. If there are better jerseys in Serie A, I haven't seen them. And at least there aren't any, say, camouflage uniforms that the players have to wear.

And how about the most beautiful families in Serie A? The Valeros are the cutest group of parents and children ever assembled, and try not to feel pretty great about Gonzalo Rodríguez playing guitar with his kid. Just try it. We dare you.

And heck, let's be honest: Paulo Sousa is the best dressed coach in the league. Could anyone else rock the blazer and purple turtleneck combo without looking like a dweeb? None, because so many coaches opt instead for the "middle-aged man in a tracksuit" look, which is, while functional, not nearly as dashing.

The most obvious thing here, of course, is that Florence itself is the most beautiful city in Italy. Sure, the other ones are nice and all that, but nah. Come. On. That's. Not. Even. Part. Of. The. World.

There are so many wonderful, beautiful things about this team and this city that we could talk about that it's hard to pick where to start; there are just so many Florentine distractions to drag us away from Fiorentina's recent performances. We're lucky in this, at least; can you imagine being, say, a Philadelphia Union fan (Philly residents, this a joke hahaha please don't hurt me)? I guess what I'm saying is that, if one must witness the season slip away, it's better to look good doing it.

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Latest news

Here is where you can find our joy that Federico Bernardeschi is a senior international now.

Lots of weird transfer rumors floating around right now. Catch up here.

Must read

Man, the Viola attackers who are loaned out to non-Italian teams are killing right now. Get the full scoop here.

A bunch of club legends have returned to Florence to open a football-themed restaurant and museum and it looks AWESOME. Story and photos here.

Johan Cruyff was a genius and an artist and a philosopher and is responsible for the lovely football Fiorentina plays. Here is our Viola-centric eulogy for him.

Comment of the week

This one from baelfire makes me sad, actually. Any spillage or waste of pizza is tragic.

Well, that's it for this week. Stay safe out there, folks.