MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI topped the list of the world's highest earning cricketers compiled by Forbes Magazine, followed by SACHIN TENDULKAR. Six Indians made it into the top 10. Some of the other cricketers in the list included: Indians GAUTAM GAMBHIR, VIRAT KOHLI, VIRENDER SEHWAG, YUSUF PATHAN, and Aussies SHANE WATSON, MICHAEL CLARKE, BRETT LEE, RICKY PONTING (FORBES, 7/26). ... LARISSA LATYNINA, the former Soviet gymnast whose record for most career Olympic medals was broken by MICHAEL PHELPS "wanted to give the American swimmer his record-setting 19th medal" but her request was rejected by the IOC (STLTODAY.com. 8/1). ... London Mayor BORIS JOHNSON "will court controversy this week" by taking media tycoon RUPERT MURDOCH to a top Olympics event as his personal guest. The News Corp. boss and his wife WENDI DENG "are among a group of business leaders invited" by Johnson to attend a swimming final expected to feature Britain's REBECCA ADLINGTON on Friday (DAILY MAIL, 7/31). ... PRINCE HARRY, PRINCE WILLIAM and his wife, KATE MIDDLETON “dropped in on the British Olympic team's official residence to wish them good luck and to admire the Bronze Medal won by swimmer REBECCA ADLINGTON.” Both William and Harry were wearing white Olympics shirts and "toured the quarters for the women's handball players” (AP, 7/31). ... Former Italian national team player ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO played in the 2012 J.League Special Match at Kashima Stadium as an "honorable player" on July 21. The event, organized by LeadOff Sports Marketing, included one goal by Del Piero on the "Team As One" side (LeadOff Sports Marketing).
