NBA Dallas Mavericks forward
DIRK NOWITZKI showed off his entertainer qualities together with DJ
FLULA BORG at a so-called "Auto Tunes" session. The 35-year-old sings the
ROLLING STONE song "Satisfaction" in the backseat of a car driven by two Mavs cheerleaders. At the end of the video, the 7-foot German "also displays his dance moves" (
BILD, 7/18). ... Brazilian footballer
NEYMAR "will wear the No. 11 shirt during his time with Barcelona" (
FOOTBALL ESPANA, 7/18). ... Vietnamese football fan
VU XUAN TIEN, dubbed the "Running Man" after chasing Arsenal's team bus for miles through the streets of Hanoi, said that he "has been invited to watch his heroes play in London" (
AFP, 7/18). ... Cricketer
VIRAT KOHLI "is all set to follow in the footsteps" of Bollywood actors
KATRINA KAIF and
HRITHIK ROSHAN "by becoming the face of soon-to-be launched teen superhero MaxSteel." MaxSteel, a property of global toy brand Mattel, "first launched in Latin America a couple of years ago, would enter Indian markets, positioning itself as a brand for boys" (
PTI, 7/18). ... Jerusalem Mayor
NIR BARKAT "hosted a spectacular gala event at the Tower of David" ahead of the 19th Maccabiah Games opening ceremony at Teddy Stadium. A "who’s-who of VIPs were in attendance," including new Hapoel Jerusalem Owner
ORI ALLON and National Hockey League Commissioner
GARY BETTMAN (
JERUSALEM POST, 7/18). ... Former Japanese gymnast
NOBUYUKI AIHARA, a double champion at the 1960 Rome Olympics, "has died at the age of 79." Aihara "won gold on the floor exercises and in the team combined event as he helped break the Soviet stranglehold on the sport at the Rome Summer Games" (
AFP, 7/18). ...
DIEGO MARADONA has had to cancel a family holiday to Disney World after the U.S. "denied him a visa." Maradona pleaded his case in person at the U.S. Embassy in Dubai "but was still refused." A source called it a "political" decision, and said, "His relationship with the U.S. has never been good" (
THE SUN, 7/18). ... Board of Control for Cricket in India President
N. SRINIVASAN "will not attend" the board's working committee meeting on July 28 (
HINDUSTAN TIMES, 7/18).
WINNING DONATION: Tennis player ANDY MURRAY "has donated the tennis kit he wore in winning the men's singles final to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum." The Scot's outfit "will be displayed in the 2013 Championships showcase." Visitors "can see the full winning kit, as well as other autographed items belonging to him." Meanwhile, Royal Mail is to mark Murray's historic victory in the Wimbledon men's tennis final "with a special set of stamps." The issue, on sale Aug. 8, "will consist of four stamps featuring different images, all printed within a miniature sheet," costing £3.76 ($5.71) (HERALD SCOTLAND, 7/18).
