FC Barcelona's LIONEL MESSI was voted the best int'l athlete in Wednesday's 2012 ESPY Awards ceremony. He won the best int'l athlete category ahead of Real Madrid's CRISTIANO RONALDO, tennis player NOVAK DJOKOVIC, and golfer YANI TSENG (AS, 7/12). ... NBA Los Angeles Lakers guard STEVE NASH "asked his new team" for the No. 10 jersey in recognition of his idol LIONEL MESSI. Nash said, "CRISTIANO RONALDO can do 6,000 abs, but he will never be better than Messi" (LA NACION, 7/12). ... Cyclist FABIAN CANCELLARA abandoned the Tour de France "before the start of the 11th stage" in order to go home to his wife who was on the verge of giving birth to the couple's second child. Cancellara had worn the yellow jersey for seven days of this year's edition before his sudden departure (LE MONDE, 7/12). ... The new Argentinian in the NBA is 35-year-old PABLO PRIGIONI who has agreed to a deal with the NBA N.Y. Knicks. Prigioni said, "I did not expect a call like this at this point in my career" (CLARIN, 7/11). ... Former Board of Control for Cricket in India President P M RUNGTA passed away in Mumbai on Thursday after "prolonged illness." He was the BCCI President for a three-year term between '72-75 (PTI, 7/12). ... The EPL has "begun their process" of finding a replacement Chair for DAVE RICHARDS. Richards will step down at the end of next season "after 14 years at the helm." It is "likely the Premier League will look inside and outside football, with the likes of LOCOG CEO PAUL DEIGHTON being approached by head hunters" (London DAILY MAIL, 7/11).
