ManU player RIO FERDINAND has offered to help Gold Medalist sprinter USAIN BOLT's "dream of playing for his beloved Manchester United come true." The Jamaican 100m Olympic champion is a "die-hard Manchester United fan and would jump at the chance of a trial." Ferdinand tweeted Bolt: "If you want that trial at Man Utd shout me, I'll speak to the boss!! Well done in 100m." Bolt replied: "After the Olympics we work on that...lol..thanks man" (PA, 8/7). ... Great Britain's JESSICA ENNIS and BRADLEY WIGGINS were "among the fans at a secret Stone Roses gig" in London at the Village Underground in Hoxton. Band member IAN BROWN told the crowd, "We've got the Queen of England in here tonight: Jessica Ennis -- and the King: Bradley Wiggins." Joining them were rower PETE REED, Led Zeppelin's JIMMY PAGE, The Clash's MICK JONES, Primal Scream's BOBBY GILLESPIE and English songwriter BOY GEORGE (London GUARDIAN, 8/7). ... Oriental Rongotai rugby club "stalwart MA'A NONU gifted 17 of his most-prized jerseys to the club that his family has played for and belonged to all his life." Nonu said, "Deep down this club means a lot to me. I was pretty much born and bred here." Ma'a and all three of his brothers -- SAMSON, PALEPOI and TAULIMA -- have worn the Ories colors, and his sisters are now on the women's team (DOMINION POST, 8/6). ... Five time Gold Medalist STEVE REDGRAVE has criticized "Top Gear" presenter JEREMY CLARKSON's earnings. Clarkson is the top earner at the BBC and makes more than £3M ($4.7M). That sum comes "mostly from the commercial exploitation of "Top Gear" rather than from the licence fee." Redgrave, who is a BBC commentator during the Olympics, spoke to the Radio Times about Clarkson's earnings and said: "It frustrates me more than Premier League footballers' wages. But I'm not going to get drawn into that" (London INDEPENDENT, 8/7).
