Talking Balls: Obscene Wages, Dirty Laundering, Golden Grandpas & Shakehands Vs. Penholders

Who are the three most highly-paid soccer players on the planet? Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the first two but the third is a little more shocking. It is none other Dario Conca. The Argentine midfielder – who has never been capped by his country – has moved from Brazilian giants Fluminense to Guangzhou Evergrande for a CSL transfer record of GBP 10 million. More ridiculously, he is earning GBP 6.4 million per year in wages. Lucky boy.

Birmingham City chairman and Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung has been arrested and bailed by Hong Kong police for alleged money laundering. The legitimate businessman has given Birmingham assurances of funding for the future. More interestingly it presents a dilemma for English football as Yeung was the last owner who was passed for the "fit and proper person test" before it was replaced with the "owners and directors test". Also joining Yeung on that fit and proper list? Disgraced former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra and some other less than squeaky clean businessmen.

Dalian Wanda, better known as Wanda, have boosted Chinese soccer to the tune of RMB 500 million. The company previously sponsored Chinese soccer and have now resumed with particular focus on youth development including an overseas exchange program. The move was welcomed by Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and Chinese Sports Minister Liu Peng, while the former urged for reform.

Finally in football, we may have jumped the gun last time when we announced that Hao Junmin had left Schalke 04. He played in the team's most recent pre-season games, the latest of which was last Wednesday. Schalke won that game 25-0. Hao did not get on the scoresheet.

Team China basketball coach Bob Donnewald has stated that the team must win the upcoming Asian Championships. If they do then it guarantees qualification for the Olympics. The tournament takes place in Wuhan from September 15-25.

The battle of the shakehands and the penholders sounds like something from the Lord of the Rings but it's actually ping-pong paddle preference. The two grips faced off in Shenyang last week and the shakehands edged the contest in the the final, deciding game.

Li Na may not have won Wimbledon but she has won the honour of being awarded Pioneer of Breakthrough by her home province of Hubei.

Last but not least, China dominates medals tables and that's true even at the US National Senior Games. A 90-year-old retired Chinese engineer, Gao Rushan, who now resides in the States has taken three golds in table tennis. Here is the man himself.

Photos: Metro and China Daily