Despite its long history and reputation al-Azhar was badly tainted by its close association with a string of Egyptian rulers, especially during Mr Mubarak's three-decade rule.
Anyone care to wager, or should I say want to wager that we have a very good shot at matching that 36 month string by the time we close the books on 2011?
Just over a year later, following a string of strokes, his close friend and music publicist Keith Altham announced he had died at his home on 4 February in Andover, surrounded by family and friends.
Mr Murdoch's UK operation News International was forced to close the News of the World tabloid after a string of damaging allegations, and he dropped his bid for satellite broadcaster BSkyB.