Ferdinand in dreamland ahead of Final

Rio Ferdinand will be living the dream when he plays in the Champions League final on Wednesday night. He could retain the captain's armband as well against Chelsea if Ryan Giggs is on the bench. The Manchester United defender has been one of the club's most influential players this season. Ferdinand said: 'It is a cliche but this match is the stuff of dreams. 'These opportunities do not come around every weekend. You have to step up to the moment when it comes. The last time Ferdinand was in the Luzhniki stadium he had the disappointment of seeing England's hopes of reaching Euro 2008 take a dive when they lost 2-1 to Russia on an artificial pitch which was heavily watered.

Chelsea want Moscow win more

The Blues goalkeeper will line up against United in tomorrow night's all English final in Moscow. And he believes losing out to Sir Alex Ferguson's men in the race for the Barclays Premier League title will work in his side's favour. 'Having won this title, you would say it's a big boost from them and they celebrated, which in one way can be distracting,' Cech told the BBC's Inside Sport Programme. 'When you know you've already won something, even if you don't want to, you can relax. 'In the back of your mind, you have already that you have succeeded. 'This could be the advantage for us.' Cech is expecting a tight game tomorrow because the two sides know each other so well. 'If you ask me if we can get surprise each other, I will say no, because we have played them so many times over the last years and both teams haven't changed much,' he added

Chelsea confident crocked Cole

The soccer team Chelsea expect defender Ashley Cole to be fit for tonight's Champions League final against Manchester United.

The chelsea club are confident the England left-back will recover from an ankle knock he sustained after a tackle from team-mate Claude Makelele during training at the Luzhniki Stadium last night. Cole was later helped off the pitch by this Chelsea medical staff for treatment and then returned to take part in a training match before retiring earlier than the rest of the squad. The club said in a statement: 'In a challenge with Claude Makelele in front of hundreds of cameras and the world football press, Ashley Cole hurt his right ankle. More news on the next post ... see you there

NFL NOTIFY IT'S LABOURS

The NFL has officially notified its players union on Tuesday that it will opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, which could lead to a season without a salary cap in 2010 and a possible lockout in 2011.

Owners had voted unanimously Tuesday morning to opt out of the deal, which was extended in March 2006. The NFL had until November to opt it out, but decided to do it early instead of waiting for the deadline.

This NFL league, however, emphasized that it will keep negotiating with the NFL Players Association and said games will be played "with out the threat of interruption for at least the next three seasons." More news on sports in forcoming posts

Davenport pulls out of French Open

Former world No. 1 player Lindsay Davenport has pulled out of the French Open because of personal reasons, organizers said on Tuesday.

Davenport, 31, who returned to the court last September after an 11-month absence to have a baby, is 26th in the WTA rankings. She was a French Open semifinalist in 1998.

Two other American women, Meilen Tu and Meghann Shaughnessy, have pulled out of the clay-court Grand Slam tournament, which starts Sunday, because of injuries.

Sixth-ranked Andy Roddick, who pulled out of the French Open on Monday because of a shoulder injury, will be replaced in the men's draw by Argentine Guillermo Coria, who was a finalist in Paris in 2004.

Olson to coach Arizona FOR THE next season

After taking a season-long leave of absence, Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson will return to Arizona for the 2008-09 season, the university announced this Monday.

Olson decided within the past week, after his time away under the Family Medical Leave Act expired last Friday, that he would resume coaching the Wildcats as soon as their current season is complete. "We are delighted that Lute will be rejoining the program," Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood said in a statement. "He is one of the true legends of collegiate coaching, and his return is something that I know will be embraced by everyone who cares about our basketball program."

Olson

Through a spokesperson, Olson said he plans to coach through the end of his contract, which expires in 2011. "I am very eager to be back doing what I love, which is coaching this team," Olson said in a statement. "I appreciate everyone's support during this period and want to thank [interim coach] Kevin O'Neill for the great job he's done in my absence." Arizona's staff and players were informed of Olson's decision on Monday. According to an Arizona representative, once Olson completed his medical leave, he had the right to return to his job. Olson will turn 74 next season. Olson had a medical condition during his leave of absence that he had to resolve this season, according to details of Arizona's news release. "

Barton begins his jail term

Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton was today starting a six-month jail sentence for hispart in a brutal, alcohol-fuelled street attack. Despite the assurances of his club manager Kevin Keegan that Barton is a changed man, Judge Henry Globe, who described the player as 'aggressive and disgraceful', sent him to prison. The 25-year-old punched one man up to 20 times and left a 16-year-old boy with broken teeth, Liverpool Crown Court was told. Newcastle notes the sentence passed to Joey Barton at Liverpool Crown Court,' said a statement. Barton, cousin Nadine Wilson, 27, and brother Andrew Barton, 20, were captured on CCTV in a number of violent incidents in Liverpool city centre on December 27 last year.