SOCCER

CHELSEA, AC MILAN GET FIRST-LEG VICTORIES IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Jaap Stam scored in first-half injury time and Andriy Shevchenko added another yesterday to give AC Milan a 2-0 victory over cross-town rival Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Both goals came on headers off perfect feeds by mercurial midfielder Andrea Pirlo. The home win gave Milan a seemingly safe lead ahead of Tuesday’s second leg, with Inter as host in the same stadium.

In the other quarterfinal match yesterday, Frank Lampard scored two goals, and Joe Cole and Didier Drogba added one each to help Chelsea beat Bayern Munich 4-2 and take a two-goal lead into Tuesday’s second leg in Munich.

BASEBALL

YANKEES LEAD SALARY BOOM

Baseball’s big-money boom pushed the average salary to a record $2.6 million on opening day, and the Yankees’ payroll of just under $200 million topped five teams combined. Following a rare drop in 2003, the average climbed 5.9% to $2.63 million, according to a study by the Associated Press.

Three Yankees were among the top five in salary: Alex Rodriguez, at $25.7 million, was no. 1 for the fifth straight year, Derek Jeter was fourth at $19.6 million, and Mike Mussina was fifth at $19 million. The Yankees are spending more than the $187 million combined total of Tampa Bay ($29.9 million), Kansas City ($36.9 million), Pittsburgh ($38.1 million), Milwaukee ($40.2 million), and Cleveland ($41.8 million). The World Series champion Red Sox were second to the Yankees, with their players adding to $121.3 million. The Mets were next at $104.8 million, followed by Philadelphia ($95.3 million) and the Los Angeles Angels ($95 million).

After dropping for three straight years from 425 to 374, the number of players making at least $1 million rebounded to 390.

FOOTBALL

NFL: TICE VIOLATED TICKET SCALPING POLICY

An NFL investigation into ticket-scalping has found evidence that Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Tice violated league policy, commissioner Paul Tagliabue said yesterday.

Tagliabue said the forthcoming discipline likely would include fines for reselling tickets, but no suspension. Tice was being investigated for heading up a ticket-scalping operation within the Vikings organization that included assistant coaches and some players. Tice, who will make $1 million this year, denied buying tickets from players since he took over as Vikings coach in 2002, but he acknowledged last month that he resold some of his allotment of 12 Super Bowl tickets last season and had also resold his tickets as a Vikings assistant coach from 1996-2001.

BASKETBALL

BOONE, GAY WILL RETURN TO UCONN

Connecticut sophomore center Josh Boone and freshman forward Rudy Gay announced yesterday they will return to the Huskies next season after considering leaving early for the NBA.

Boone started all 31 games this past season and averaged 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks. He also was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Gay garnered Big East Co-Rookie of the Year awards, averaging 11.8 points.

– Associated Press