SOCCER

CHELSEA TOPS LIVERPOOL

Joe Cole scored in the 29th minute to give Chelsea a 1–0 win over Liverpool yesterday in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals.

Cole knocked in a cross from Didier Drogba. Ricardo Carvalho gathered the ball in his own half and passed to Drogba on the right The Ivory Coast striker raced ahead and shook off Daniel Agger before rolling the ball across the penalty area for Cole. The second leg will be Tuesday at Anfield.

BASEBALL

PRIOR TO MISS 2007 SEASON FOLLOWING SURGERY

Mark Prior is out for the rest of the season. His once promising future with the Chicago Cubs is unclear, although surgery on his right shoulder is not considered career threatening.

Dr. James Andrews operated on the 26-year-old right-hander Tuesday in an arthroscopic proce dure in which he also worked on Prior’s rotator cuff.

“Dr. Andrews feels comfortable that he will still have a career. This is certainly not career-ending,” The Cubs general manager, Jim Hendry, said yesterday.

FOOTBALL

RAMS ACQUIRE RETURNER DANTE HALL FROM CHIEFS

The St. Louis Rams’ long search for a return man ended yesterday when the team acquired Dante Hall from Kansas City in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this weekend’s draft.

“We have filled a need with one of the top players in football at his specialty, returning punts and kicks,” Rams coach Scott Linehan said.

“Dante will fit nicely on our special teams and can be utilized as a receiver in certain situations.”

The trade could have draft-day implications.

The Rams had expressed strong interest in Ohio State’s Ted Ginn Jr., as much for his return ability as for his résumé as a receiver. St. Louis also has several needs on defense.

BASKETBALL

76ERS GIVE BROWN PERMISSION TO INTERVIEW WITH GRIZZLIES

Larry Brown hopes to return to coaching — again.

The Hall of Fame coach received permission from the Philadelphia 76ers to interview for the Memphis Grizzlies’ vacancy, a team spokesman said. Brown reportedly was to meet with Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley yesterday.

The Grizzlies went from a playoff team a year ago to the NBA’s worst record this season at 22–60. Coach Mike Fratello was fired in December and replaced on an interim basis by Tony Barone Sr. Earlier this month, Jerry West said he would step down as director July 1 at the end of his contract.

The 66-year-old Brown has won nearly everywhere he’s been. And, he’s been all over the country.