With all due respect to Andy Reid and Omar Minaya, no one in the sporting universe had a better Wednesday than Andriy Shevchenko. The former Dynamo Kiev striker (above) scored all 4 goals in AC Milan’s 4-0 demoltition of Istanbul side Fenerbahce in the Champions League, a match shown stateside on Setanta US. The result sets up a crucial clash with Schalke to determine who will advance from Group E. Shalke dismissed PSV Eindhoven, 3-0, with Levan Kobiashvili scoring 3 times, twice on penalties.

In Group G, Hernan Crespo scored once and set up Ricardo Carvahlo for Chelsea’s 2nd goal in a a 2-0 away win at Anderlecht. Chelsea are through to the round of 16, as are Liverpool following a scoreless draw with Real Betis.

Manchester United’s 4 years of shirt sponsorship by cellphone giants Vodaphone has come to an unceremonious end. Perhaps under the stewardship of the Glazer family, TGI Friday’s will take a crack at it next season.

Some 1500 persons swore off the televised Champions League thrills in favor of watching Oxford United beat Leyton Orient, 1-0 in the LDV Vans Trophy Southern Section Second Round. There could be live executions on Channel 5, and still, the allure, the tradition of the LDV Vans Trophy would reel ’em in. Well, that and the fact that Channel 5 is hard to tune in.