Sports'summersizzlers
After last year's disappointing weather, licensees are hoping this summer's a scorcher. But even if the sun doesn't shine, the next few months are jam packed with sporting events to help give trade a lift. Ewan Turney previews the top five sporting fixtures
British Open
More than 600 years ago at St Andrews in Scotland, man first swung club at ball and invented golf. Thus ensued thousands of frustrated afternoons trying to hit a small ball with a stick into a small hole and many a divorce.
The Open returns to the Old Course at St Andrews for a record 27th time this year, with all the top stars fromTiger Woods and Ernie Els to Scotland's very own Colin Montgomerie set to battle it out for the Claret Jug.
The last time the Open was played at St Andrews, in 2000, Woods emerged as winner by eight strokes and became the youngest golfer ever to win all four majors the Masters, the US Open, the USPGA and the Open Championship.
14-17 July
Lions Tour
The British Lions' 11-match tour will be the biggest thing to hit New Zealand since The Lord of the Rings. There'll be no hobbits, dwarves or wizards in this fellowship but there will be an equally bizarre combination of Welsh, Irish, Scots and English coming together for the common cause.
The Lions come together just once every four years and the focus of the entire rugby world over the last year has been on this tour to New Zealand. Players have been busting a gut in club and international fixtures to impress coach Sir Clive Woodward and book their seats on the plane.
Although no-one is guaranteed a starting place, Irish centre Brian O'Driscoll is as close as you can get to a racing certainty, having been named as captain. On the pitch, the revived Welsh will provide the flair, the Irish the passion, the English the brute strength and the Scots the water bottles.
If the Lions have a special place in rugby history, New Zealand is the spiritual home of the oval ball. It is a nation obsessed with rugby. Extra spice will be added to the main course of the three test matches by the presence of Graham Henry as coach of the All Blacks. He coached the last Lions tour to Australia in 2001 and was widely criticised by players and the media alike.
25 June New Zealand v The Lions, First Test, Christchurch
2 July New Zealand v The Lions, Second Test, Wellington
9 July New Zealand v The Lions, Third Test, Auckland
Wimbledon
Wimbledon brings with it a unique atmosphere of sun, strawberries and cream, Pimm's, Champagne and the eternal hope of a British victory. Henmania is sure to be in full force until semi-final day when he crashes out in dramatic fashion after kidding us briefly that he can win.
But Wimbledon always creates and maintains interest, even after the Brits have departed. Last year, Swiss ace Roger Federer trumped America's Andy Roddick in the final to win his second consecutive title. Upon his return home he was hailed as a hero and presented with a large cow horn.
This year's participants will have to go someway to stop the reigning champ, who has now won 24 consecutive matches on grass putting him second behind Bjorn Borg's record of 41 straight wins set at Wimbledon between 1976 and 1981.
In the women's final, Maria Sharapova finally broke the Williams' sisters hold on the trophy at the All England Club. After winning, Sharapova made a name for herself by jumping into the crowd to try to phone her Mum in the Ukraine to give her news of the victory.
20 June 3 July
The Ashes
It was back in 1987 18 years ago when England last won an Ashes series. The legendary Ashes urn contains the remains of a cricket ball and bails burnt after the Aussies beat England at the Oval in 1882. The Sporting Times printed an obituary to English cricket. The urn would be overflowing if we had repeated this after every loss in recent years.
But, what's this: a re-birth? You'd better believe it. England have built up quite a head of steam under captain Michael Vaughan, winning nine of their last 11 tests including series wins over New Zealand, the West Indies and South Africa.
We have our own cult hero in Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff who can smash the ball over the stands for six as well as send stumps cartwheeling from the ground. Don't forget opening batsman Andrew Strauss, who scored 656 runs at an average of 72.8 against South Africa. We're second in the world rankings and raring to go.
The problem is that Australia top the rankings and have done for some time now. Vaughan says they're "probably the best team that have ever played". They are virtually guaranteed runs with the sublime talents of Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martin and Ricky Ponting in tow. The final result could all come down to the last day's play in the Fifth Test.
21-25 July First Test, Lord's
4-8 August Second Test, Edgbaston
11-15 August Third Test, Old Trafford
25-29 August Fourth Test, Trent Bridge
8-12 September Fifth Test, The Oval
Champions League Final
"Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one. We have top players and we have a top manager."
Love him or loathe him and his histrionics, Jose Mourinho and Chelsea represent Britain's best hope of reaching the Champions League final in Istanbul, Turkey. With one trophy already in the bag (Carling Cup) and the Premiership title within touching distance, the Blues could make it an historic hat trick by winning the big one and being crowned kings of Europe.
Chelsea, however, will have to beat off a rejuvenated Liverpool, who, despite mediocre league form, find themselves making up the other half of an all-English semi-final.
In the other semi-final, current holders AC Milan will be favourites to dispatch Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and net a place in the final in Istanbul, Turkey.
The final is the showpiece of club football and who can forget the last time an English club reached the final? Manchester United scored two late goals to overcome Bayern Munich in Barcelona in 1999. Whoever reaches the final, it is set to be one hell of a battle.
26 April AC Milan v PSV
27 April Chelsea v Liverpool
3 May Liverpool v Chelsea
4 May PSV v AC Milan
23 May Final
