A lot going on in the world of sports:

Rocket wins 299 Not the biggest story of the day (that'll come next), but given the local flavor I had to lead with it.

I have to admit some conflict when it comes to Roger Clemens. On the one hand, I think he had to leave the Sox when he did. Had he stayed he'd probably not gone more than another season or two. I look at it as a more extreme case of the Ellis Burks case, where the best think he could do was leave Boston before his career ended prematurely.

On the other hand, I never liked the way Roger left town. At best he was reacting to management in a way that's not surprising of a star veteran who wants out. At worst, he was complicit in his own decline, purposefully going out of shape to force an ouster. That he managed to stay in the division just makes things worse; I don't think I'd be half as conflicted if he went to Houston.

In any case, I do know this much: I don't want any Yankees pitcher to get a landmark win off the Sox, be it his first or 300th. That it's Clemens doesn't matter as much as I thought it would.

Annika is playing with the boys Annika Sorenstam, the best current female pro golfer (and perhaps the best of all time) is teeing it up today in a PGA event, the first woman to do so in 58 years. While a couple of the guys firmly planted foot in mouth at this turn of events, most of the players are just focusing on the golf and demurring on questions related to Annika's participation.

So far she's even through 14 holes, with a birdie and a bogey. She's been hitting fairways like nobody's business, but the putting could be better (if I'm reading her LPGA stats right, the putting problem isn't a surprise). Going even over the first two rounds would probably see her make the cut (last year's was, from what I can gather, +3).

For those worried about what this means to the men's club that is the PGA, I'd suggest waiting about 5-7 years to worry. That's when you'll have Michelle Wie trying to earn her tour card. That's PGA tour card, by the way. Heck, maybe she'll have a card for both PGA and LPGA.

LeBron James hits jackpot before hitting lottery Anyone who is surprised that Nike would shell out $90 million to put LeBron James in the swoosh please stand on your head. King James apparently also signed a deal with Upper Deck which will add another million to the pot for the next five years. That'll keep the Hummer in tranny fluid.

As for where LeBron may be spending his endorsement millions, the draft lottery is tonight, during halftime of whatever NBA playoff game is on. In the grand tradition of screwing whatever team has the best chance to win the lottery, I am predicting that Miami will land the rights to James.

Game 7 in NHL Eastern Conference I suppose I have to root for the Devils to keep BU involved (Jay Pandolfo plays for the former Team Pizza Hut), even if it means that BC spawn Brian Gionta gets a shot at a Cup. Wow, here's a metaphysical quandary.

There is part of me that wants a Ducks-Sens final outside of all the parochial Hockey East claptrap. Seems like the healthier option.