Leading Off

No, Wie Can't

Attempting to become the first woman to play in the men's U.S. Open, 16-year-old Michelle Wie attracted an unusually large gallery for sectional qualifying on Monday in Summit, N.J.--not to mention enormous interest in her hole-by-hole score on the Internet. She chipped in from 60 feet on the last hole of the first round (inset) for a two-under-par 68 at Canoe Brook Country Club, but three straight bogeys on the back nine of the second round ended her bid. Wie's one-over-par total of 143 left her six shots shy of gaining one of 18 spots in the field at Winged Foot later this month.

Ben Over Backward

Pistons center Ben Wallace, normally a defensive force, was leveled on a Game 2 drive by Heat guard Dwyane Wade (page 40) during the Eastern Conference finals. Miami won the series in six games and will meet the Mavericks, with high-scoring forward Dirk Nowitzki (inset). Dallas won the West, defeating the Suns four games to two.

On Second Thought

Four days after coming out of retirement to sign a $12.6 million deal with the Astros for the balance of the season, seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens worked out last Saturday at Applebee's Park, in Lexington, Ky., home of the Class A Legends (page 46). The Rocket hummed some low-90s fastballs, then iced his right arm (inset) in preparation for three planned minor league starts before his return to Houston.

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