The thing about the World Series of Poker is that you just never know who's going to show up.

The WSOP Ladies Championship begins Sunday and the event now draws more than 1,000 competitors, including a good number of celebrities. Among this year's well-known names is Mindy McCready, the country singer who has been linked romantically to Roger Clemens in published reports. Those reports appeared to prompt a public, if vague, apology from the Rocket for conduct unbecoming.

So, McCready -- whose professional and personal life has hit some rough patches and now has an autobiographical docu-film due out this summer -- is keeping herself in the limelight apparently as part of the Queen of Hearts Poker Team. She is listed on a roster that includes a fistful of show biz types (Teri Hatcher, Cheryl Hines), poker pros (Barbara Enright, Clonie Gowen) and business women with part of the winnings benefiting the Nevada Cancer Institute.

Photo: Associated Press