Text messages from press row . . .

In case anyone needed further evidence that it’s good to be Tiger Woods, consider this: According to a Yahoo.com report, the PGA Tour’s employer-funded retirement package might be the world’s best. . . .

Assuming that Woods keeps winning and interest on his account accrues at a reasonable rate, the world’s No. 1 golfer could be owed more than $1 billion in pension payments after he turns 60 -- without having contributed a penny. . . .

Yes, that’s $1 billion. . . .

Dressed head to toe in black during his quarterfinal victory over similarly clad Andy Roddick on Wednesday night at the U.S. Open, Roger Federer brought to mind the Johnny Cash anthem, “Man in Black.”. . .

“But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back, up front there ought to be a man in black.”. . .

Roddick lost in straight sets but couldn’t have played much better. . . .

Since the Conn Smythe Trophy was established in the 1964-65 NHL season, 36 men have won the award that goes to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs, a few of them more than once. . . .

Scott Niedermayer would be the first to retire without playing another game. . . .

USC quarterback and Shreveport, La., native John David Booty is not the only local college football star dreaming of returning to his home state for the Bowl Championship Series title game Jan. 7 in the Louisiana Superdome. . . .

UCLA tailback Chris Markey, the Bruins’ leading rusher and receiver last season, was the New Orleans high school football player of the year in 2003. . . .

Rivals no more, at least through the end of their honeymoon, former USC offensive lineman Rome Douglas and former UCLA All-American basketball player Maylana Martin were married last weekend in Pasadena. . . .

Douglas’ godfather is Isaac Hayes of “Theme From Shaft” fame. . . .

Speaking of weddings, USC basketball player Allison Jaskowiak might have to reschedule her Oct. 6 nuptials because fiance Ian Kennedy, a former Trojans right-hander, might be pitching for the New York Yankees in a playoff game. . . .

Kennedy, 22, zipped through the minors faster than expected. . . .

As of last year, the NBA no longer drafts players straight out of high school, but five of the 12 players who helped the United States qualify for next year’s Olympics -- Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire -- never played college basketball. . . .

YouTube confirms it: Darko Milicic has, uh, lost it. . . .

Passersby may dispute Donald Sterling’s claim that construction on the Clippers’ new practice facility is 40% completed, but the building is taking shape in the Playa Vista development and is scheduled to open in March. . . .

Kristine Lilly, who leads the U.S. women’s soccer team into the World Cup starting Tuesday in China, has played in 331 games for the national team, starting every World Cup and Olympic game the Americans have ever played. . . .

The late USC kicker Mario Danelo and father Joe Danelo, a former NFL kicker, will be honored with a plaque on the San Pedro Sports Walk to the Waterfront. . . .

Also scheduled to be immortalized with markers that will be unveiled Oct. 8: Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett; former Dodgers slugger Reggie Smith; former UCLA basketball All-American and coach Walt Hazzard; former USC and NFL tight end Jim Obradovich; former Harbor College football coach Scrappy Rhea; California women’s tennis coach Amanda Augustus, who played at nearby Palos Verdes Peninsula High; and Joseph Anszk, a former South Torrance High football player who was killed in Iraq. . . .

Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, an avid reader whose collection of books numbers in the hundreds, lists a few of his favorites: “The Longest Day,” by Cornelius Ryan; “The Two Ocean War,” by Samuel Eliot Morison; “Black Hawk Down,” by Mark Bowden; “Catch-22,” by Joseph Heller; “Hawaii,” by James Michener; and “The Best and the Brightest,” by David Halberstam. . . .

“I love to read,” Scully says, “and when I go on the road with the ballclub, especially, to have a good book is to have a good friend.” . . .

Cyclist Matt Lay of Glendale, who suffered a broken neck in a training accident in 2003 and was nearly paralyzed, returned to competition 1 1/2 years ago and will participate in the cycling portion of the L.A. Triathlon on Sunday. . . .

Notre Dame gave up nine sacks against Georgia Tech last week. . . .

Heads up, Jimmy Clausen.

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jerome.crowe@latimes.com