TASK DEFINITION: You will be given a trivia clue, and the category it belongs to. You should answer with the best answer that belongs in the category and is described by the clue. For consistency, answers should be in all lower cased letters.
PROBLEM: Category: OPERA 
Clue: "Esmeralda", an 1840s opera, is based on a work by this "Miserable" author

SOLUTION: victor hugo

PROBLEM: Category: LOTTO FEVER 
Clue: 2000 saw a fight in England over running the lottery, with this Virgin king at the forefeont

SOLUTION: richard branson

PROBLEM: Category: LET'S GET MEDICAL 
Clue: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as his disease, claimed his life in 1941

SOLUTION:
lou gehrig