Tuesday's news and links

Sadly, we lost one of the better authors of sports books yesterday as David Halberstam died in a car crash. My personal favorite was "Summer of 49." He was enroute to interview NFL Hall of Famer Y.A. Tittle for a book about the 1958 championship game. I wonder how far along he was in researching the book and whether anyone will be commissioned to finish it for him. Unfortunately, instead of sticking to writing on sports, he will also be remembered for undermining our country's efforts in Vietnam.

It is said that honesty is essential to a strong relationship. Well, this guy tried being honest with his fiancee and it didn't work out so well for him.

TORONTO (Sun Media) - A five-year hunt for a man accused of killing a police informant in Phoenix ended in Toronto's west end this weekend thanks to a "courageous" young woman who turned in her boyfriend. Mikhail Drachev, 24, who has been on the run since the "horrific" slaying of Konstantin Simberg in December 2001, was arrested by police Friday in the Rexdale apartment the pair had been sharing for more than five years.

"About a week ago, he decided to come clean and give her his real name because they were thinking about marriage," Staff-Sgt. Paul MacIntyre said yesterday. "She Googled his name and learned he was in fact on America's Most Wanted."

Last week I dismissed former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson's presidential campaign as being nothing but an opportunity for people to confuse him with Fred Thompson. George Will to a more serious look at Tommy Thompson and came away impressed. Recognizing the role that money plays in politics, I still don't expect Thompson to be in the race past the New Hampshire primaries.

Recently someone emailed me pushing the idea of Newt Gingrich for president after listening to Gingrich give a speech. I replied that while Gingrich is a very smart guy who is able to give a clear voice to conservative ideals, he is unelectable. I didn't really get into details just responded that between how demonized he was in the 1990's and his personal failings he had no chance. Today, I stumbled across a conservative blogger, Bob Lonsberry, who goes into the details and reinforced my unfavorable impression of Gingrich. Here is the opening paragraph:

Before you can be a good president, you have to be a good man, and Newt Gingrich is not that. In fact, Newt Gingrich is a snake, a man without honor or ability.

Read the rest.

In breaking news - "Full-Scale Riot" At Indiana Prison. I have initial off the cuff thoughts, but will wait for the rest of the story to play out before I comment.