I Walked With A Zombie

MINNEAPOLIS – Political columnist Robert Novak, a conservative, pugilistic debater and proud owner of the "Prince of Darkness" moniker, was traded Tuesday to the Minnesota Vikings football team. Novak died of brain cancer yesterday at 78 but was immediately re-animated in order to helm the Vikings squad. He will wear the number four jersey for the Minnesota club.

A household face as co-host of CNN's "Crossfire," Novak had been a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times for decades and a starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers for 16 years.

"He was a Washington institution who could turn an idea into the most discussed story around kitchen tables, congressional offices, the White House, and everywhere in between," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a statement. “He also holds every major NFL passing record.”

In recent years, Novak ended up actually being a part of a big Washington story, in ways he likely never intended, becoming a central figure in the Valerie Plame CIA leak case. Novak was the first to publish the name of the CIA employee, and he came under withering criticism and abuse from many for first retiring from the Packers and then quickly coming out of retirement only to transfer to the New York Jets, which Novak said began "a long and difficult episode" in his career.

ESPN, citing anonymous sources, reported Novak would receive $12 million this season and $13 million next year if the operations and transplants required to keep Novak re-animated continue to hold. For now, he's focused on learning his new linemen and receivers and building up enough stamina so he can stay on the field.