What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - Hundreds of Turkish troops crossed into northern Iraq early Wednesday to chase Kurdish guerrillas who attack Turkey from bases there. The Turkish military said rebels across the border in Iraq opened fire Wednesday on a Turkish military outpost in the province of Hakkari, which borders both Iraq and Iran. One official said several thousand troops went less than two miles inside Iraq and were still there in late afternoon. "It is a hot pursuit, not an incursion," he said. Hot pursuit? What is this, a Middle Eastern version of the Dukes of Hazzard? Somehow I don't see this explanation being of much comfort to the Iraqis.

Russia - After a torrent of sharp exchanges, President Bush tried to stop a steep slide in relations with Vladimir Putin saying Russia is not a menace to Europe despite a threat to aim missiles at the West. "Russia is not going to attack Europe," the president said, brushing off Putin's warning that he would reposition Russian rockets in retaliation for an American-devised missile shield to be based in Poland and the Czech Republic. Well, golly, if President Bush says everything is hunky-dory, that should be enough to quell everyone's fears, right?

Pope - Or rather, popemobile. A German man tried to jump into Pope Benedict XVI's uncovered popemobile as the pontiff began his general audience Wednesday and held onto it for a few seconds before being wrestled to the ground by security officers. the pope was not hurt and didn't even appear to notice that the man had jumped over the protective barrier in the square and had grabbed onto the white popemobile as it drove by. The pontiff kept waving to the crowd and didn't even look back. The man showed signs of "mental imbalance," said a Vatican spokesman. Who, the pope or the dude who tried to hitch a ride?

Bob Barker - The silver-haired icon, who has hosted "The Price Is Right" game show for 35 years taped his last show today. Barker's long run on the show has inspired fan traditions. Most female contestants kiss him on the cheek. Members of the military wear their uniforms. There is also the 83-year-old Barker's trademark signoff — "Have your pets spayed and neutered" — a tribute to his favorite cause and now a fan mantra. Exuberant fans have always been part of "The Price Is Right," which selects about 12 audience members in each show to play for prizes ranging from a grandfather clock to lavish vacations and car packages. Barker's final show is slated to air on June 15. My favorite Bob Barker moment was his role in Happy Gilmore when he opened up a can of whoop-ass on Adam Sandler's character during a pro-am tournament.

Tennis - The French Open semi-finals are set. For the men, (1) Roger Federer goes up against (4) Nikolay Davydenko and (6) Novak Djokovic takes on (2) Rafael Nadal. On the women's side, (1) Justine Henin faces (4) Jelena Jankovic and (7) Ana Ivanovic challenges (2) Maria Sharapova. That 3 out of 8 semifinalist from Serbia. However, my money is on 1 - 2 matchups in both finals. I'm going eith Federer and Henin.

Indy Racing League - Finally something newsworthy from an otherwise pretty boring racing series. Danica Patrick had an on-track collision with the car driven by Dan Wheldon and then made a beeline for the Englishman in the pits after coming back to finish eighth during Sunday's race in Milwaukee. The incident took place on the 88th of 225 laps, with Patrick diving low on the track in an attempt to pass both Wheldon and Dario Franchitti for fourth place. She got past Franchitti with no problem and appeared close to passing Wheldon when the two cars came together, sending Patrick's car spinning into the infield grass. She made a great save, straightening out her car and getting back on track as the yellow flag came out. The collision bent Patrick's suspension and forced a long pit stop for repairs, costing her a lap that she eventually made up with pit strategy and a timely late caution. The postrace conversation between Patrick and Wheldon was a pretty one-sided, with Patrick doing most of the talking and eventually giving her rival a light push as she walked away. I saw a replay of the confrontation on ESPN. Much ado about nothing, if you ask me, but the IRL is so desperate for any sort of publicity (good or bad) that I'm sure they'll play this up for as long as they can.

Golf - Speaking of dissension among the ranks, a row between the world's two best known women golfers is raising the temperature for this week's LPGA Championship, with Annika Sorenstam saying Michelle Wie lacked class in dealing with a wrist injury. Sorenstam took issue with a decision by teenager Wie to withdraw from a tournament last week when she was 14 over par, citing a wrist injury, only to practice two days later. "I just feel there's a little bit of a lack of respect and class just to leave a tournament like that and then come out and practice here," Sorenstam said. Wie, who is not a member of the women's tour and has played courtesy of sponsors' exemptions, including in men's events, refused to back down. "I don't think I need to apologize for anything," she said. "I just have to take care of my body and mover forward and only think of positive things." Adding intrigue to her withdrawal was an LPGA rule that any non-member who shoots 88 or worse in a round is barred from the tour for the rest of the season. Wie was two bogeys away from that ignominious score. It's a pity that MTV doesn't run Celebrity Deathmatch anymore. This one would be a dandy. Who wouldn't want to see two professional female golfers duke it out to the death?