What Caught My Eye Today

It was a rather busy day on the domestic front, unfortunately for all the wrong reasons...

Utah - Hundreds of rescuers broke through walls of rock in a desperate race to reach six coal miners trapped 1,500 feet below ground by a cave-in so powerful authorities initially thought it was an earthquake. Hours after the collapse, searchers had been unable to contact the miners and could not say whether they were dead or alive. If they survived, a mine executive said, they could have enough air and water to last several days. The mining crew was believed to be about four miles from the mine entrance. Rescuers were working to free the men by drilling into the mine vertically from the mountaintop and horizontally from the side. By mid-afternoon, rescuers were within 1,700 feet of the miners' presumed location. All I can say is godspeed to the rescuers and may they have better fortunes than the folks in West Virginia had last year which claimed 12 lives.

New Jersey - In Newark, four young friends were shot execution-style in a schoolyard just days before they were to head to college. Three were killed after being forced to kneel against a wall and then shot in the head at close range Saturday night, police said. A girl was found slumped near some bleachers 30 feet away, a gunshot wound to the head but still alive. The four Newark residents were to attend Delaware State University this fall. Authorities believe the shootings were a random robbery committed by several assailants and that some of the victims may have tried to resist their attackers based on interviews with the one surviving victim. The shootings ratcheted up anger in New Jersey's largest city, where the murder rate has risen 50 percent since 1998 and this year's murder total for the year to 60.

Minnesota - Minnesota officials resumed efforts to find victims of last week's bridge collapse in Minneapolis as they prepare to bring in heavy equipment to remove cars and debris from the Mississippi River. Three U.S. Navy diving and salvage teams joined the work today. The death toll remains at 5 while approximately 100 reported varying degrees of injury.

Not to be outdone by the doom and gloom here at home...

Iraq - Iraq's political crisis worsened Monday as five more ministers announced a boycott of Cabinet meetings — leaving the embattled prime minister's unity government with no members affiliated with Sunni political factions. Meanwhile, a suicide bomber killed at least 28 people in a northern city, including 19 children, some playing hopscotch and marbles in front of their homes. And the American military reported five new U.S. deaths. The Cabinet boycott of five ministers loyal to former Iraqi leader Ayad Allawi left the government, at least temporarily, without participants where were members of the Sunni political apparatus — a deep blow to the prime minister's attempt to craft reconciliation among the country's majority Shiites and minority Sunnis and Kurds.

But, hark. Perhaps there is hope on the horizon...

Afghanistan - President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai vowed to finish off the Taliban, which Karzai said was a defeated force that attacks civilians but is not a threat to his government. Karzai, visiting the United States amid renewed concern about worsening violence in Afghanistan and the threat from militant hide-outs across the border in Pakistan, said he was building up his army and police with U.S. help. "They're not posing any threat to the government of Afghanistan," Karzai said. "It's a force that is frustrated." No threat, huh? Yeah, okay President Karzai, whatever you say, bro'.

Palestinian State - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, in the West Bank for the first time, and told him he wanted to restart negotiations soon on establishing a Palestinian state. After months of resistance, Olmert expanded the scope of discussions with Abbas to include so-called "fundamental issues" that are key to ending the conflict. The goal of the talks is to reach agreement on broad statehood "principles" by November, when the United States is expected to convene a Middle East conference. If these guys are taking suggestions, here's one I'd like to make. Can someone please come up with a name for this 'Palestinian State?' It's kind of difficult to have a constructive dialogue about a 'thing' without a name. Shouldn't be that difficult, right? I'll even kick in a suggestion to get the ball rolling. How about, Palestine?

And finally some sporting news to lighten up an otherwise rather depressing Monday...

Baseball - In what has to some sort of record, there were 3 historic milestones reached over the weekend. Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player (by 11 months) to hit 500 homeruns. Tom Glavine became the 23rd (and perhaps last) pitcher to get 300 wins. And finally, Barry Bonds hit his 755th homerun over the weekend to tie Hank Aaron's record. Better enjoy it while you can Barry. This young lad, A-Rod, has game.

Golf - You have to hand it to Tiger Woods. A couple of months ago, South African golfer Rory Sabbatini suggested that Tiger looked "beatable as ever." Wood responded by overwhelming Rory Sabbatini along with a stellar field, shooting a 5-under 65 on Sunday to win the Bridgestone Invitational for the sixth time. "Everyone knows how Rory is, and I just go out there and just let my clubs do the talking," Woods said after overcoming Sabbatini's one-shot lead to start the day. Woods finished at 8-under 272 for an eight-stroke victory. He earned $1.35 million. His sixth win moved him into a tie for second for the most victories by a player in one PGA Tour event. He won the Bridgestone in 1999-2001 before his latest three-peat. Only Sam Snead, who won the Greater Greensboro Open eight times, has been more dominant in an event.
Woods also has won 14 of the 25 WGC events he's played, including six of the last eight. Dude isn't just good, he's wicked good. Though, I have to give props to Sabbatini for sporting a pair. Dumb--well, yeah. But you have to admire the guy for his moxy.

And finally...

Wrestling - Adam "Pacman" Jones is stepping into the ring and giving pro wrestling a whirl. His latest career move was announced today at a new conference. The suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback said, "I am a big fan of wrestling, so I wanted to give it a try. I respect wrestling and I'm not coming in like it's just a show. I want to prove that I am the greatest team-sport athlete." Jones was suspended in April for the 2007 season by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for repeated conduct violations. He dropped his appeal of that punishment in June. Yo, Pacman. You da man and all, and who am I to diss on a man just trying to put food on the table? But, dude, wrestling ain't exactly what I would call a team sport. I suppose you could make the argument that a tag-team is technically a team, but that 'sport' thing is still a bit of a problem. Even guys in the business, fully disclose that it is sports entertainment rather than sport.