NOVAKULA, UNPLUGGED AND UNHINGED

The writer Bob Novak -- also known as Novakula, Prince of Darkness -- had himself a little weekend dust-up while boarding a plane. The Washington Post says:

Novak, the enigmatic center of the CIA leak scandal, was headed to Hawaii Saturday morning to watch his beloved [Maryland] Terrapins play in the Maui Invitational tournament when he tangled with a fellow traveler.

According to our unofficial mascot on the flight, Novak was boarding an American flight to Chicago when he cut in front of another passenger while entering first class. The guy protested and laid a hand on Novak -- who responded by socking him and threatening to knock his teeth out.

Not mild-mannered Bob? We reached Novak in Maui, just minutes into yesterday's game.

"Some guy pushed me and I pushed him back," he said, shouting into the phone from the stands. "That's all there was to it." Both offending parties were scolded by airline staff and huffed to their respective seats.

You can't keep a bad man down.