Don't be too hard on the Times, it had to kill them to write this story. Since Novak's other source was "not a partisan gun slinger" I'm assuming it was the same thing: Novak asked the official. So the story is who was the original leak...looks like the media, which may explain Fitzgerald's frustration with them.
Drudge changed his Headline to: "CLAIM: NOVAK ASKED ROVE ABOUT CIA OFFICER". That's a little better.
BWHAHAHAHA! And therein lies the JOY!