Morning briefing

Packers coach can’t get a break

Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy made an appearance at the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay on Wednesday and was grilled with questions about Brett Favre’s rumored comeback -- by the kids in attendance.

Eleven-year old Miranda Black of nearby Oconto Falls began the inquest with the biggest question in the state these days: “Um, is Brett Favre coming back?”

McCarthy sidestepped.

“I want to know which one of those media individuals made you say that,” McCarthy said, referring to reporters standing in the back of the room.

But the questions continued. Many of the 75 kids shouted questions about Favre such as: Why did he quit? How old is he, anyway? The barrage finally ended when one child asked McCarthy to sign some T-shirts.

“Sure,” McCarthy joked. “It’s better than answering these questions.”

Trivia time

On this day in 1985, Nolan Ryan became the first pitcher in major league history to reach 4,000 strikeouts. Only three others have since joined him. Who are they?

Referee taking shots

A referee for a Belarus League soccer game drew attention this week when he began behaving erratically, eventually stopped running with the action and officiated the latter stages of the game from the center circle.

Sergei Shmolik appeared to be suffering from a back injury as he staggered off the field with the aid of a trainer after the game ended. He was taken to a hospital for tests, which revealed the problem: He had high levels of alcohol in his system.

“I haven’t seen a drunk referee before,” Belarus national coach Berndt Stange told the Telegraph. “It’s just beyond my comprehension.”

Steel Curtain squadron

Presidential candidate John McCain was campaigning in Pittsburgh this week and did an interview with television station KDKA in which he recalled how the Pittsburgh Steelers helped him during his time at a POW camp during the Vietnam War.

“When I was first interrogated and really had to give some information because of the physical pressures that were on me, I named the starting lineup -- defensive line -- of the Pittsburgh Steelers as my squadron-mates,” McCain said.

Trivia answer

Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton.

Soaring to

new heights

Freestyle motocross rider Ronnie Renner will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for height when he launches his motorcycle up a 25-foot-tall quarter pipe tonight at the Santa Monica Pier.

It is the third jump in the Red Bull Experiment series. On New Year’s Eve, Robbie Madison set a motorcycle distance record by clearing 322 feet and on June 12 BMX rider Kevin Robinson set a bike height record of 54 feet.

Renner shouldn’t have much of a problem setting the record. Motocross half pipe is a relatively new sport and Renner is the first to try to establish a record.

And finally

Golfer Zach Johnson developed tendinitis in his wrist during the U.S. Open and is playing this week for the first time since. He joked about being miffed about the lack of attention.

“What was frustrating was I get hurt and I thought it was a pretty big deal,” Johnson said. “But ‘SportsCenter’ was Tiger and his injury. I got nothing.”

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peter.yoon@latimes.com