Bush Has Some Fun at USC’s Expense

Does USC, in its effort to win a national championship in football, need any more incentive? Just in case, President Bush offered some Monday, when NCAA spring sport champions were honored at the White House. Among those in attendance were members of UCLA’s softball team and USC’s women’s golf team.

President Bush offered congratulations to all. In singling out the Trojan women, he said, “I bet there are some men’s football players from your university who would like to be here.”

A certain kinship: One individual honored at the White House was John Gagliardi of Division III St. John’s in Minnesota, who recently became the winningest coach in college football history.

President Bush, after learning that Gagliardi’s son, Jim, was the team’s offensive coordinator, said, “I kind of like a guy who follows in his father’s footsteps.”

Trivia time: How did the quote, “The opera ain’t over until the fat lady sings,” get into sports lexicon?

Computer problems: From Randy Hill of foxsports.com: “Allegedly using the laptop turned in by Jayson Blair, the New York Times has discovered a form of computer program that suggests USC is the fifth-best amateur football team in the U.S.”

Telling it like it is: Brian Bosworth on TBS on Saturday had this to say about unbeaten Texas Christian: “I look at the top 20 and TCU wouldn’t be favored over anyone. The best team they beat is Arizona. Let’s be honest.”

Double winner: Rob Johnson, the former USC quarterback, is a backup with the Oakland Raiders, who won Sunday.

But Johnson’s big win of the weekend occurred Saturday at Hollywood Park. Mary Swanson, the 2-year-old filly he owns with former USC classmate Mike Valpredo, won the ninth race and paid $58.20.

The horse is named after the lead female character in the movie, “Dumb & Dumber.” A play on Mary Swanson was a smart move Saturday.

Names can be deceiving: The last-place finisher in the sixth race at Hollywood Park on Sunday was an Australian import named Sex Machine. The horse is a gelding.

Program note: The tension is mounting. Chess master Garry Kasparov defeated the X3D Fritz computer Sunday to even their competition at 1-1-1. The fourth and final match is on ESPN2 today at 10 a.m.

Trivia answer: Although the quote is often attributed to Dick Motta when he was coaching the Washington Bullets, it originated with San Antonio Spur broadcaster Dan Cook. He said it after the Spurs had lost the first game of a playoff series with the Bullets in 1978. Cook said it was a takeoff on Yogi Berra’s line, “It isn’t over till it’s over.”

And finally: From Jay Leno: “Major League Baseball officials announced they will conduct mandatory testing for steroids next season after more than 5% of the players tested positive. Do you know what they call the 5% who tested positive? All-Stars.”

Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.