Hardly the best fashion statement

After Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick’s indictment on charges related to a dogfighting operation, some merchandisers are backpedaling faster than an All-Pro cornerback.

The NFL has banned the words “Ookie” and “Dog” from the back of personalized jerseys at NFLShop.com, CNBC.com reported. “Ookie” is a nickname Vick allegedly had in dogfighting circles.

But here’s one somebody missed. Still for sale at the Falcons online store Thursday:

“Atlanta Falcons Medium Pet Set. Our Price $27.99.”

“Let you and your pet show your Falcons spirit all year long with this great Atlanta Falcons pet set.... Includes collar, leash, and I.D. tag with Falcons Logo.”

You certainly wouldn’t want your dog caught dead in one of those -- and our thanks to Deadspin.com for the link.

Trivia time

Before Chick Hearn became the play-by-play announcer for the Lakers in 1961, which other Los Angeles teams’ games did he call?

More Vick

Among the Vick-related items circulating on the Internet is a computer-enhanced picture of a dog outside Vick’s mansion with a sign reading, “Beware of Vick.”

By the way, if you feel a breeze, it might be the collective sigh of relief blowing up the coast from San Diego.

The Chargers had the No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft and a chance to take Vick, but they traded the pick to Atlanta in a deal that included the Falcons’ first-round selection at No. 5.

That turned out to be LaDainian Tomlinson, last season’s NFL most valuable player.

Had the Chargers not traded that pick and chosen Vick, they might finally have a draft-day calamity surpassing the selection of Ryan Leaf.

“He makes Leaf look like Johnny Unitas,” columnist Nick Canepa wrote in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Fore the record

We are appalled, appalled that Amy Alcott has been named girls’ golf coach at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake High.

After all, she has no experience: She didn’t even play girls’ high school golf.

That’s because there were no high school programs for girls when the Hall of Fame golfer went to Palisades High in the early 1970s, before Title IX really took hold.

Alcott played on the boys’ team for one year.

“They thought it was a big deal to let me play on the team, given the fact I was the U.S. junior champion,” she said. “I had a good time and some of the guys on the team are still friends of mine, and I run into them and that’s kind of cute. They tell me I obviously made something of myself.”

Alcott says she is excited about mentoring young women, and is disappointed the September-October season is so brief.

“It’s obviously not a full-time job, even though it probably will be in my mind and heart,” Alcott said.

“I’m pretty competitive.”

Bye-bye, Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros, the dashing Spaniard who won five majors with his flair for getting into and out of some of the toughest spots on a golf course, announced this week that he had retired at 50.

Besides winning the Masters twice and the British Open three times, Ballesteros helped turn the tide in the Ryder Cup, which the Europeans have captured eight times in the last 11 competitions after being dominated by the Americans for decades.

“I think I just would like to see the Americans win the Ryder Cup again because it looks like there’s only one side, there’s no competition,” Ballesteros said, drawing laughter.

“On Sundays, it’s no fair anymore.”

Trivia answer

Hearn was also the announcer for USC football and men’s basketball.

Thanks to reader Allan Lourie for the question.

And finally

From David Letterman’s “Late Show” monologue Wednesday:

“Here’s exciting news for New York City: Pope Benedict will be visiting New York in the spring....

“And the good news is, he’s bringing his wife, Posh Benedict.”

robyn.norwood@latimes.com