The real firing line is no game

President Bush welcomed a number of recent NCAA championship teams to the White House last week, among them the men’s and women’s rifle team from Alaska Fairbanks.

“Interestingly enough, guess who they beat? West Point,” Bush said. “Any time you outshoot West Point, you’re really good at what you do.”

Bush later added he would ask Congress for more funding for Army athletics.

Trivia time

What is the nickname of the athletic teams at Alaska Fairbanks?

Meltdown Mike

Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy went on one of the more absurd rants in recent memory Saturday over a newspaper column about the team’s quarterback he recently demoted.

His meltdown is on YouTube, and the last five words are “makes me want to puke.”

Asked whether he had any regrets Monday about his outburst, Gundy said his wife told him he shouldn’t have said “ain’t.”

More weirdness

If you visit YouTube, check out ESPN broadcaster Mike Patrick’s odd Britney Spears moment at a critical point in overtime of last Saturday’s Georgia-Alabama game.

“I have an important question. What is Britney doing with her life?” he asks.

“Who?” broadcast partner Todd Blackledge says.

“Britney,” Patrick says.

“Britney who?” Blackledge says.

“Spears,” Patrick says. “What is she doing with her career?”

“Why do we care at this point?” Blackledge says. “Is she here?”

“I don’t think so,” Patrick says.

“Is she a football fan?” Blackledge asks.

“Oh I’m sure she is,” Patrick says. “Georgia from the 25. . . touchdown!”

Healy tribute

Were we the last to know there is a Jim Healy tribute site with all his pertinent sound bites?

It’s at www.johnspeedie.com/healy/healybytes.html.

Future Ivy Leaguer

In a world where people have named their babies Espn, this almost qualifies as sane.

Paul and Teri Fields of Michigan City, Ind., welcomed a son earlier this month. His first name?

Wrigley.

He should be dancin’

ESPN analyst Emmitt Smith has two left feet when it comes to metaphors, Tony Augusty noted in his “Upon Further Review” column for the Detroit News.

“You cannot change the stripes of a leopard,” Smith said.

“Um, that’s probably because leopards’ coats are spotty, Emmitt,” Augusty wrote. “Kind of like your broadcasting work.”

Move over, O.J.

The Virginia home that allegedly was the base of Michael Vick’s illegal dogfighting operation has become a tourist attraction, the Hampton Roads (Va.) Virginian Pilot reports.

“If half of ‘em that come and look at it each took a little bit, there wouldn’t be nothing left,” a man who works nearby told the paper.

How to shoot undie par

The latest offering in the never-ending quest to improve your golf game through technology?

Adidas is bringing its TechFit PowerWeb underwear technology to golf, Golf World magazine notes.

“The line features form-fitting underwear reinforced in specific muscle areas to aid better posture, diminish fatigue and ‘promote solid and consistent ball-striking,’ among other claims.”

Trivia answer

The Nanooks.

And finally. . .

Notre Dame and Adidas supplied 75,000 white towels for the Notre Dame-Michigan State game Saturday that dropped the Irish to 0-4 this season.

Waving the white flag certainly seems appropriate.

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robyn.norwood@latimes.com