Obama's bowling quip prompts challenge

President Barack Obama made on offhand remark Thursday on The Tonight Show comparing his bowling skills to "the Special Olympics or something."

In his dreams.

Obama — who told Jay Leno he recently bowled a 129, an improvement over the paltry 37 he scored during a presidential campaign stop last year — would be no competition for Kolan McConiughey, a mentally disabled Michigan man who competes in the Special Olympics.

"He bowled a 129. I bowl a 300. I could beat that score easily," McConiughey said Friday. He has rolled five perfect games since 2005.

Obama realized his gaffe after the Leno taping and called Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver before the show aired. He apologized and said he wants to have some Special Olympics athletes visit the White House to bowl or play basketball.

Shriver called the apology "very moving" but said Obama's words on the talk show "can be seen as humiliating or a put-down to people with special needs."

McConiughey, 35, has been bowling since he was 8 or 9. His advice for Obama? Practice every day.