UPDATE: Obama apologizes for joke, watch video of Special Olympics chairman

Even before Barack Obama's interview on the Tonight Show had aired, the White House was working to tamp down a hubbub over an off-hand joke the president had made.

When Obama told Jay Leno that he had recently bowled a 129 score, Leno replied dryly, "That's very good, Mr. President." Obama chuckled and said it's "like the Special Olympics or something."

Around 9:30PM ET (two...