From the Beaver County Times:

Few players in the National Football League talk the talk like Joey Porter, the Steelers' star linebacker who's never at a loss for words.

On the field, he's one of the best at his position. In the locker room, he's one of the most opinionated, most quotable athletes in the country. And on June 2 when he and the rest of the Super Bowl champs visit the White House, Porter plans on being in rare form.

"Yeah, I have something to say to (President) Bush, too," Porter said with a twinkle in his eye Sunday between the morning and afternoon minicamp practices. "I'm going to have a swagger when I walk into there, too.

"I'm looking forward to it. But like I said, I have something to tell him, too. I don't like the way things are running right now. So I have something to tell Bush."

Other than suggesting a tax break, Porter didn't say exactly what he doesn't like about the way President George W. Bush is handling his job as President.

"The government's taking too much money out of my pocket," Porter said, laughing.

Regardless of any political differences he has with Bush, Porter said he's genuinely excited about the Steelers' visit to our national's capital for yet another celebration of their Super Bowl XL victory.

Although the Steelers have not yet been told of the exact itinerary for their White House visit, Porter hopes he'll get the chance to speak to President Bush face-to-face and perhaps get to know him. After all, Porter pointed out, Bush knows Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton well enough to call him by his nickname.

Hampton, an All-American defensive tackle when he played at the University of Texas, befriended Bush when he was governor of the Lone Star State.

"Casey used to work out with him all the time in Texas," Porter said. "(Bush) actually calls Casey 'Big Ham.' That trips me out. Like, he knows the President. How do you get to know the President? So it's crazy."

"Yeah, I used to talk to him a few times when I was working out at our facility in Texas," Hampton said. "But no, I haven't talked to him since. He's too busy. He's got too much going on (as President)."

Porter has never met President Bush, but was in the crowd when Bush visited Porter's hometown of Bakersfield, Cal., a few years ago. Porter, who didn't vote for Bush in the past two presidential elections, does hope to get to know Bush well enough that the President will call him by his nickname, too.

"I'll try to get on that level with him," Porter said. "Like 'Peezy, what's happening?'"

According to a release from the team's media relations department, the Steelers are expected to work out June 2 as part of the voluntary coaching sessions, a series of 14 practices that start Tuesday and end June 8.

But it all likelihood, coach Bill Cowher will cancel practice that day for the Steelers' White House visit.

Over the years, several U.S. presidents have hosted professional or college athletic teams in honor of their championship accomplishments.

"I'm not going to be in awe because I've seen him before," Porter said. "But at the same time, it's always an honor to be with the president. He's the one who runs everything. So it will be an honor to be in the same room with him."

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I can't wait to see what happens.

I just found this interesting tidbit about him on Wikipedia: "Porter gets fined for every game he wears his yellow gloves. Even though they are the team's color, the league still does not allow his gloves to be worn."

Now that is some big-time team spirit.

So I'm back now! Anybody miss me? Work for me is kind of getting better, but if I don't hire a full time web designer/developer soon I'm screwed. Anybody in San Diego need a job?