From The Pittsburgh Brewing Company 

Pittsburgh sports legend and running back Jerome Bettis, who was instrumental in leading the city's professional football team to victory in the big game this past year, is following other sports greats by getting his picture on cans and aluminum bottles of IC Light.

The new limited edition 12-ounce can and aluminum bottle will feature Jerome Bettis' photo, his well-known "The Bus" moniker and his No. 36 jersey number. The cans and bottles will be available starting May 22 in select bars and restaurants, and at distributors in 30-pack cases of cans or in 24-pack aluminum bottles.

Mr. Bettis is also known for his charitable contributions. In 1996, he started The Bus Stops Here Foundation, which helps underprivileged children in American cities. Pittsburgh Brewing Company will make a monetary donation to his foundation.

Tony Ferraro, vice president of sales and marketing at PBC, says he contacted Mr. Bettis' foundation about appearing on the can. "We are very grateful and honored to have him featured on Iron City cans and bottles. Just like many sports greats in the past, Jerome Bettis deserves a place on Iron City products."

"The brewery has been here 145 years. We're carrying on the tradition of having great sports legends on our cans. And what a great man with Jerome Bettis -- great Pittsburgher. True local supporter. It's just a great thing to have," said Joseph Piccirilli of Pittsburgh Brewing.

Mr. Bettis follows other Pittsburgh sports greats to be featured on cans and aluminum bottles. Last year, golf legend Arnold Palmer and quarterback Dan Marino were featured on Iron products.

The Jerome Bettis limited-edition cans and bottles will be available through the end of July, or until supplies last. States carrying the new commemorative packaging include Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Indiana and Virginia.

Note: The Jerome Bettis can and bottle are not affiliated with the NFL or any of its properties.

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I see this as both good and bad news. Good, obviously, as an honor to Jerome. And also because now I'm sure he'll have a lifetime supply of IC Light as well as Miller Lite now.  (Why only light beers?)

The bad news - there probably will NOT be a Super Bowl XL commemorative Iron City can, because they are not licensed by the NFL to produce them. A complete travesty. 

So who's going to hook me up with my can, please? I want one to go next to my ketchup bottle.

Related article:
Jerome Bettis in a "mature" beer commercial
 

From Thepittsburghchannel.com 

Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward will visit Seoul, Korea, next week to work on establishing a foundation to help children of mixed race.

It will be Ward's second visit to South Korea, where he was born.

His South Korean agency, Access Entertainment, said in a statement the Pittsburgh Steelers receiver will arrive on May 26 for a five-day stay.

During his visit last month, Ward promised to establish a foundation to help biracial kids.

Born to a Korean mother and an African-American soldier, Ward and his family left South Korea when he was a baby.

Ward shot to sudden stardom in South Korea after winning the NFL's most valuable player award in February. His racial background has also drawn attention to the discrimination faced by children of mixed heritage in that racially homogenous country.

Related articles:
Hines Ward returns to the Motherland
Hines Ward receives honorary Seoul citizenship

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I hear he's taking his wife and son this time, along with his mother. Sounds like a great opportunity for the Korean kids, too.

p.s. Hines, I'll totally make your foundation's website, gratis!   ;) 

 From msnbc.com

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter is backing off tongue-in-cheek comments that he plans to tell President Bush next month that he dislikes how the country is being run.

During the Steelers’ minicamp last weekend, Porter was smiling and laughing when he told reporters he had “something to say to Bush” during the Super Bowl champions’ June 2 visit to the White House.

“I’m going to have a swagger when I walk in there, too,” Porter said. “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. I feel like he’s got to give me some of my money back, so I got something to tell to Bush.”

The Pro Bowl linebacker issued a statement Wednesday saying he regrets making comments that some apparently construed as serious.

“I regret that my quotes about our team’s upcoming visit to the White House were taken out of context,” Porter said in a statement issued by the team. “I am very excited to have an opportunity to visit the White House and meet the president of the United States.”

Porter also said his comments were not meant to suggest he disapproves of Bush or the job he is doing.

“We will be guests of the president and I would never do anything to disrespect him,” Porter said in the statement. “I consider our upcoming trip an honor and a dream come true. Our entire team is looking forward to visiting the White House and enjoying what promises to be the opportunity of a lifetime.”

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Um, what? When has he ever taken anything back? Oh, Joey, frankly I'm a little disappointed. I was looking forward to drama in the White Hizzouse. I mean, if anybody was going to talk smack to the leader of the Free World, it should be you.

Did he get in trouble or something? Or was the entire story just blown out of proportion? I mean, he basically called the NFL liars and cheaters and nobody did anything about that, and everyone thought he was going to get fined for those words.

 Joey, I say go for it. Get all Michael Moore on his azz!

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?

Work is keeping me busy.

I miss the Steelers.

I miss this blog.

Please don't forget about me!