The murmurs became a roar this week when publicity materials for January's championships in Spokane, Wash., were released. The Web site (and reportedly the print brochure, which The News has not seen) featured every major skater except Weir, the U.S. Men's National Champion, who has held the title for three years.

A tipster told the sports blog Deadspin.com: "It looks like the USFSA is trying to send quite a message, to both the public and to Weir himself, apparently, by omitting him from advertising for the championships."

Says the source: "Word within skating circles is that the USFSA is hoping to replace Weir as men's representative for the sport with [Evan] Lysacek, whom they deem more 'socially acceptable.'"

A USFSA spokeswoman did not return a call by press time yesterday. But a few hours after I left her a detailed message explaining the controversy, Weir's image was added to the Web site.

Weir himself has declined to comment on his sexuality. But during interviews at the recent Winter Olympics he certainly seemed like he could outflame the Human Torch.

"I know that a lot of people, especially the more Republican-style people, are very afraid of what I mean to the sport and what I'm going to say," he told NBC, as Christina Aguilera's "What a Girl Wants" played on his car stereo in the background. "Good for them, they should be scared."

Outlaw Biker magazine, known for its barely clad babes and racy cover lines, is soliciting an unusual model to front its next issue: new White House chief of staff Josh Bolten.

"I understand he rides a Harley and has been a bike fan for quite a while," Outlaw publisher Casey Exton told me yesterday. "I've written to him asking for an interview, but I haven't heard back yet."

This wouldn't be the first time a power player bumped a bikini from the cover. The late billionaire and avid biker Malcolm Forbes once posed with Elizabeth Taylor for a story, although Liz was cheekily cut from the cover.

"And we named Barbara Bush First Lady of the Century," recalls Exton, although she got only the back cover. "We did a caricature of her on a bike," with the tag line "Everybody likes Bush." He added: "We might do the same thing with Laura Bush."

Just how long has Elton John been in show business? Long enough that he's the featured entertainment at the American Association of Retired People's weekend-long expo in Anaheim, Calif., this October.

You might not expect to find a bunch of Sopranos hanging out with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, but Lorraine Bracco, Aida Turturro and others from the hit show will turn out Monday to honor the commish at a benefit for Publicolor, a nonprofit that paints the city's public schools. … The holiday week reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from Bob Hope, who regularly hosted the Oscars although he never won one in a competitive category. "Welcome to the Academy Awards," he said during one broadcast, "or, as it's called at my home, Passover." … DJ AM, aka Adam will-you-please-just-hurry-up-and-marry-Nicole-Richie-and-go-away Goldstein, and drummer/MTV reality star Travis Barker bring their combined talents to MIXX at Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City tonight, for a double act that sounds like it was dreamed up by Us Weekly. Trainwrecktastic!

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