Who can cover Chad? SI

Chad is on the cover, but he’s also back. Chad Johnson, golden Mohawk and all in a Halloween haze of Bengals colors, dominates the front of the Sports Illustrated issue that hits newsstands Wednesday. Which is also the day he says he plans to return to his old trash-talking self and come out of his season-long cocoon. And the Bengals have suddenly become a staple in the SI staples. After 17 years of no covers and just four covers in the 21 years before that, this is the third Bengals cover in the last five months. After hearing that SI deemed him cover worthy, Johnson exclaimed Tuesday, “Wednesday? That’s funny because that’s when I’m going to go back to being my old self.” “Marvin, I love you to death,” is how Johnson is going to explain it to head coach Marvin Lewis. “Trust me. It’s for the good of the team.” The magazine asks, “Trick or Treat: Is the NFL’s Bad Boy Really Good Guy?”

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P.DUB GETS LOOK

The Bengals are apparently concerned enough with their banged-up wide receiver corps that they are bringing in former first-rounder Peter Warrick for a tryout. Reached late Monday night via phone, Warrick said this will be his second workout since being released from Seattle after the final preseason game.

“I feel good," said Warrick, who has also worked out for Detroit. "I’ve been working out; I still think I can help. It’s tough sitting and watching. You hope no one gets hurt, but that’s what I’ve had to look for.”

Warrick, 29, the fourth player selected in the 2000 draft, visited the Bengals at their hotel when they were in Tampa last week and went to the game. He said he has been working out with trainer Tom Shaw in his native Florida, but he wasn’t too sure about the Bengals injury situation behind Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Cubs name Trammell bench coach

Former Tigers manager and six-time American League All-Star shortstop Alan Trammell was named on Monday as the bench coach and infield instructor for new Cubs manager Lou Piniella.
Trammell, 48, signed a two-year contract with the Cubs, the team announced. Trammell spent his 20-year Major League career with the Tigers from 1977-96, and compiled a .285 batting average with 185 home runs and 1,003 RBIs in 2,293 games. "We are extremely happy to add Alan to the staff," said Cubs general manager Jim Hendry. "His credentials on the field as a player, instructor and coach speak for themselves. He will be an invaluable person for Lou Piniella to lean on during the game, and he brings a special expertise in working with our infielders."

Bengals activate RB Perry from PUP list

The Cincinnati Bengals will welcome back their valuable third-down pass-catching back for Sunday's game against Carolina. Perry was activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list on Friday after missing the first six weeks of the season due to ankle and knee injuries. A first-round pick in 2004, Perry had 51 catches for 328 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 279 yards on 61 carries last season.

Chad Johnson wants bolder offense

Chad Johnson's demeanor these days -- no boasts, no guarantees, no trash talk whatsoever -- matches the Cincinnati Bengals' mundane offense. And the Pro Bowl receiver says it's time for both to change. His solution: Throw caution to the wind and throw the ball long. "That's what we did before, all the time," Johnson said. "Carson didn't care what defensive back or what safety was over the top. For what? Care for what? Just go make the play anyway."

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Piniella vows to make Cubs a winner

Lou Piniella mentioned all facets of Chicago Cubs' baseball: the long-suffering and passionate fans, including the ones who fill up the bleachers; the ivy on the walls of Wrigley Field; and past greats like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ferguson Jenkins. They are just part of the team's lore, though. Losing baseball has been the longest tradition for a franchise looking for its first World Series championship since 1908. But Piniella said Tuesday he welcomes the challenge as the latest manager to pull on the cap and jersey of Chicago's north side team and try to make it a winner. With a promise from management that the Tribune Co. will spend the money to upgrade the roster, he left the TV booth for a three-year deal worth nearly $10 million, with an option for a fourth. "I was considered other places, but really this is where I wanted to come," said Piniella, making the fifth stop of his managerial career.


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Tyson says he may fight against woman

Mike Tyson says he may include bouts with women on his next tour, and mentioned professional boxer Ann Wolfe, who is 21-1 with 15 knockouts. "She's such a prominent, dominant woman in the boxing field," Tyson said. When asked if he was joking about fighting women, Tyson said, "I'm very serious."

The 40-year-old former heavyweight champ launches "Mike Tyson's World Tour" on Friday in Youngstown, Ohio.

Source: Piniella expects Cubs to go hard after A-Rod

Lou Piniella, who will be formally introduced as the new Chicago Cubs manager Tuesday afternoon, wants to acquire embattled -- and possibly available -- New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.com that Piniella, who is extremely close to Rodriguez, expects the Cubs to aggressively pursue the 10-time All-Star. The 63-year-old manager and the 31-year-old Rodriguez have what amounts to a quasi-father/son relationship; Rodriguez was managed in Seattle by Piniella from 1994-2000. It is that relationship -- and the tantalizing talent of Rodriguez -- that has prompted Piniella to want to explore a trade with the Yankees.

For the Cubs, whose management experienced the rare and unnerving sight of empty seats at Wrigley Field this past season, the attraction of Rodriguez is obvious. He would immediately strengthen a lineup in dire need of power. He is normally an accomplished defensive player. And despite his postseason difficulties, he has a career .305 batting average and 464 career home runs in 13 major league seasons.

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Cubs to target Soriano

With Piniella on board, Hendry will quickly try to furnish his superstar manager with a star-studded team. Sources said the Cubs have identified potential free agent Alfonso Soriano -- whom they view as a center fielder and leadoff hitter -- as their primary target in rebuilding a team for Piniella.

Piniella takes on challenges with Cubs

New skipper will seek to end World Series drought. Lou Piniella will try to do something no one has accomplished since 1945 -- get the Chicago Cubs to the World Series.

Piniella, 63, was named the Cubs' 48th manager on Tuesday, replacing Dusty Baker, whose contract was not renewed after four seasons in Chicago. Baker came close, leading the Cubs to the National League Central Division title in his first year in 2003. They were one game away from getting to the World Series, yet came up short. The Cubs haven't won a World Series since 1908, the longest drought in professional sports.

Can Piniella change that? He'll get started now after signing a three-year contract worth $10 million with an option for a fourth that would make the total deal worth $15 million.
"Long-suffering Cubs fans, they have great passion," Piniella said at a press conference at Wrigley Field. "I saw that from the broadcast booth here and we're going to win. ... We're going to go to Spring Training and work hard and get the job done."

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Bengals LT Jones headed for knee surgery

The Cincinnati Bengals will enter a challenging portion of their schedule without starting left tackle Levi Jones. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis announced Monday that Jones likely will need arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Jones suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday's 14-13 loss at Tampa Bay.

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Report: Piniella agrees to manage Cubs

Lou Piniella apparently will take his fiery brand of managing to "the Windy City."
Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 reported Monday that the Chicago Cubs have agreed to a three-year deal with Piniella. Financial terms have not been finalized, but the radio station is reporting that Piniella will receive approximately $3 million annually. The Cubs officially will announce the hiring of Piniella on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Piniella, 63, faces a difficult task in turning around a Cubs franchise which posted a 66-96 record in 2006 and has reached the postseason just twice in the last 17 years.

The subject of numerous recent rumors, Piniella owns a career record of 1,519-1,420 in 19 seasons with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Seattle Mariners, the Cincinnati Reds and the New York York Yankees. He guided the Reds to a World Series championship in 1990 and twice was named American League Manager of the Year while with the Mariners.

On Friday, Piniella took himself out of the running for the San Francisco Giants' opening. He has also spoken to the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers, although he said the Washington job is not an ideal fit. Piniella, 63, has been working in television since parting ways with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after the 2005 season following three difficult years as manager.

Fox Sports fires baseball analyst for remarks

Fox Sports fired baseball analyst Steve Lyons, hours after he made ethnically inappropriate comments on the air during the Detroit Tigers-Oakland A's championship game Friday. Lyons is a former baseball player who has been working for Fox Sports since 1996. He also is an analyst for the Los Angeles Dodgers broadcasts.

Lyons ran afoul of Fox Sports for comments he made during the game after analyst and former manager Lou Piniella said expecting a player to repeat his performance was like "finding a wallet on a Friday night and looking for one on Sunday and Monday, too." A little while later, Piniella said Oakland A's infielder Marco Scutaro was "en fuego," to which Lyons responded: "Lou's hablaing some espanol there, and I'm still looking for my wallet. I don't understand him, and I don't want to sit close to him now."

There were no repercussions on the air at the time, but Fox executives told Lyons later Friday that he was fired.

Cubs ready to introduce Piniella as manager

Negotiations between the Cubs and their top managerial candidate advanced so quickly Sunday, the team expects to complete talks today and introduce Lou Piniella as their new manager by Tuesday, according to team and industry sources.

Formal negotiations on a multiyear contract with Piniella's Chicago-based agent, Alan Nero, began Sunday, the day after the veteran manager's duties as a Fox analyst ended with the conclusion of the American League Championship Series.

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Piniella likes 'challenge' of Cubs job

If the Cubs want veteran manager Lou Piniella, the feeling appears to be mutual -- especially with the New York Yankees no longer an option for 2007. Piniella expressed deep interest in the Cubs job during an exclusive interview Tuesday with the Sun-Times before Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

''Yeah, I've talked to the Cubs,'' said Piniella, who is broadcasting the ALCS for Fox. ''Chicago is a wonderful city. And the Cubs are a very storied franchise. They have great fans. I had a nice conversation with their general manager, Jim Hendry. He's a real baseball guy. We just have to wait and see what happens.

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Cubs interview Girardi

Joe Girardi, considered a leading candidate for the Chicago Cubs' managing job, interviewed for the position on Monday. The Florida Marlins fired Girardi last week. He guided them to a 78-84 record and kept them in contention for a playoff spot until late September despite having the majors' youngest team and lowest payroll.

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Cubs coaches get heave-ho

The Baker era in Chicago reached more closure Tuesday when all of the Cubs' coaches were told their one-year contracts would not be renewed for 2007. The clean sweep included pitching coach Larry Rothschild, the only member of the staff who preceded the Baker era.

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Baker out as Cubs manager

Dusty Baker is out as the Chicago Cubs' manager following a last-place finish and a failure to take the team to the World Series in his four years. "I wish we could have gotten it done but we didn't," Baker said. "You see four years come to pass very quickly."

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MacPhail resigns as Cubs president

An emotional Andy MacPhail resigned Sunday as president and CEO of the Chicago Cubs after failing to get the team to the World Series during his 12-year tenure. "This is the first thing I've ever done in baseball that I didn't have a high level of success at," MacPhail said, his voice cracking.

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