It was judgment day in the NFL for Chicago Bears defensive lineman Tank Johnson and in Major League Baseball for Cubs manager Lou Piniella (right).
In the far more serious case, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the Bears' Johnson for eight games for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Johnson spent a month-and-a-half in jail during the offseason on gun charges and a probation violation. His NFL suspension could be reduced to six games if he meets certain conditions.
The Cubs' Piniella's problems were more garden variety. In a loss to Atlanta Saturday, he had a spirited argument with the umpires over a tag play at third base that went against the Cubs. Piniella angaged in some theatrical dirt kicking and baseball cap abuse that got him ejected. The manager was suspended today for four games, with one already having been served on Sunday because he made contact with ump Mark Wegner. Piniella denied the charge but a close examination here shows that a diet might have saved Lou that suspension.
Photo credit: Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press
