Gästebuch » anything. I havent heard anything, and thats basically up

CHICAGO --?White Sox?manager Robin Ventura declined to address a report that he will step down from the job and be replaced by bench coach Rick Renteria next season.In an odd scene after Chicagos ?6-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night, general manager Rick Hahn declined interview requests, and White Sox players claimed they hadnt heard about the report or Venturas status.The Chicago Sun-Times reported?during the game that Ventura, who is in the last year of his contract, would not return after five seasons and that Renteria, a former manager of the?Chicago Cubs, would take over.Weve been over this, Ventura said. Ill talk at the end of the year.Hahn relayed a message through a team spokesman that he would answer questions at a press conference Monday scheduled by the team.You guys are telling me something I havent even heard about, third baseman Todd Frazier said, adding that I love Robin. I love him to death. Hes a good manager, for sure.Right-hander James Shields, who allowed two-run homers to Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco to lose his major-league-tying 19th game, had high praise for the 49-year-old Ventura.Hes one of the better managers Ive been around, and Ive been around some really good ones, Shields said. To be honest with you, thats the first time Im hearing this. But Robin is a good man, a good manager.Earlier this season, Ventura said he wanted to return in 2017 despite a fourth straight losing season and five years without a playoff berth. But Ventura then backtracked on that statement after USA Today reported Wednesday that the front office wanted to retain him but Ventura hadnt committed.Ventura sidestepped numerous questions about the issue after the game Saturday and said he hadnt discussed his future with the players.No, I havent talked to them about anything. Were still playing, Ventura said. All the conversations I have with them are about playing.Frazier praised the 54-year-old Renteria, who went 73-89 in one season with the Cubs in 2014. The White Sox hired him before this season.Ricks a great guy, man, Frazier said. Hes bilingual, which is great. Hes been a manager before. But like I said, its not my right to say anything. I havent heard anything, and thats basically up to our brass, so Im not going to get in trouble.Saturdays listless defeat continued a theme of inconsistency surrounding this years team, which started 23-10. Theyre 55-73 since.I feel bad that I wasnt able to do more for him. I know guys in here feel the same way, catcher Alex Avila said. We were a team that was expected to win coming into spring training, and we didnt do that.The Associated Press contributed to this report.? Wholesale Vans UK . -- Jacksonville wide receiver Cecil Shorts will likely be a game-time decision whether hell play Sunday in the Jaguars home game against the San Diego Chargers. Cheap Vans UK . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. http://www.clearancevansuk.com/ . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Cheap Shoes UK . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Discount Vans Shoes UK . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. As mountain biker Lea Davison prepares for her second Olympics, two things give her peace of mind. First, this isnt her first rodeo, er, singletrack. As a wide-eyed newbie in London four years ago, the Jericho, Vermont native never expected to medal and was happy with her 11th-place finish. Now, with a silver medal from this months UCI 2016 Mountain Bike World Championships in the Czech Republic, shes feeling much more confident going into Rio.The second calming thought is knowing that no matter what happens at the Games in August, the 33-year-old already has an enormous fan base of 7- to 16-year-old girls -- girls whove learned mountain biking as part of the nonprofit Davison created called Little Bellas.It makes it easier to have this whole army of little girls who are just so excited that Im there. It really puts it in perspective, says Davison, who is the director and co-founder with younger sister, Sabra (who she lovingly calls Sabe), of the Little Bellas. Since its inception in 2007, the nonprofit has helped more than 2,000 girls across the country get on a bike.And those new bikers are unequivocal fans. One time, Davison recalls having a subpar finish in a team relay race, but the girls didnt care at all. Sabe was like, Lea, I was watching the live feed with our overnight campers and they were like, Wow, Leas in ninth! Just to hear they were so psyched means that results dont really matter. Its the fact that Im out there, doing this, and I have this opportunity to meet these little girls and have an impact. I would say that helps take the pressure off.Today, Little Bellas offers 24 non-competitive programs in eight states and sees about 500 girls, on average, a summer. The younger girls focus on getting comfortable on bikes over time and having fun on the trails. As the girls get older, they shift to more serious biking, with training in nutrition, maneuvering challenging terrain, and becoming a mentor and role model to others. Though Davison is a full-time athlete, she serves as a sounding board for executive director Sabe, helping to devise the curriculum and teaching the girls to ride.Her dedication to the Little Bellas has been no different this Olympic year. Though its definitely a balancing act, she admits, especially leading up to the world championships and Rio. I could be exhausted from a three-to-four-hour traaining ride, and feel like, Ugh, how am I going to go to the Little Bellas tonight? Ill eat lots of snacks and drag myself over.dddddddddddd Once there, Im surrounded by so much energy that its never a problem. Im like, OK, here we go! Its really fun.Part of her own grueling training program includes motor pacing, which means drafting behind her coach of 11 years, Andy Bishop, on a motorized scooter. Well go out for two to three hours. Its really intense, but its really the best training, especially for Rio. Davison got to preview the fast and technical, mostly man-made mountain bike course in Rio during a two-day Olympic test event last October. Its very much a power course, she says of the race route that features rock gardens, drops, jumps, and significant climbs.Davison has also added more strength training in the gym than ever before. In the offseason, she lifted six times a week, focusing on activating her muscles with a level of instability, by doing exercises like single-leg moves on a Bosu ball. The goal: to force muscles to find balance, which is crucial when shes out on the trail. Harnessing this kind of strength has been a huge part of her Rio build up.Despite the tight schedule and the stress of the upcoming Games, she swears its all worth it. Helping a little girl develop confidence is motivating to me. That helps me balance it all. Also, my sister and I started this program, so its our baby. Were extremely invested in it. And, really, I wouldnt be able to do this without Sabe -- she runs the show and creates this platform for me to make an impact. She adds, Theres a village behind every Olympian. Sabe is the mayor of that village [for me].Davison will compete in Rio on Aug. 20, and with two world championship medals (a bronze in 2014 and the most recent silver), she could end up on the Olympic podium as well. And you better believe the Little Bellas will be tuning in to cheer her on. Were planning a viewing party at this local college where the auditorium seats 100. Were a little worried it wont fit everyone. Were also having a Little Bellas send-off at the airport when I leave for Rio, says Davison, who will also have a welcome home party when she returns -- with or without a medal. ' ' '