A press release just arrived from the Chicago Cubs stating that Lou Pinella would begin his retiremet immediately after today's gave against the Braves.  Mike Quade will take over for the remainder of the season.

From the Cubs press release:  “When I previously announced my intentions to retire at the end of the season, a primary reason for my decision was that it would allow me to spend more valuable time with my family,” said Piniella.  “That time has unfortunately gotten here sooner than I could have ever expected.  As many know, the several weeks since that announcement was made have been very difficult on a family level, requiring two leaves of absence from the club.  While I fully intended to manage this club the rest of the season, a family situation at home now requires my full attention.

“As I said last month, I couldn’t be more appreciative of the Cubs organization for providing me the opportunity to be their manager.  I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything in the world and I consider this the ultimate way to end my managerial career. "

Again, from another Cubs press release:  The Chicago Cubs today named Mike Quade manager of the major league club for the rest of the 2010 season, starting with tomorrow’s game at Washington.  Quade becomes the 51st manager in franchise history.  The remainder of the coaching staff will remain intact and corresponding coaching assignment announcements are forthcoming.

Quade, 53, is in his eighth season in the Cubs organization.  Prior to his time on Lou Piniella’s major league staff as third base and outfield coach starting with the 2007 campaign, Quade spent the previous four seasons as manager of Chicago’s Triple-A Iowa affiliate (2003-06).  He guided the I-Cubs to a 289-279 mark, a pair of first-place finishes and one appearance in the Pacific Coast League Championship Series (2004).

by Steven Leventhal

As the 2010 season gets underway this Friday, USC’s women’s soccer team has some rather lofty expectations.  This is a team that has four members remaining from a squad that won the NCAA championship in 2007, and is ranked 19th nationally in a conference that features two  powerhouses in Stanford (second) and UCLA (third.) Ironically, the Trojans are the only conference team to have won the national title.

Fourth year coach Ali Khosroshahin will be counting on his top two scorers from 2009, sophomore Samantha Johnson from Palmdale, CA, and leading scorer, senior Alyssa Dávila, a second team All Pac-10 midfielder from Upland, CA.

Khosroshahin is effusive in his praise for Dávila’s play and leadership. "She is the backbone. She sets the standards in how to work and how to communicate with her teammates. And her performance on the field speaks for itself.”  

This is quite a change from the freshman who admits that at first she greatly underestimated the difficulty of getting used to the college routine. She does, however, credit the support system for her progress to date.  Alyssa says, “I got help from the people around me, including the tutors. I have learned to be very efficient with my time.”

It is unquestionably a challenge to be a Division 1 athlete and make a commitment to schoolwork, where Dávila is working hard towards a degree in psychology.  “I have to plan out my whole day, day by day,” she says.  “I live kind of far away, so I don’t go back and forth to my apartment. I have a planner and I make my schedule.”  Her secret? “Stay focused, and when you have time to rest, take it.” So far, the hard work seems to be paying off a Alyssa has been selected as a candidate for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award