Ventura can relate to Ware's gruesome leg injury

CHICAGO -- Count White Sox manager Robin Ventura as one of the very few who could relate to the pain felt by Louisville's Kevin Ware when the sophomore guard gruesomely fractured his right leg during Sunday's Elite Eight victory against Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

Ventura broke and dislocated his right ankle during Spring Training in 1997, although Ventura quickly recovered and returned by July 24 of that same season.

"You feel for him," Ventura said. "Few people can sit and see an injury or have something happen like that. I know what's going through his head. I think the recovery's the hard part, being able to get your mind around making your way back.

"He's pretty young, so I think that is in his favor. Again, your heart goes out to him for what he's going through."

Ventura passed on an opportunity to offer any analysis in regard to Derrick Rose's seemingly cautious return from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered during last year's playoffs with the Chicago Bulls.

"We're talking about a different type of player, too," Ventura said. "Mine, they were, 'Just get out there as quick as you can.' With someone like Derrick, it's a personal thing, and he's the one that has to live with it. The team does, too, but in the end, it's his career and it's his choice."