LINCOLN CITY, Ore. Former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth, a “gentle giant” with a feathery touch from the paint, has died. He was 44.
Duckworth, part of a Trail Blazers goodwill tour, was scheduled to hold a basketball clinic on the Oregon coast when he died Monday night. The cause of death was to be determined by a medical examiner. The Lincoln County sheriff's office said there was no indication of foul play.
Duckworth, 7-foot-0, averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds over 11 seasons, helping Portland reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and '92. A two-time All-Star, he also played for San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee and the L.A. Clippers.
Former NBA player
Wayman Tisdale, 44, had part of his right leg amputated Monday because of bone cancer.
The Charlotte Bobcats will begin their exhibition season Oct. 8 at Orlando and will play two preseason games at Time Warner Cable Arena, Oct. 16 against Orlando and Oct. 18 against Atlanta.
The Oct. 16 game at 10:30 a.m. will feature the Cool School Field Trip and Read to Achieve Celebration. In order to attend, eighth-grade students must demonstrate strong academic performance, character and service, write an essay on character development and have no absences or suspensions from the beginning of the school year.
The Bobcats will again have training camp in Wilmington, Sept. 30-Oct. 6.
TRACK AND FIELD
Federal prosecutors briefly moved disgraced sprinter Marion Jones from a Texas prison to the San Francisco Bay area three months ago in case they needed her to testify against her former track coach on trial for lying to investigators, according to a published report.
The New York Times, citing an anonymous source, reported on its Web site that prosecutors would have called Jones to the witness stand if coach Trevor Graham had testified in his own defense.
A jury convicted Graham of lying to a federal investigator during the government's probe of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative.
GOLF
Patty Moore of Charlotte shot 82 at The Country Club of Whispering Pines and was one of four who qualified for the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, set for Sept.6-11 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Cyndi Carlson of Chesapeake, Va., led the qualifiers with a 5-over-par 77. Julie Streng of Greensboro shot 80 and Staci Creech of Chapel Hill shot 82.
The LPGA Tour boasts players from all over the world, and it wants all of them to be able to speak English. The LPGA will require players to speak English starting in 2009, with players who have been LPGA members for two years facing suspension if they can't pass an oral evaluation of English skills. The rule is effective immediately for new players.
OLYMPICS
Five-time Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, 41, is to have surgery to repair a partial tear in her right shoulder today in Boynton Beach, Fla. It will be her third surgery in 10 months.
COLLEGES
Sprinter Travis Padgett has gone from Clemson to the Olympics to the pros. The school said Padgett, who set an NCAA record of 9.89 seconds in the 100-meter quarterfinals at the U.S. Olympic trials, decided to give up his final year of eligibility to turn pro. He recently signed with Adidas and is expected to run as a professional in Europe this week.
For the first time in its 50-year history, Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory will offer women's basketball and men's baseball, beginning next fall.
NHL
Defenseman Bryan Berard will attempt to make an NHL club on a tryout contract, after being invited to training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers. Berard, 31, was the No.1 overall draft pick of the Ottawa Senators in 1995, but refused to sign and was traded to the New York Islanders.
HORSE RACING
The remains of Eight Belles have been buried at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. A wooden box containing the filly's remains was buried at the Kentucky Derby Museum during a quiet ceremony Monday.
Eight Belles was the only filly to run in the 134th Kentucky Derby in May, finishing second to Big Brown. She was euthanized on the track after breaking two ankles.
BASEBALL
Tuesday nights International League game in Fort Mill between Charlotte and Norfolk was cancelled because of rain. The Knights will play their final two games of the season Sunday at 5:15 p.m. and Monday at 12:15 p.m.
Charlotte Knights infielders
Brad Eldred and
Chris Getz made the IL postseason All-Star team. Eldred was selected as a designated hitter and Getz as a utility player.
Madison Bumgarner, 19, of the Augusta GreenJackets, was named most outstanding pitcher of the Class A South Atlantic League, in voting by the 16 teams' managers, general managers and media. Bumgarner (14-3), a former South Caldwell High star, has a 1.45 ERA, best in the league, and is also first in strikeouts (155).
The American Legion World Series championship round in Shelby was postponed because of rain. Las Vegas (74-7-1), unbeaten in the tournament, will face Kennewick (Wash.) (51-10) at 9 a.m. today and can win the title with a victory. Kennewick would have to beat Las Vegas twice to win.
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