Duck Will Be Missed: Kevin Duckworth, the former All-Star center for the Portland Trail Blazers, passed away Monday in Gleneden Beach, Oregon. It's a coastal town where he was part of a group from the Blazers giving a free basketball clinic to local kids.
The cause of death was not immediately known. Duckworth also played for the San Antonio Spurs (who drafted him), Los Angeles Clippers, Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks. Duckworth was named the league's Most Improved Player his second year in the league and an All-Star in 1989 and 1991. He started for the Blazers' teams who faced the Detroit Pistons in 1990 NBA Finals and the Chicago Bulls in the 1992 NBA Finals.
"Today is an extremely sad day for the Trail Blazers family," Trail Blazers President Larry Miller said. "Kevin will be remembered by fans as one of the most popular and recognizable players to ever wear the Blazers uniform, but to people who knew him, he'll be remembered as one of the warmest and biggest-hearted."
Duckworth was one of the most easygoing personalities I have ever met around the game of basketball. During his playing days he was always the center for criticism because he dealt with weight issues, but despite all of that he kept a smile on his face and continually produced on the court. The criticisms did bother him, though – he was also very sensitive to that. Duck worked continually on his conditioning and as long as he was a Blazer it never truly was an issue, despite the impression one may have. After Portland, that's a different story.
Since his retirement from the NBA Duckworth has owned and operated a restaurant and been a boat salesman, but he's never really left the Portland area. A couple years back when the organization made a conscious decision to embrace their past in an effort to renew connections with the fan base, Duckworth was one of their first choices to return. Since then he had become a face of the Blazers in the community.
"This is a devastating loss," said Traci Rose, Trail Blazers Vice President of Community Relations. "To this day, Duck is adored throughout this state and remains a brother to his teammates and to Trail Blazers staff. We will forever miss our beloved 00."
As I think back to my youth, growing up with that team of Duckworth, Clyde Drexler, Jerome Kersey, Terry Porter and Bucks Williams, one thing I will always remember is how Duckworth always seemed to make fans smile, on and off the court. Mom thought he was a teddy bear (he was) and no matter what your opinion on the team, people just seemed to brighten up a bit when Duckworth was mentioned. (Maybe that was just in my circle, because I do know his size was quite the topic in other ones.)
Rest in peace Kevin Duckworth – a nation of Blazers fans will always remember you with a smile.
Have a fond memory of Duck? Leave a comment below!
Surgery Time for Kobe: Remember back just after the All-Star Break when Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant suffered a tendon injury in his right pinky finger? He decided at the time the could play through the injury, even though he knew the NBA playoffs were coming and then Team USA's Olympic run in Beijing.
And, in fact, he played through it pretty dang good, leading the Lakers to the NBA Finals and winning his first NBA Most Valuable Player award, and then helping Team USA to a gold medal victory as they ran through the Olympics undefeated.
The assumption way back when was that now is the time Bryant would have the inevitable surgery on the pinkie. As of now that surgery has not been planned. It will have to happen at some point and the recovery time to mend the injury is estimated at about four weeks. For Bryant to be ready at the start of training camp that means the surgery would need to be done…now.
It won't be though. Bryant intends to take a couple days to recover and ponder the situation. However long from now until the surgery takes place is probably roughly how many days late to training camp Bryant will be cleared by doctors to go all out.
Will it affect Bryant or the Lakers on their quest to head back to the NBA Finals in 2009, this time winning it all? Are you kidding? Not a chance.
