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Sports Briefs: Autopsy: Duckworth died from heart failure
By The Associated Press
Thursday, August 28, 2008 | No comments posted.
PORTLAND — Oregon officials say an autopsy shows former Portland Trail Blazers center Kevin Duckworth died when his enlarged heart failed.
Duckworth died Monday at 44 on the Oregon coast, where he was on a goodwill tour for the team.
The Oregon State Police said Wednesday the autopsy was done by Dr. Larry Lewman, a state medical examiner who concluded that Duckworth died of “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure.”
The police statement says the heart disease had combined with high blood pressure to result in “marked enlargement of his heart which had been failing for some time.”
Blazers sign Jackson
PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers say they’ve signed former Oregon star Luke Jackson.
The team also said Wednesday it signed center Steven Hill and guard Jamaal Tatum, both rookies.
Terms were not disclosed.
Jackson is a 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward. He appeared in 73 games during a four-year NBA career, averaging 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 9.9 minutes.
He last played for the Miami Heat and was on the Blazers’ summer league team.
As a Duck, he scored more than 1,900 points and got 700 rebounds and 400 assists.
Hill is out of the University of Arkansas, where he was Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year. Tatum, from Southern Illinois, was drafted in 2007 but missed the season with an injury.
Warriors lose Ellis
OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State guard Monta Ellis will be sidelined for at least three months after severely spraining his ankle during an offseason workout, forcing the Warriors to start the season without the player expected to lead their revamped roster this fall.
Ellis underwent surgery in Birmingham, Ala., to repair the ligament, and returned home later in the day. Ellis’ ankle will be immobilized for six weeks, followed by at least six weeks of off-court rehabilitation before the guard can return to basketball workouts.
TENNIS
Roddick’s brother will stop coaching him
NEW YORK — Andy Roddick’s brother is no longer serving as his coach. Roddick, the No. 8 seed in the U.S. Open, said the two agreed that John Roddick would relinquish the role after the tournament in Washington earlier this month. The split was amicable and hasn’t soured their relationship, Andy Roddick said after winning his first-round match.
Patrick McEnroe, the U.S. Davis Cup captain, is advising Roddick just for the Open.
Jimmy Connors resigned as Roddick’s coach earlier this year.
PRO FOOTBALL
Merriman will try to play this season
SAN DIEGO — A day after visiting a fourth doctor, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman has decided to play this season rather than have his damaged left knee repaired now.
Merriman said late last week that he has tears in both the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee, which he hurt in a game at Tennessee in December. He spent several days seeking outside opinions. He returned Tuesday after seeing a doctor in Miami.
Merriman said all four doctors he saw said he needed surgery, but there “just wasn’t a time frame on that. ... The decision was left up to me to play.” When he does have surgery, he’ll be looking at a rehab of six to seven months.
Hardy ends holdout
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Defensive end Derrick Harvey ended a 33-day holdout by signing a five-year, $23.8 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Harvey was the last first-round draft pick to sign, a lengthy holdout that frustrated coach Jack Del Rio and left the former Florida standout behind in preparation for the regular season. The eighth overall selection in April, Harvey was expected to bolster a pass rush that struggled to pressure quarterbacks last season. But he missed all of training camp and the first three preseason games.
Chiefs cut Feely
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kicker Jay Feely has been cut by the Kansas City Chiefs, a day after signing a one-year deal.
Feely, an eight-year veteran who kicked for Miami last season, was brought in to challenge Connor Barth and Nick Novak for the starting job. The three had what coach Herm Edwards called a “kick off” on Monday and Tuesday to determine who would make the team.
CYCLING
Lack of sponsorship means end for team
FRANKFURT, Germany — The Gerolsteiner cycling team will fold at the end of the season because it has not been able to find a new sponsor.
The German mineral water company had announced a year ago that it wouldn’t renew its sponsorship.
Gerolsteiner joins T-Mobile and Discovery Channel as companies that have pulled out of a sport that has been tainted by doping.
Duckworth died Monday at 44 on the Oregon coast, where he was on a goodwill tour for the team.
The Oregon State Police said Wednesday the autopsy was done by Dr. Larry Lewman, a state medical examiner who concluded that Duckworth died of “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure.”
The police statement says the heart disease had combined with high blood pressure to result in “marked enlargement of his heart which had been failing for some time.”
Blazers sign Jackson
PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers say they’ve signed former Oregon star Luke Jackson.
The team also said Wednesday it signed center Steven Hill and guard Jamaal Tatum, both rookies.
Terms were not disclosed.
Jackson is a 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward. He appeared in 73 games during a four-year NBA career, averaging 3.5 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 9.9 minutes.
He last played for the Miami Heat and was on the Blazers’ summer league team.
As a Duck, he scored more than 1,900 points and got 700 rebounds and 400 assists.
Hill is out of the University of Arkansas, where he was Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year. Tatum, from Southern Illinois, was drafted in 2007 but missed the season with an injury.
Warriors lose Ellis
OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State guard Monta Ellis will be sidelined for at least three months after severely spraining his ankle during an offseason workout, forcing the Warriors to start the season without the player expected to lead their revamped roster this fall.
Ellis underwent surgery in Birmingham, Ala., to repair the ligament, and returned home later in the day. Ellis’ ankle will be immobilized for six weeks, followed by at least six weeks of off-court rehabilitation before the guard can return to basketball workouts.
TENNIS
Roddick’s brother will stop coaching him
NEW YORK — Andy Roddick’s brother is no longer serving as his coach. Roddick, the No. 8 seed in the U.S. Open, said the two agreed that John Roddick would relinquish the role after the tournament in Washington earlier this month. The split was amicable and hasn’t soured their relationship, Andy Roddick said after winning his first-round match.
Patrick McEnroe, the U.S. Davis Cup captain, is advising Roddick just for the Open.
Jimmy Connors resigned as Roddick’s coach earlier this year.
PRO FOOTBALL
Merriman will try to play this season
SAN DIEGO — A day after visiting a fourth doctor, San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman has decided to play this season rather than have his damaged left knee repaired now.
Merriman said late last week that he has tears in both the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee, which he hurt in a game at Tennessee in December. He spent several days seeking outside opinions. He returned Tuesday after seeing a doctor in Miami.
Merriman said all four doctors he saw said he needed surgery, but there “just wasn’t a time frame on that. ... The decision was left up to me to play.” When he does have surgery, he’ll be looking at a rehab of six to seven months.
Hardy ends holdout
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Defensive end Derrick Harvey ended a 33-day holdout by signing a five-year, $23.8 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Harvey was the last first-round draft pick to sign, a lengthy holdout that frustrated coach Jack Del Rio and left the former Florida standout behind in preparation for the regular season. The eighth overall selection in April, Harvey was expected to bolster a pass rush that struggled to pressure quarterbacks last season. But he missed all of training camp and the first three preseason games.
Chiefs cut Feely
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kicker Jay Feely has been cut by the Kansas City Chiefs, a day after signing a one-year deal.
Feely, an eight-year veteran who kicked for Miami last season, was brought in to challenge Connor Barth and Nick Novak for the starting job. The three had what coach Herm Edwards called a “kick off” on Monday and Tuesday to determine who would make the team.
CYCLING
Lack of sponsorship means end for team
FRANKFURT, Germany — The Gerolsteiner cycling team will fold at the end of the season because it has not been able to find a new sponsor.
The German mineral water company had announced a year ago that it wouldn’t renew its sponsorship.
Gerolsteiner joins T-Mobile and Discovery Channel as companies that have pulled out of a sport that has been tainted by doping.
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