Kevin Duckworth 1964 – 2008

Kevin Duckworth was Shaq while Shaq was still in college. 7 feet tall, 300 pounds of NBA domination in the paint. He was the center of one of the best TEAMS in NBA history (yes, I’m biased). He was drafted by San Antonio in 1986, but he didn’t become Duck until he was traded to the Portland Trailblazers later that season. He came off the bench at first for back-up center Steve Johnson WHO was the back-up to some guy I can’t remember… oh you know? the guy that wasn’t Michael Jordan.

From 1988 – 1995 he was part of THE TEAM. As the Blazers were disintegrating over the last 10 years, I and millions of Blazer fans held onto THE TEAM… Buck, Duck, Glide, Mercy and Terry. There has been none like it… and probably never will be. Duck was the NBA’s 1988 Most Improved Player, he was a 2-time All Star. The 1989-93 seasons were the best of Blazer history and Duck was at the center. As great as everyone (including me) thinks Greg Oden will be in 08-09, he will have to be EXCEPTIONAL to be the next Kevin Duckworth.

Back a couple months, Duck (along with Jerome Kersey) was here in Pendleton to give a free basketball clinic to kids. The same kind of clinic he was giving in Lincoln City when he collapsed at the age of 44. Over the last 2 days people have been seeing Duck as an extremely overweight 40 year old. I saw a clip of him on AM Northwest (a local morning show), he said that he has always been taken aback when fans walk right up to him and speak their mind. When he was a player they would pick on some missed shot. In retirement his family lived in Tigard, OR and he served as a Heritage Ambassador for the Blazers. He said that people still spoke their minds, only now they walk right up and say, “Damn Duck! You got Fat!” He said he would just look around and say where? what?! No way!

But I would rather remember him standing in the middle. An immovable force.

I have a HUGE collection of sports memorabilia, uncatalogued. I have one (very important) Duckworth autograph somewhere. But alas, I couldn’t find them to share with you, dear reader.

Duck, its a tragedy that you left so young, but we are all taking solace in the knowledge that you were doing what you loved; teaching basketball to kids.

Rest in Peace Duck…

and…

Thank-you for being such a great guy. I know I have that autograph somewhere. I remember the night you gave it to me. Pre-season, 1990. You were the only one of the starters from the NBA Finals that year to play the expansion Charlotte Hornets at Mac Court in Eugene. You were mobbed by fans and I didn’t get to meet you until you were leaving, and Coach Adelman (I found his autograph) stopped you on the way back to the locker room. When he asked if you could do one more… you could have sighed and said you were tired. You looked tired. But you signed my media guide… I thanked you that night in Eugene and you slapped me on the back. I really hope I can find that autograph. Sadly, now that you’re gone…

Thank-you.