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LPGA to mandate English proficiency

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The LPGA is mandating that its members pass an English speaking test by next year or face suspension, Golfweek magazine reported.

The LPGA has long stressed being able to be able to speak English but as South Korean players increasingly have success on the tour, LPGA officials recently introduced the tougher policy.

A total of 45 South Koreans are touring members of the LPGA. There are another 76 players from other foreign countries.

Golfweek said that last Wednesday the LPGA gathered its South Korean players and informed them they must pass an "oral evaluation" of English or the player could be suspended.

"Hopefully what we're talking about is something that will not happen," LPGA Deputy Commissioner Libba Galloway told Golfweek. "If it does, we wouldn't just say, 'Come back next year.' What we would do is work with them on where they fell short, provide them the resources they need, the tutoring ... and when we feel like they need to be evaluated again, we would evaluate."

The LPGA policy takes effect immediately with the first tests given at the end of the 2009 season.

Kevin Duckworth, former NBA player, dies

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Kevin Duckworth, an 11-year NBA player, has died while participating in a Portland Trail Blazers' summer tour. He was 44.

A cause of death wasn't released but The Oregonian, a Portland, Ore., newspaper, quoted a Depoe Bay Fire Department spokesman as saying the initial report indicated a heart problem. Emergency personnel responded to a call about 10 p.m. Monday and Duckworth was declared dead shortly after that.

Duckworth was on an Oregon Coast tour as part of the Trail Blazers' summer tour. He had participated in a free basketball clinic for children Monday.

"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 played in 684 NBA games over 11 seasons. In addition to playing for the Trail Blazers, he was with San Antonio, Washington, Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over his NBA career.

Colts' Manning back on active roster

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was returned to the active roster Tuesday about six weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

The Colts said Manning was expected to practice with the team this week but wouldn't play in the team's final exhibition Thursday against Cincinnati. Manning told the Indianapolis Star his goal was to be ready for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against Chicago.

"I am looking forward to getting back out there," Manning said to the newspaper. "It's been a while. I've been doing some things on my own but it's not quite the same as if you're out there with the team and doing some of the different drills at practice."

Manning underwent surgery on his left knee July 14 to remove an infected bursa sac.

The eight-time Pro Bowl selection has never missed a start in his 10 NFL seasons. He's thrown for 41,626 yards and 306 touchdowns in his career.

Colts Coach Tony Dungy said doctors are still determining how severe a knee injury suffered Sunday by all-pro center Jeff Saturday is. Dungy told the Star that Saturday's injury could be "anywhere from a couple of weeks to a major injury."

Jets follow Giants' lead on seat licenses

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- New York Jets fans will have to pay $4,000 to $25,000 for personal seat licenses giving them the right to buy tickets for the best seats, the team announced.

The Jets' plan for the team's new stadium is similar to one already announced by the Giants, The Star-Ledger of Newark, N.J., reported. But the Jets will not license seats in the upper bowl, while the Giants are charging $1,000 for those seats.

Woody Johnson, the Jets owner, said Tuesday the license sales are expected to bring in $170 million. The new football stadium under construction in the Meadowlands for the Jets and Giants has an estimated cost of $1.6 billion.

The licenses and skyrocketing ticket prices for baseball at the new stadiums for the Yankees and Mets have angered many fans.

"You're asking me for money and giving me nothing in return," Steve Kern of Boonton, N.J., owner of two Jets season tickets, told The New York Times. "I won't be sharing in the revenues or get any perks."

Bonds seeks dismissal of 10 charges

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Attorneys for baseball slugger Barry Bonds asked a U.S. court to dismiss 10 of 15 charges related to allegations he lied about steroid use.

Bonds, who took over Major League Baseball's all-time home run mark last season, was named in a federal indictment in may charging him with perjury and obstruction of justice. The 15 counts are all felonies.

His attorneys said seven charges should be tossed because Bonds was asked "fundamentally ambiguous" questions while testifying before a grand jury and three should be voided because of other "defects," the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday.

Even if U.S. District Judge Susan Illston disallows the charges, Bonds would face five charges of perjury in a trial next March. The Chronicle said Bonds faces up to 30 months in prison if convicted.

The charges stem from grand jury testimony in which Bonds denied knowingly taking illegal performance-enhancing substances.

Bonds, 44, hasn't played baseball this season. He ended last year with 762 career home runs.