The fight of a lifetime

Sporting News, The, June 3, 1996 by Steve Marantz

In his first two weeks, Kenny lost 15 pounds and learned how to read food labels. He became familiar with high-fiber, low-fat foods. Duke specialists say Kenny made a relatively easy adjustment because he was not prone to fast-food restaurants and beer.

Now, Kenny says, "I like the program. It teaches you good eating and work habits.

"It takes a little getting used to, but by the time I leave, I won't even have to think about it. I'm actually eating more than at home. That's the good thing about this food. You can eat it in greater abundance."

Many pro teams, with conditioning coaches and nutritionists on staff, may be capable of achieving the same results as the Duke program. Or they may not. Blackwell says the Flyers are typical in that their specialists are not set up to work together. They also tend to be preoccupied with the major league roster to the neglect of minor leaguers. Duke's program appeals to him, he says, because it provides a closed teaching environment.

"Another issue is timing," Blackwell says. "We're in our playoff phase now. We couldn't give Shane the attention he needed. We needed a facility prepared to give him immediate direction."