Hello everybody!
I am writing this blog today in somber sadness.
After playing 15 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) playing for 3 different NBA teams,7 time NBA All-Star,2 time NBA Defensive Player of The Year
and;
WITHOUT QUESTION,
a man whom has had a MAJOR impact in my life and a man who is truly one of the biggest inspirations in my life,
Alonzo Mourning officially announced his retirement for the 2nd.....and perhaps maybe for the last and final time.
I have always admired and have absolutely nothing but the utmost respect in the way "ZO (the nicknamed moniker that he is so affectionately known as)" played the game of basketball.
He played the game with incredible energy,an unbridled passion and an intense determination and indescribable ferocity unlike any other basketball player!
Prior the start of the 2000-2001 NBA season,Zo was diagnosed with
focal segmental glomerulosclerosis;
or to put it in plain simple English,
kidney disease,
which eventually caused him to miss the first five months of that season.
Even after and despite the diagnosis,Mourning returned and played in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game.
But his condition worsened and Zo did not play during the entire 2002-2003 season.
His contract was not renewed by the then-rebuilding Heat,
so they had to release him from the team.
He signed a four-year deal with the New Jersey Nets.
However on November 25th,2003,Mourning had to retire from the NBA due to complications of his kidney disease.
On December 19th of that year,he underwent a very successful kidney transplant.
He returned and started practicing with the Nets in 2004,but due to arguments that he had with Nets management about his role with the team and trading away key players,he was traded from the team to the Toronto Raptors.
But,he never did not report to the team and his contract with them was bought out.
Team officials from the Raptors said that Alonzo Mourning did not meet the medical conditions to play for them.
Whatever the reason,he was released from the Raptors and finished the rest of the 2005 season re-joining his former team The Miami Heat;being paid a second salary,
the veteran's minimum.
In the 2005 season,he played the role of back-up center behind Shaquille O' Neal and sometimes played along with O'Neal on the court as a power forward.
Because of physical limitations,Mourning's playing time was limited.
But,his role as a back-up did not in the least bit deter Zo's desire and passion for playing the game as he became a huge contributor for the Miani Heat when he was called upon.
As a matter of fact,his energy,his intensity and his ferocity amped up a thousand fold.
Mourning's tenacious defense,steady offense and all around hustle helped the Heat gain and maintain the second-best record in the NBA's Eastern conference during the 2005-06 season.
His intensity had earned him the title "The Ultimate Warrior" amongst Miami Heat fans.
Mourning finished the regular season ranking third in blocked shots at 2.66 per game,despite only playing 20 minutes per contest.
The following season,the Miami Heat and Mourning finally won the elusive NBA Championship in the 2006 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks 4 games to 2.
Although he was used as a reserve center behind Shaquille O'Neal during the Finals,he contributed 8 points,6 rebounds and 5 blocks in the decisive Game 6 of the series and was a strong force throughout.
Mourning continued to play as a huge contributor for the Miami Heat until he tore his patella tendon in a game that the Heat played against the Atlanta Hawks on December 19th,2007.
Ironically enough,his injury occurred exactly on the 4 year anniversary of his successful kidney transplant.
Being the true warrior and the always tough,proud competitor that he is,
Alonzo Mourning REFUSED to leave the court on that terrible night when he was injured on a stretcher,
but he had to be helped off the court back to the locker room by his fellow teammates.
If he could and if he had his way,
either "Zo" would have hopped out of the arena floor on one foot or he would have crawled on all fours back to the locker room.
Sadly.....for me.....Alonzo Mourning's fantastic,prolific career came to an end when he officially announced his retirement from the game and the sport that he truly loved!
In his press conference he said "I'm 38 years old and I feel like I have physically done all I can for this game."
......and to think he is only two-three years older than me??!!??
As many of you already know by now,I went through the same thing that Alonzo Mourning went through;having kidney disease and as of 4 years ago this coming April 15th,2009;just like "Zo",I had a very successful kidney transplant.
Many of you already know my true feelings for him when you read or have read my MySpace profile in my "Who I'd Like To Meet" section,unto that which it is pretty much self-explanatory.
I remembered vividly as if it were yesterday while I was recuperating from my hospital be in New Orleans,LA following my kidney transplant surgery,I was in my hospital bed watching a 2005 NBA playoff game between the Miami Heat versus the New Jersey Nets.
When I saw "Zo" enter onto the basketball court that day,I said to my mother who was with me at the time "Look,Mom.It's Alonzo Mourning.He went through the exact same thing that I went through".
I said to myself
"Look at this guy!He is not letting anything;let alone a physical disability,prevent him from doing what he loves to do".
I drew a tremendous amount of inspiration from him and my admiration and my respect for him grew through each and every passing day since then.
Each and every time when I saw a Miami Heat game on television,I was waiting for him in deep anticipation for him to step onto the basketball court.
BELIEVE ME-he could not have had a more bigger fan nor a more louder,boisterous rooting section in his corner than from none other than yours truly!!!
I couldn't even begin to tell you how elated I was the night when he and the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship back in 2006.
For him to hoist up the Lawrence F. O' Brien NBA Championship trophy was a tremendous victory not only for him and his team,but indeed a heartfelt and an inspirational victory for people like me who go through the trials and tribulations of day-to-day life going through physical ailments and disabilities.
In 1997, Alonzo Mourning established Alonzo Mourning Charities Inc. to aid in the development of children and families living in at-risk situations and provides support and services that enhance the lives of youth of promise.
After being diagnosed with focal glomerulosclerosis (FSGS);a degenerative kidney ailment,at the start of the 2000-2001 season,Mourning launched
Zo’s Fund for Life,
a campaign which seeks to raise funds for research, education, and testing to fight focal glomerulosclerosis.
Funds are allocated toward research for a cure,education for doctors and the general public,testing for early detection and a fund for those not able to afford medication.
I can NEVER,ever watch another Miami Heat game on TV again in the same way that I did about 4 years ago when "Zo" played with them,but nonetheless I will still watch them and love them just the same.
There is NO DOUBT in my mind that Alonzo Mourning will soon someday be inducted into the basketball Hall Of Fame!!!
When you do the math,he has accomplished the following throughout his illustrious 15 year NBA career........
14,311 points scored......
7,137 rebounds......
2,356 blocked shots and a two-time NBA Defensive Player Of The Year......
a 2000 Olympic gold medalist in basketball......
oh and last but not least,
ONE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
Whether or not if you're a fan of Alonzo Mourning or if you're a fan of professional basketball for that matter or not,
those credentials just simply CANNOT be denied!!!
In closing,I will miss Alonzo Mourning,the way he played the sport of basketball and giving it eveything that he had,especially in his last 4 years he played in the game with a kidney transplant.
He will ALWAYS be an inspiration to me and to others who live life from day-to-day with physical disabilites and to never,ever be discouraged letting those said disabilites get the best of anybody in striving to push harder,to put their best foot forward and to live productive lives each and every single day.
THANK YOU,ZO!
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!!!
