Zo: You Shall Be Missed

I just wanted to take a few minutes out to honor the newly retired basketball legend Alonzo Mourning. Mourning was one of the greatest and most tenacious NBA centers of all time, and he was also one of my favorite players. Frequently he would be the star of the childhood books that I wrote.

Mourning began his career at Indian River High School where he led his team to 51 straight victories and a state title his junior year. Zo played college ball at Georgetown University and led the nation in blocked shots his freshman year and was an All American his last year there. Zo was drafted into the NBA in 1992 and was selected second overall by the Charlotte Hornets (he was drafted behind Shaq Diesel). In his first year of play, Mourning averaged 21.0 pts, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.47 blocks and was voted on to the all-rookie team. In only his 49th game donning the teal and purple uniform, Mourning became Charlotte's all-time blocked shots leader. Unfortunately, due to contract issues and friction with fellow Hornet's star Larry Johnson, Mourning was traded to the Miami Heat after only 3 years of play.

While on the Heat, Mourning led the Pat Riley coached team into battle night in and night out. He averaged nearly 20 points and 10 repounds a game, and was twice selected as the NBA defensive player of the year due to his ferocious presence in the paint. During the '99-'00 season, Mourning was selected to the All-NBA first team after averaging 20.1 ppg, .511 field goal percentage, 11.0 rebounds per game, and 3.9 blocked shots. In 2000, Mourning was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which forced him to miss 5 months of that season. His conditioned worsened and he was forced to miss the '02-'03 season and the Heat did not pick up his expiring contract. Although he signed a four year contract to the New Jersey Nets in 2003, Mourning retired on November 25th due to further Kidney complications. On December 19th he underwent a successful Kidney transplant.

No kidney problems could hold back Zo for long, and after some un-exciting events I care not to discuss, Mourning again signed with the Miami Heat on March 1st, 2005. Although Mourning was only a back-up to Shaq daddy, he did start on many occassions due to Shaq's ailing back problems. Mourning's minutes were limited due to his physical ailments, but when he was on the court he played with every bit of fire and tenacity that he always had, and helped win the Heat the second best record in the NBA in the '05-'06 season. He was even given the nickname, "The Ultimate Warrior" because of his style of play. And in 2006, he was finally able to win the elusive NBA Championship while on the Heat. Mourning would return to the Heat the following year, but after tearing his patellar tendon in his right knee on the four year anniversary of his kidney transplant, Mourning was forced into retirment, not able to make another miraculous come back.

Mourning is a 7 time NBA All-Star, and one of the best defensive players to ever play the game. He played with a ferociousness that has yet to be matched in he NBA, and was even mention in Lil' Bow Wow's song Basketball from the Like Mike soundtrack, with Bow Wow stating, "And when I'm in the paint I play wit that Alonzo style", which, by the way, is impossible. Zo, the game simply won't be the same without you, and your presence will be missed.