The Miami Heat lost much more than just the game in Atlanta last night; it looks like they’ve lost Alonzo Mourning for good as well. The 16-year vet planted to go up to block Mario West’s shot, but tore the pateller tendon in his right knee, bringing him crashing to the floor. The Miami Herald writes about how he refused to go off on a stretcher:
ATLANTA –
Alonzo Mourning refused to exit for good on a stretcher. If Wednesday marked the final act of his basketball career, as it appeared possible when Mourning crashed to the court with a devastating knee injury, the Heat’s hard-nosed center was determined to go out using his own strength, or at least what remained of it.And so, sensing the finality, Mourning lifted himself off the stretcher and, with the assistance of his teammates, hobbled off the court at Philips Arena. The 37-year-old center, who battled back from a kidney transplant to extend his career, likely saw it end when he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee while going up for a blocked shot in the first quarter of the Heat’s 117-111 overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
”I went through so much in my life that if I had to crawl off the court, I would have,” Mourning said. “Nobody was going to push me on a stretcher off the court. That wasn’t going to happen.”
Alonzo had already said that this was going to be his last season, but he definitely didn’t picture it ending this way.
To read the full story, go HERE.
December 20th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Marian says:
Alonzo was the greatest worrior this game had seen in it’s history. it is sad to see Zo end his career this way. He never was appreciated enough!
December 20th, 2007 at 11:46 am
YOUNGFED says:
True warrior of the game indeed.
December 20th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Fabian says:
a rolemodel both on and off the court!
December 20th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Dennis Castro says:
I dont know about on the court. Didnt he block a trade to Toronto or something because he didn’t want to play for them?
Don’t want to rain on this story.
That was cool though. He went out on his own terms so to speak. I respect his toughness.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Joey says:
Zo was getting old and wanted to play for a contender. The raps were bad for a LONG time.. but Im sure he’d play for them now in a heartbeat if he was still healthy.
If that was your last game… thanks for all the highlight blocks and no nonesense defense Zo.
True fighter… get better soon.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Marcel says:
Much respect Zo
December 20th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
yoda says:
well, he went down with boots on, so to speak. too bad he had to end career like this, he shouldve ended it after he won chip. guess he loves this game too much. get well Zo
December 20th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
ITZMR2U says:
Always have been and always will be a ‘Zo fan. A true of what a professional athlete should be, on and off the court.
December 20th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Godemus says:
I was a the game last night and saw the block attempt, in all honesty it didn’t look that bad…seeing Zo on the lying on the floor like that made me realize it was serious and I started like a mental highlight reel of his career…the Tru Warrior will be missed, he was an ambassador of the game
December 20th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
SteveNash says:
must off been an old injury from dragging JVG around
December 20th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Gee says:
Being a G-Town fan I have followed Zo for a minute. Part of me is wishing he would have left after he got the ring (thus avoiding this injury), but he himself wanted to defend it like a true champ.
Say what you want about him, the scowl, the fights, the Toronto mess and anything. He played hard, made peace with Shaq, beat the kidney ordeal, he matured as a man, husband and father and he is very charitable.
If this is the last time we see him on the court, then I appreciate what he has given his fans, his team and family.
He went out same way he came in, grew up and played.
As a pure warrior.
Thanks Zo
December 20th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
jjankechu says:
much respect.
- a knicks fan from the 90s
December 20th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
ben says:
I’ll be the first to tell you that i absolutely DESPISE Alonzo Mourning. I just don’t think what he did to both the Nets and the Raptors was professional. But last night was really something. He gained alot of my respect. Noone should have to go out like that
December 20th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
girlybballluver says:
Under appreciated warrior of the game with heart to spare.
December 20th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Celts Fan says:
Good luck w/ everything Zo. Class act on and off the floor and a great story for anyone battling something more than a zone defense. A HOF player and person (despite the Toronto thing, which he did say before the trade ever went down that he didn’t want to go there, and unlike a rook like Yi, he’d earned the right to at least voice that opinion.) Great to see him walk off on his own power. That epitimizes his whole career. He was leaving on his terms, no kidney ailment, taste of a ring, or blown knee was going to force him out. He left on his terms (albeit a few months earlier than expected.) Springfield is on notice, they’ll be clearing out a spot in 5 years…
December 20th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
jnuh says:
Yawn.
December 20th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
dagwaller says:
Loved him in NBA Jam (Zo and Grandmama! with muggsy coming off the bench!), but ever since NJ/Toronto, haven’t liked him. Respect his game, though.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
kowtz says:
Much respect for this guy…
And this will be his only way to go…
Why? because I never figured his heart would retire first before his body…
He should be a role model to the knicks, and last era blazers… or any team that does not play with passion…
Can you imagin if Zo was paired up with KG, KB24 and Jordan?
Good luck to any slackers on their team… the coach would never have to shout at his players anymore…
December 21st, 2007 at 11:14 am
Myrie says:
Damn. So sad. Truly a warrior and one of the most intense players ever.
I had him winning the chip in 2001 with the Heat before the kidney troubles. That team had Zo, Timmy Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, Eddie Jones, Dan Majrle and Brian Grant.
Much respect Zo….
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:13 am
skywarp says:
resign penny!!