I jumped in my car around noon today, and it was on 610. Usually I dont listen to Jim Rome because he's more annoying than Stephen A, but I heard him talking about his interview with Alonzo Mourning and how apparently it went completely wrong.... Anyone know what happened or hear this?
Jim invited Mourning on to talk about a specific cause related to his kidney disease. Obviously Jim expected him to answer a question or two related to his own playing career before moving onto the cause. That's pretty much standard in any interview. Zo had a couple of long pauses, said he was here to talk about the cause and not himself. Jim asked him twice and both times Zo starting talking about the cause. Jim deserves credit though, he finished the interview like that exchange never took place.
It was shortly after he was drafted by the Suns. Rome asked him questions about waiting a little longer to declare for the draft, the prospect of playing with Jason Kidd(he was with Phoenix at the time), etc. All Marion said in response was "yeah", "most definitely", and the aforementioned sniffling. Definitely one of the weakest interviews I've ever heard on his show. It was so bad that Rome started ripping him the moment it was over.
I heard the interview. Rome was real patient. Zo sounded like a complete a$$ and it was obvious he didn't want to do the interview. Rome asked him about coming back from his injury and prefaced it by saying they would talk about his "cause" shortly. Zo said he wasn't there to talk about basketball and proceeded to rant statistics and incomplete sentences about kidney disease. Rome asked him again about coming back. Once again, telling Zo they would get to his "cause." Zo repeated that he wasn't going to talk basketball and ranted some more incoherent stuff about kidneys. Rome followed with a few kidney related questions and politely ended the interview. I thought Rome might let him slide completely but followed up after the break by reading 8 or so emails from clones bashing Zo. He then repeated a few times that Zo's cause was very important but it is a nonspoken agreement that when you do a sports radio show you answer some sports related questions. Zo probably just lost himself some fans and by default lost a few ears to listen to his cause. It was a no class and stupid move by Zo to pull that nonsense.
I haven't heard the interview, but based on your account it sounds like Zo was trying way to hard to act like a noble philanthropist in a vacuum. The truth is Zo's fame from basketball is what allows him to have a public platform...and it doesn't detract from the message just by speaking about his past for a minute. He's on a freaking sports show, like you said. Even if he was on Larry King or Oprah they're going to ask a few basketball related questions.
What got me more than him not wanting to answer basketball questions was the fact that he was monotone, sounded like he had just woken up and was making it obvious he didn't want to be there. I could maybe understand Zo deflecting basketball questions because he was so pumped to have a huge venue to talk about kidney disease but even when he was talking about the disease he sounded pissed off. He sounded more like a guy forced into doing community service than someone who was appreciative and energized to have the ability to reach so many people through Rome's show.
i liked how at the end of the show rome thanked all his guests and conveniently didn't mention alonzo
Jim Rome is a punk. After the crap he pulled on Jim Everett, if I was an athlete I would never go on his show.
As sad as Alonzo Mourning's kidney disease is, and as glad as I am for him to be doing well now, he always gave off the air of a jerk. And also, I've always kinda suspected him of doing 'roids. I mean, just look at him in Charlotte, and look at him now. Larger head and everything.
Wow, a meeting of the asshats. I hope several historians were there to document this momentous occasion.
