http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...n.heat.mourning.injury.4th.ld.writethru.0530/ Miami's Alonzo Mourning leaves game with knee injury Posted: Wednesday Dec 19, 2007 11:00 PM ATLANTA (AP) -Alonzo Mourning refused to leave what might have been the last game of his career on a stretcher. After tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee in Miami's game against Atlanta on Wednesday night, the 37-year-old Heat center was placed on the stretcher, but he refused the ride. "That's not the way I envisioned myself walking off the court for the last time in my career,'' he said. "I've been through so much in my life. If I had to crawl off the court I would have. Nobody was going to push me off on a stretcher off the court. That wasn't going to happen.'' Mourning already has said there is "zero chance'' of playing another season. "We tried to help him up and he just said 'It's over, it's over,''' Miami's Udonis Haslem said. Mourning sat up, rose to his feet and limped to the Miami bench with the assistance of teammates. He received an ovation as he made the slow, painful walk to the bench. Miami spokesman Michael Lissack said an examination at Philips Arena, including X-rays, revealed the injury. Mourning will have more tests Thursday with team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick, including an MRI. "Dr. Selesnick will let me know tomorrow,'' said Mourning, who was on crutches after the game. "But obviously it's going to require some kind of surgical procedure. And it'll be done as soon as possible.'' Lissack said it wasn't immediately known if the injury could end Mourning's season. Injuries such as this typically take at least three months to heal. When asked about Mourning's outlook, Heat coach Pat Riley said "I think we should really wait on that. But it's not good.'' "I'd never put anything past Zo. But the knee injury is ... sad for me because I know him. I've been really close to him. It's sad to see him really be hurt.'' Mourning is in his 15th year in the NBA, including 11 seasons with Miami. Mourning was hurt when attempting to defend the basket on a layup by Atlanta's Mario West. Replays showed Mourning's knee buckled without contact from West as Mourning was about to jump. "When I planted I felt like my foot slipped,'' Mourning said. "It happened so fast though. It really did. I didn't even watch the tape. From what everybody else told me that was watching it, they said it looked like I slipped.'' Mourning is a seven-time All-Star and two-time defensive player of the year. His 15 years in the league do not include a full year he missed because of kidney problems that led to him getting a transplant in 2003. "Each of you here know I've been through a whole lot worse than this,'' Mourning said. "It's disappointing to even think that my career would end this way, but there are so many other things that life has to offer for me. I have a great family and I have so many other opportunities out there.
The dude always plays with a chip on his shoulder. Not necessarily the most talented, but used every ounce of whatever he had. Sad to see him go and there should definitely be more players like him. If Tmac had Zo's heart he would be better then Jordan.
Wierder things have happened. But a sad ending to an illustrious career. Hated when we played against him, but you had to respect him for being such a great competitor. At least he got a ring from shaq/wade at the end. I thought he should of retired on a high after the championship. At least he doesn't have to suffer through the painful restructuring the Heat have to go through now.
3 month recovery.. hopefully he'll be back end of the year. Maybe a Barkley-like ending to his career so he goes off on the court instead of on the bench
I've always enjoyed watching Zo play. He would get dunked on a lot, but would never shy away from the challenge and would be back to block your shot next chance he got. I've also enjoyed his passion and enthusiasm for the game.
My favorite non-Rocket player of all time...I've been following him since he came into the league in '92 and had my heart broken many times by those damm Knick teams but was so happy that he won a ring (he was a contributor btw, he didn't just sit around and collect that ring). If anybody can comeback from something this serious, it is him but I think it's time to retire. I thought he should have retired after last season (can't blame him for coming back and trying to defend his title). Sadly, he won't be the first Heat jersey to be retired b/c Riley decided to retired MJ's jersey...what the hell is that?
someone said it was like he slipped before jumping. but you can tell it was before any contact was made. Of course, maybe that's the knee JVG hung on in the 98 playoffs... so it was weakened Sad that his career is ending, I remember watching him in college at Georgetown when I was in middle school. He could always have a comeback at the end of the year, but I guess its unlikely for him to do so at 37.
We will always remember 'Zo' because without him we would never have had this. Immortalized forever in time!
Sorry to take it a different way, but my enduring memory of Zo was when Ewing would dominate him in the playoffs. In his heyday, Zo never brought his best in the post-season and only won a championship as a support player. I know a lot of you guys like him but that's just the way I see him. I also remember him at Georgetown next to Mutumbo. I remember what a royal jerk he was to the Nets. In Miami, he was a very good player, even sometimes spectacular. I don't know if the pressure got to Zo or what, but Ewing repeatedly kicked him in the playoffs when it counted and Zo went down easily, the one fight aside.
Ewing was much more talented than Zo. Patrick is a future Hall of Famer. I liked Zo's defensive ability,he deservedly got the defensive player of the year award and he used to use his defense to ignite his offense as well. Some people only got to see his angry antics and I agree with you about his behavior with the Nets but he has done a lot of good off the court. I have mixed feelings about him.
For a second I thought the injury might be a late consequence of that incident, but looks like it's his right knee that's injured...not the left one.
ZO never had a superstar/hell even a very good star next to him in his day...dude put up 20-10-3 repeatedly in the playoffs but had 0 supporting cast. In Charlotte, he did have "grand mama" Johnson but that was it (and they were only together for 3 yrs or so). In Miami, He had tim hardaway with no knees, dan marjerle with a bad back who didn't practice (only played games), j. mashburn for one or two seasons, bruce bowen who couldn't shoot back then, PJ brown who is a great role player but not a "go to guy", Keith askins, anthony carter, etc.... And oh yes, a guy named MJ in the way the one season they did get far. Say what you want about his on the court game/behavior, dude has done alot for the underprivedged people of Miami and alot for kidney patients. He is one of the most giving stars the NBA has had.
I know a little about his off-court activities and he deserves props for everything he's done in that area. IIRC correctly, the only reason they faced MJ's Bulls that one year is because 1/2 the Knicks team got suspended. That may have been JVG's best team. The Heat were clearly the inferior squad and the series against the Bulls was a joke. The Heat didn't belong there at all. Someone correct me, but the Heat ended up winning one close game in MIA because MJ played 36 holes of golf on their day off before.
It is a textbook case of playing full speed at age 37. Tons of people his age (and my age) snap tendons pretending they are still 22.
I could see him being to type to do the Barkley thing. Playing one last game no matter how hurt he still is, so he goes out on his terms. Now lets take a look around at what others are saying around and the web, and see the discussion over at "therealistniggas.com" bbs forum... *pics NSFW* http://www.realestniggas.com/board/showthread.php?t=647501 I think our feelings echo that last sentiment...Zo will leave the game, despite the negatives, with respect and admiration intact
There appear to be alot of articulate and interesting discussions going on over at that board. Reminds me of my college days.
Zo will probably make a last appearance on the court. They throw him the basketball under the board and he makes 2 pts and he's finished with his career just like Barkley.
