Slam Dunk Central

As we all know, Miami Heat reserve center Alonzo Mourning suffered what appears to be career-ending injuries to both his patella tendon in his right knee and a quadriceps tear in the right leg.  According to nba.com’s HEAT Insider, it looks like this will in fact be Mourning’s last season playing professional basketball.  Below are some excerpts from the interview between HEAT Insider and Mourning:

HI: Why did you refuse to get on the stretcher?

AM: “They tried to get me on the gurney.  I got halfway on the stretcher and then I said if this is going to be my last game or my last time on a court, I’m not leaving the court on a stretcher; it’s going to be on my own two feet.  I yelled to my teammates and Earl (Barron) and Dwyane (Wade) ran out and they helped me to the locker room.”

HI: After the game, Magic Johnson gave you some words of encouragement. What did he say?

AM: “Magic was standing in the locker room with his big trademark smile and he said, ‘Hold your head up, you’ve done a lot for this game.’  He said, ‘When my playing days were coming to an end, I didn’t realize how much I had to offer to this world until I got out there.  It’ll be the same scenario for you.  As one door closes another one opens.  It’s an end of a great chapter in your life, and now it’s time to start a new one.’  I’m very confident that there are a lot of other things that I’m capable of doing.  I just have to assert myself and find out exactly what I want to do.  At this time, it’s just getting myself healthy again.  That’s key.  After I spoke to Dr. Harlan Selesnick, he said I’m going to have to rehab my knee like I was coming back to play again.”

HI: Have you completely ruled out coming back for another season?

AM: “Yes.  I’m retired.  This is it for me.”

HI: How do you want to be remembered?

AM: “I think my actions on the court speak for themselves.  I think everyone will form a conclusion based on my efforts and my commitment to the game and my commitment to the fans.  They’re going to make a decision based on all of that.  With that said, I think each person can form an honest conclusion about me as a person and as a player.”

HI: Do you aspire to be elected to the Hall of Fame?

AM: “I think every player wants to be part of the Hall of Fame someday.  That’s the pinnacle of accomplishment for every player, no matter what sport.  I really don’t need the Hall of Fame to define the impact or the influence that I have had on other individuals based on what I did on the court.  I think that pretty much spoke for itself.  There’s so much more to life and so many more important things.  Hearing your name being called in the Hall of Fame, that’s great.  But there are so many more issues that need to be addressed.  My humanitarian efforts are more important than being elected into the Hall of Fame.”

It is so unfortunate that Mourning had to retire on terms that were not of his choosing.  But be that as it may, he can rest assured that he will be remembered as a class and quality human being - both on and off the court - who obviously has his priorities straight in life.  Whether his numbers will merit a spot in the Basketball Hall Of Fame are up for debate; but as Mourning so approprately said, what he does in his post-basketball life is more important than a berth in the Hall Of Fame.  I can only speak for myself when I say that no matter what you decide to do after this season Alonzo, you no doubt will succeed.  Please get your health back and everything else will fall into place.

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