Tue 15 Jan 2008
Heat Retracts Mourning’s Retirement Statement
Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main
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?As I reported here yesterday, Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning, in an interview with Heat Insider, stated that he was officially retired from professional basketball.? Now it appears that for whatever reason, the team was not yet ready to make the announcement that Mourning has in fact retired.
According to Heat spokesman Tim Donovan, “A mistake was made and it’s not an accurate story and it’s been pulled, with our apologies.”? Here is what I am wondering: if Mourning, in so many words, made his retirement official during an actual interview, how does this Heat spokesman clarify his statement as a mistake?? At the very least this is a public relations blunder!?
The issue is probably related to the salary cap and the complexities that lie within it. There is probably some rule in place that would penalize Miami if he officially retires before the season is over. Remember Mourning originally was only signed through the end of the current season, and there were already rumblings of him possibly retiring at the end of this season. Also remember, that Mourning took quite a while to decide if he was coming back for this season, he had said Pat Riley being on the bench was important for him. Riley earlier this month said he would just concentrate on being team president after this season.
