Alonzo Mourning – An Appreciation

The beginning of the end for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Playoff Finals came when the Miami Heat players discovered that, although they were down “only” 2-0 after the first two games, Dallas was already doing it! official preparations for a victory parade!

The insult hit Heat players very hard, but especially Alonzo Mourning, one of coach John Thompson’s fantastic Georgetown players (like Patrick Ewing) who had never before had a chance to wear a championship ring.

But for Duelo it was not time to mourn. It took him a long time to get to the final in 2006 and he wasn’t about to give up that easily. Though sporting every bit of a model of good health, Mourning collapsed in 2000 from “focal glomerulosclerosis,” a kidney disease that required a kidney transplant.

After a very painful preparation period in the hospital, Alonso got a new kidney thanks to the generosity of his cousin. For 5 years he did not play, not knowing for sure if he would ever be back in top form on the court.

Dallas’ perceived insult not only upset Alonzo, but every Miami character who made a name for himself in the NBA for his toughness: Coach Pat Riley, Shaq, Paton and, of course, Wade, among them. The Heat team was ready to set the court on fire.

Result: They won the next 4 games in a row, with Alonzo playing for 14 minutes and putting up 8 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocked shots in the crucial last game.

Alonzo and the gang went home with NBA championship rings, and the Mavericks are still trying to figure out what went wrong.

As the old saying goes: don’t count your chicken before it hatches. Also don’t prepare for an NBA championship parade before you win 4 games.