He may not be a fan-favourite in Toronto but there is one man in Toronto who believes he deserves a spot in Springfield.
It sure was a different-looking guy that stood at the podium last week in Miami announcing his retirement. Oh he looked like the same Alonzo Mourning physically but maturity, life and sense of what he has been through has softened him up just a bit.
When he fell to the floor in Atlanta, the result of a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, he yelled repeatedly, "it's over" in reference to his playing days and although many could never see Mourning concluding his NBA tenure due to an injury, his words proved to be right. But the end didn't come until he decided that he could be at peace with his career subsiding in this fashion and walking away because of an injury. After all, a physical ailment didn't deter him the first time so why should it now. Perhaps the difference was the list of accomplishments which signaled to him, it was time to leave for good.
Now that it is all over, barring a comeback by Mourning who still, at 38 still looks like he could contribute, you have to wonder how voters will cast their lots when it comes to Mourning's possible induction into the Hall of Fame.
I can hear the fans in Toronto now saying, "Not a chance, keep him as far away from Springfield as possible". But that sentiment has to do more with Zo's personal-spurning of the Raptors and his inclusion in the Vince Carter trade. Mourning was not a franchise-type player at the time of the trade. He was a marginal NBA player, struggling with his health following a return to the league with the New Jersey Nets as his old team, the Miami Heat, did not need him. They had already traded for another behemoth to be their cornerstone as Shaquille O'Neal was in the fold.
However, before Raptor fans blow a gasket over this Hall of Fame issue, consider the plight of Eric Lindros, John Elway or Eli Manning who, as young stars and potential-franchise players, made it known they would not go to teams who might draft them and look to build around them for the future. On a personal note as a Cleveland Brown fan, I hated to see Elway win because he was a Denver Bronco and broke the hearts of Brownies fans on many occasions. That along with the fact he told the Colts he wasn't coming to Baltimore. But Elway's plight is not unique in pro sports as Lindros said he wasn't going to Quebec City and Eli Manning told the San Diego Chargers don't draft me, I won't show up. Although some Raptor fans are still having a hard time with Mourning's actions, they will just have to get over it.
True, what Mourning did to Toronto wasn't right, but he wasn't the first and probably won't be the last to pull that stunt. At some point you reach an understanding with him after his battle with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and coming back to play in the NBA only by the grace of kidney donated to him by his cousin, former Marine, Jason Cooper. He just wanted to do things his way knowing that the clock was ticking on his basketball life.
Regardless of how he is viewed in Toronto, Mourning is looked at as a basketball warrior that played with tremendous intensity and never settled for anything short of all out effort. Like it or not, you can't deny that he has been part of winning endeavours and a valuable contributor to those victorious efforts. He has an NBA title, an Olympic Gold Medal, and is 10th on the all-time list of NBA shot blockers grabbing honours as the Defensive Player of the Year twice in his NBA lifetime.
There is another side to Mourning that helped him step away from the game that gave him fame and fortune and that is the man who has developed a voracious appetite for charity work and service to others.
With his week-long extravaganza in Miami now a fixture on many social calendars of NBA players, "Zo's Summer Groove" has raised over $7 million over the last 12 years. That money has in turn supported many community based initiatives that Mourning has spearheaded. The Overtown Youth Center, for one, serves as oasis in the toughest part of town. With it's after school, mentorship and technological programs, kids have a place to go that provides an alternative to idle time that could lead to problems.
Names like Mourning, Don Shula and Dan Marino have iconic status in South Florida but in truth, Mourning is the one recognized as the "champion for the little man's causes" in Miami. He just didn't put up the money for the centre he actually shows up and participates in the activities that help kids in the area who are in need of direction. Just recently, Mourning filled a bus with kids and headed off to Washington for Barack Obama's inauguration.
In these eyes, the Hall of Fame should be a future stop for Mourning. But then again, if the voters have seen fit to keep the likes of the late Dennis Johnson out of its hallowed Hall, then who knows if Mourning will gain admittance.
Examining Mourning's demeanour as he spoke to the crowd at American Airlines Arena last week, you couldn't help but think about the metamorphosis. He has gone from a player that only spoke to the media on designated "Zo days" to the one standing thankfully in front of all those he did not trust a an earlier point in his career.
Life has changed and maybe softened Alonzo Mourning for the better. That fact reflected in his philanthropic exploits and his basketball accomplishments should be good enough to eventually land him in the Hall of Fame in Springfield.
