Alonzo Mourning Injured; last game maybe

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Heat's Mourning tears knee tendon while playing defense vs. Hawks
Associated Press

ATLANTA -- 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.

sucks to see a guy go out like this. Great player who has gain respect from many people, even beloved knicks fans. Playing with 1 kidney and still a defensive force at that age of his career is something great.

Last edited by Amphatoast on Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:24 am, edited 1 time in total.

Wow, this is sad. Tough for a guy to just go out like that unexpectedly.

The Heat suddenly just got even worse.

Now we can see how Blount plays for Riley. Yay! Maybe Barron will get some minutes as well. Will be interesting if he can actually play.

Paging michael olowokandi

Did anyone else see the spelling mistake in "Injuried"? Proves once again that internet and grammar/spelling doesn't mix well.

Paging michael olowokandi

Sad to see him leaving like this... Has been my favourite player next to AI.

Saw that injury on Sportscenter last night, really nasty.

Hopes he recovers smoothly

"We tried to help him up and he (Mourning) just said 'It's over, it's over,"' Miami's Udonis Haslem said.

Zo even lost the will to play another day.
It's definitely over even if he recovers.

Saw that injury on Sportscenter last night, really nasty.

Yeah, that was pretty scary fall. That really sounds like it was Zo's last game in the league...

Sad to end his career by an injury.
Time for Blount to play.

Now we can see how Blount plays for Riley. Yay! Maybe Barron will get some minutes as well. Will be interesting if he can actually play.

Yay? You have got to be kidding. A guy plays his heart out, returns from kidney disease and you're saying "yay" when he gets injured? You're a piece of shit.

Seriously, that's got to be one of the most rediculous statements I've ever heard. Hopefully he doesn't go out like that, but if so he had a great career! He's a great person on top of that.

Zo is going straight to the halll of fame. And he deserves it.

Axel, that's right!
really dissapointed of seing my man struggling out there with the injury, and he is 1 of my fav players! my team would be miss him so much!

If rodman doesn't get into the hall of fame, theres no way alonzo should be there.

Slightly off topic... but Amphatoast, why do you keep that quote in your sig? Duncan probably never will average 20 again...

That statement was made by Indy last 8/7/2006, before last season.
Last season Timmy D had 20 ppg.
Ampha is just trying to rub it in on Indy.

I like that Laxation's post comes during a week in which Duncan has dropped 36 and 34. And included 16 points on 14 field goal attempts in the third game. While coming off an injury.

Too bad for Zo, he deserves a better end of career.

It also appears that Claxton & Ford could retire sooner than expected (realgm.com)

Always sad to go out on an injury but thats life and Zo will be remembered for his great feats including his well deserved 'chip with the Heat most likely the highlight for him i would assume, I hope he decides to stick around bball and end up like Ewing etc and teach the young big men of tomorrow!

That statement was made by Indy last 8/7/2006, before last season.
Last season Timmy D had 20 ppg.
Ampha is just trying to rub it in on Indy.

He didn't average 20ppg... he was 1 point off it

That statement was made by Indy last 8/7/2006, before last season.
Last season Timmy D had 20 ppg.
Ampha is just trying to rub it in on Indy.

He didn't average 20ppg... he was 1 point off it

No, he averaged 20.0ppg.

That's rounded up, but Laxations right, he was one point away from really averaging 20 PPG. I'm doing my best BigKaboom impersonation here.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... ati01.html

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/tim_dunca ... stats.html

http://www.82games.com/0607/06SAS13A.HTM

http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba/nba-player ... 20946.html

Laxation you dolt.

EDIT: Then if it was rounded up, then he's not "one point away" but rather zero point something short of 20.
Yu nids to lern sum maths.

Last edited by shadowgrin on Mon Dec 24, 2007 4:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.