12/18/24
November 24, 2003
'Zo long, Mourning: Alonzo Mourning, having missed quite a bit of time with a kidney disease, revealed today that he will undergo a very necessary kidney transplant that will end his playing days.
posted by jerseygirl to basketball at 11:35 AM - 15 comments
I guess I need to stop cracking wise about Mourning's condition. Anyone know how much of that present $22 million, four-year contract he'll still be receiving?
posted by rcade at 11:43 AM on November 24, 2003
I hope Kenyon Martin feels like a shithead now.
posted by vito90 at 11:48 AM on November 24, 2003
I'll miss Mourning also, although this totally screws the value of the 100 or so rookies I have of him. Damn it. BTW, I picked up an Iverson autographed ball (well-documented) last weekend in an auction. Total price with shipping and buyer's fees? $13.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:52 AM on November 24, 2003
I don't think Martin grasps the concept that he's a dick, Vito. You know those guys who just have no concept of how they come off to the rest of the world? Martin in a nutshell.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:53 AM on November 24, 2003
It's a shame for both Mourning and the Nets. I really wanted to see him come back to some semblance of what he used to be, and the Nets were really banking on him to be competitive against the West. Neither are happening. We'll probably never really know where Zo stands in the list of all-time greats.
posted by Ufez Jones at 11:57 AM on November 24, 2003
Too bad for Zo - he always struck me as a consumate professional - and he fed me a great Yo Mamma joke that I won't soon forget. Think about the impact this is going to have on the Nets - somewhere Brian Scalabrine is secretly smiling. Kidd is thinking 'instead of the nest week off, maybe its 2003-04 that I take off.'
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:01 PM on November 24, 2003
And the Yo Mamma joke is?
posted by hootch at 12:48 PM on November 24, 2003
Thanks rcade - it wasn't so much the quality of the joke so much as it was a giant dude making $10 million a year taking the time between a free throw to have a little fun and talk about my friend's mom- made him a instant favorite with me. If we tried the same gentle taunting with Kenyon I wouold have either been ignored or had to digest my own teeth, I'll wager.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:17 PM on November 24, 2003
I liked Mourning. I'm suprised that less than half of the ESPN respondents think that Mourning belongs in the HOF. Mourning had a long run as the second best center in the league. As with most centers he liked his offense a little too much ... I thought he would have been better off taking fewer jumpers but that's a pretty minor criticism. He was a dominant force rebounding and blocking shots and he could put up 30 on you in any given game. Really sad to see his career end under these circumstances.
posted by Mike McD at 04:00 PM on November 24, 2003
How did he ever pass the physical with the Nets? He only signed with them in July. I might get a second opinion on that urinalysis I just had done. And I have to think playing in Miami and Charlotte hurts his chances for HOF consideration. Even though some of those were good teams.
posted by usfbull at 04:26 PM on November 25, 2003
Anyone know how much of that present $22 million, four-year contract he'll still be receiving? All of it. The Nets took a huge risk by giving Alonzo Mourning a guaranteed contract, and now they're paying for it. $22 million, divided by twelve games, equals $1.83 million per game! Mourning belongs in the Hall of Fame for getting away with this.
posted by dusted at 03:27 AM on November 30, 2003
Still, dusted, that $22M isn't going to buy him a new kidney. There are laws against such things and if he turns up healthy all of a sudden there will be many questions asked. Though I'd probably risk jail time for it, come to that. IAC, I'd choose a healthy kidney over a big contract.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:17 PM on November 30, 2003
Um, I wouldn't worry about Zo, TOO much. That said, I'll always remember him about to stomp Jeff Van Gundy. Those were the days.
posted by forksclovetofu at 11:12 PM on December 02, 2003
i think this is my first basketball post. "i'm learnding!" I'll always have fond memories of Zo's early playing days from when I went through my basketball phase in high school. I think I have his rookie card around actually. I'm going to have to find my basketball cards when I get home.