Alonzo Mourning Is Coming Back
'Zo Announces Decision Heat Fans Have Been Hoping For
MIAMI, 5:02 p.m. EST March 27, 2001 -- It's been a rumor for weeks, but it became a fact Tuesday: Alonzo Mourning is coming back.
The Miami Heat center has been sidelined all season with a kidney ailment, which some speculated was career-threatening. But Mourning's announcement means that he could return as soon as Tuesday night against the Toronto Raptors.
Mourning held a press conference Tuesday afternoon. Sitting next to Heat coach Pat Riley, Mourning said the process to getting to this day was a difficult one. He said he was blessed to have the right people around him to help him make the right decisions throughout the whole situation.
Mourning said the decision of whether to play was a difficult one: "When you have the best nephrologist in the country telling you the things you need to know, but he is unable to give you solid answers, it made it more difficult." Mourning, who suffers from kidney disease, went on to say that the "future is not promising," making him feel that he has a limited window of opportunity.
He said, "I know that from day one that I was going to prepare myself to fight and beat this disease. I put myself in a position to do that. Now I'm going to try to come back and play this season."
He said he believes his opportunity to play again is limited, and he had to listen to "his own body" to try to make the right decision. His treatment wwas scheduled to last 12 months, and he has completed six of those months. Mourning said his doctors cannot give him a specific answer about what the future holds -- in six months he could be worse, or he could be better. He said if he waited and didn't play, he might lose the opportunity forever.
Mourning said that his biggest challenge has been to "develop a certain level of patience." He said the season will be handled on a "game-by-game approach -- because of his doctor's wishes."
"I am pleased to have finally come to this day," Mourning said. "I though it was going to be later, but God works in mysterious ways, and I continue to keep my faith in him."
Mourning said he doesn't want to be looked at as the Heat's "savior." He said, "My team has worked their butts off and put up with the things (Coach Riley) has put them through." After thanking his family, wife Stacy, friends, and the Miami Heat organization for their prayers and support, he reminded viewers that the team has "responded very well, and should be commended for their efforts."
Mournign was sidelined just after returning from the Olympics in September. When he complained of swelling in his limbs and other symptoms, doctors discovered that he had focal glomerulosclerosis, a serious, and sometimes fatal kidney disease.
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