Guest JohnnySwift Report post Posted November 24, 2003 Not sure if this was posted or not yet... SportsLine.com wire reports EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New Jersey Net's center Alonzo Mourning is leaving basketball again because the kidney disease he's had for three years is worsening and he needs a transplant The announcement Monday came just a few months after Mourning, 33, signed a four-year contract with the Nets believed to be worth $22 million. The seven-time All-Star sat out all of last season and large portions of two of the last three years because of the life-threatening kidney ailment, focal glomerulosclerosis. The team said Mourning, who was in his 12th NBA season, needs a transplant "in the near future" and that a nationwide search is under way for a prospective donor. "Alonzo is a true champion and a very courageous athlete who attempted to defy the odds with his comeback to the NBA," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "Unfortunately, his medical condition will not allow him to continue his basketball career." Dr. Gerald Appel of Columbia University Medical Center said Mourning's kidney function has deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks. "It is no longer medically safe for him to play basketball," Appel said. "Although he still feels well, the chemical imbalances in his blood make it dangerous for him to play." Mourning played in 12 games for the Nets this season, averaging a disappointing 8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes. His career averages were 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game coming into this season. On Saturday, Mourning had a season-high 15 points in the Nets' 81-80 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Two days earlier, he got into a heated exchange with teammate Kenyon Martin, who made light of Mourning's disease. "I have overcome all I have overcome to come back and play this game for one reason, and that's to win," Mourning said afterward. Mourning previously played for the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat. The disease was detected in October 2000, when Mourning was with the Heat. Shortly after, the 6-foot-10 center helped the U.S. team win the gold medal at the Olympics. The disease attacks the tiny filters in the kidney that remove waste from the blood. That makes the kidney spill protein from blood into the urine. The resulting kidney damage can lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a transplant. AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service Copyright 2003, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved Taken from Sportsline.com I'm not the biggest NJ Nets fan but I always enjoyed watching Zo play. Hopefully he'll be still be able to lead a normal life outside of basketball. What do you guys think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2003 I didn't think he should have come back, and this is the reason why. He's got other things to worry about than putting a ball through a hoop... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted November 24, 2003 That's what happens when you take too much pain meds rather than let your body naturally heal. Hopefully people learn from his mistake and Sean Elliot's. Hopefully Zou gets his kidney Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JohnnySwift Report post Posted November 24, 2003 KKK, just out of curiousity what were your thoughts on Sean Elliot coming back to the Spurs a few years ago after his brother donated a kidney to him? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted November 24, 2003 (edited) Elliot was the recipient of the kidney from his brother Edit: Sean Elliot that is, as they are both Elliots obviously Edited November 24, 2003 by Plunderin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JohnnySwift Report post Posted November 24, 2003 Elliot was the recipient of the kidney from his brother Good catch, my NBA knowledge isn't as up to par as it used to be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted November 24, 2003 I do feel bad for the guy, not necessarily my favorite player ever but he was one of the few to live up to the whole "warrior" thing in the sense that he gave ya all he had. Big respect to the guy, he shouldn't have came back but I can't blame him for trying too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2003 KKK, just out of curiousity what were your thoughts on Sean Elliot coming back to the Spurs a few years ago after his brother donated a kidney to him? I guess pretty much the same as Zo's. Sean seems like a good enough guy -- at least he got out and seems to be doing well these days. This may be unrelated, but I also think Vick should not play this season -- wait until that leg is 100 percent... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mik 0 Report post Posted November 24, 2003 Makes Kenyon Martin mocking Zo by saying "My kidney, my kidney" last week look even worse. Can we just rid the NBA of Martin? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest El Satanico Report post Posted November 24, 2003 Did Martin really mock him? That's great and no I'm not being sarcastic. I love Kenyon Martin and the NBA needs at least one player like him. The NBA is boring if there's not a total dick that you can hate. Besides, it's not like Martin is on trial for rape. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Mindless_Aggression Report post Posted November 24, 2003 Martin is a damn good on court heel but the kidney comment was fuckin ignorant. But yeah, I enjoy the K-Marts and Rasheed Wallaces of the world, at least during the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2003 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New Jersey Nets center Alonzo Mourning is leaving basketball again because the kidney disease he's had for three years is worsening and he needs a transplant. The announcement Monday came just a few months after Mourning, 33, signed a four-year contract with the Nets believed to be worth $22 million. The four-time All-Star sat out all of last season and large portions of two of the last three years because of the life-threatening kidney ailment, focal glomerulosclerosis. The team said Mourning, who was in his 12th NBA season, needs a transplant "in the near future" and that a nationwide search is under way for a prospective donor. "Alonzo is a true champion and a very courageous athlete who attempted to defy the odds with his comeback to the NBA," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "Unfortunately, his medical condition will not allow him to continue his basketball career." Dr. Gerald Appel of Columbia University Medical Center said Mourning's kidney function has deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks. "It is no longer medically safe for him to play basketball," Appel said. "Although he still feels well, the chemical imbalances in his blood make it dangerous for him to play." Mourning played in 12 games for the Nets this season, averaging a disappointing 8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes. His career averages were 20.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game coming into this season. On Saturday, Mourning had a season-high 15 points in the Nets' 81-80 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Two days earlier, he got into a heated exchange with teammate Kenyon Martin, who made light of Mourning's disease. "I have overcome all I have overcome to come back and play this game for one reason, and that's to win," Mourning said afterward. Mourning previously played for the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat. The disease was detected in 2000, while Mourning was with the Heat. The diagnosis came shortly after the 6-foot-10 center helped the U.S. team win the gold medal at the Olympics. The disease attacks the tiny filters in the kidney that remove waste from the blood. That makes the kidney spill protein from blood into the urine. The resulting kidney damage can lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a transplant. "It's a sad day in anyone's life when they can on longer do what they love, especially when they have no control over their situation," Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement. "Alonzo had been the cornerstone of the Heat organization for eight years and continues to be a role model in the Miami community." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2003 Sorry Rant. There's a topic already down the page a bit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrRant 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2003 I must have missed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Agent_Bond34 0 Report post Posted November 25, 2003 Can we just rid the NBA of Martin? Over something like that? No Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
