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Sports Watch
LAHAINA -- It took 12 years, but Alonzo Mourning finally achieved his Olympic dream as a member of the U.S. basketball team for the Summer Games in Sydney. Mourning after
gold in SydneySo "Zo" is looking forward to his Olympic moment.
"I know it's going to be an exciting experience being a part of history. Just by being the first Olympics of the millennium is going to be special," said the 6-foot-10 Miami Heat center.
It's a well-deserved honor for Mourning, a five-time NBA all-star and the league's defensive player of the year for the past two seasons.
And one long overdue.
In 1988, Mourning was the only high school player invited to join the U.S. select team preparing for the Seoul Games.
He didn't make the team.
"I was disappointed, but at the same time I knew there were going to be other opportunities for me," Mourning said after yesterday's practice at the Lahaina Civic Center.
He sat there with ice packs on both knees, a testimony to the long NBA season in which he had played a career-high 79 regular-season games.
Opportunity didn't come knocking again in 1992 when he was a senior at Georgetown. Tired of losing to the Russians, USA ended the practice of sending collegians to the Olympics and went with NBA stars instead.
That was the basis for the original Dream Team.
Mourning felt he could have played and maybe should have played in the 1992 Games.
"But it didn't happen that way. So, again, I felt my time would come."
Instead, Mourning achieved a double rarely seen in NBA ranks -- he graduated in four years from Georgetown and got a degree in sociology.
His only long-distance basketball trip was to Hawaii all four years to play UH-Hilo.
"They were memorable experiences here. I had a great time," he said.
Now, he's back in the islands for the first time as an eight-year NBA veteran.
"He's a tremendous warrior," said U.S. head coach Rudy Tomjanovich, describing Mourning.
"I'm so impressed with him, not only as a player but as a human being."
NOT surprisingly, Mourning was voted one of 99 "Good Guys" by The Sporting News for his humanitarian efforts.
Through fund-raisers, Mourning contributes to a children's home and a hospital in Miami. The latter receives $100 for every blocked shot and Mourning, the league's top shot blocker the past two years, had a career-high 294 last season.
"I'm a strong believer that to whom much is given, much is required," said Mourning, who was one of 49 children raised by foster parent Fanny Threat.
"I want to do my best to try to help improve other people's lives. Fortunately, I have now the opportunity and capability to do that. I'm able to share the wealth."
Mourning had a lot of praise for Miami teammate and former University of Hawaii star Anthony Carter.
"A.C. is a great addition to our team. He played extremely well for us, especially for a rookie last year. When Timmy (Hardaway) got hurt, he came in and gave the team a big lift.
"We kind of threw him in the fire early. He wasn't expected to play as much as he did initially. But he showed us his heart and his determination to improve," Mourning said.
"I think next year he's going to be even better."
Even Hardaway, yet to be re-signed by the Heat, perhaps because of Carter, had good words about A.C.
"A beautiful guy, an extremely hard worker. He made tremendous strides. He made a believer out of himself. I'm happy for him."