Alonzo Mourning... Feel-Good Story - April 2001
April 1, 2001 from the Miami Herold by Greg Cote,
Sports Writer - Newspaper Clipping as follows:
Alonzo Mourning felt instantly vital again, like pulling
on that Miami Heat jersey was the best medicine yet.
Heat's coach Pat Riley felt instantly optimistic like his
good-got-better team became a NBA championship
contender.
Heat fans felt instantly charged, like the electricity that
crossed through the bayside arena last Tuesday when
No. 33 took the floor.
Everybody felt great.
Mourning's sudden, unexpected, way-early comeback from
a serious kidney ailment is the feel-good sports' story of
the year.
Why does it feel premature?
Why does it feel l8ike the best thing for Mourning's spirit
is not the best thing for his body?
Tuesday, Alonzo ambled onto the court for pre-game
warm-ups to an emotional, building applause from the
few hundred earliest-arriving fans. He grinned broadly.
Teammate Dan Majerie bowed his arms in an 'I'm
not-worthy gesture. The music blasting was U2's 'Desire'.
Mourning, Riley and the player's medical experts agreed in
mid-October that Zo would sit out for a full year before any
decision on his return was made.
Barely, five months later, Zo, 31-years-old, is in some form,
back.
Was it a miracle? No, his condition has improved and is
now in remission. Mourning remains on an extensive
program of a special diet, regular testing and medication. He
also takes 14 pills a day. Side effects include fatigue.
basketballhistorian.com - Newspaper Clipping
Philadelphia scores eight points with 1:11 minutes left to
topple Milwaukee 107-104
USA TODAY by Bob Velin - Newspaper Clipping
Here's the story:
The smallest player on the court cast the biggest shadow
Tuesday night as the visiting Philadelphia 76ers overcame a
eight-point deficit in the final 1:11 remaining to beat the
Milwaukee Bucks 107-104.
All-Star MVP Allen Iverson scored 49 points for the Sixers,
including six in the final minute, then helped keep the ball
away from the Bucks in the closing seconds.
"The little guy had a huge game," 76ers coach Larry Brown
said.
The Bucks got their usual output from their Big Three - 28
points from Glenn Robinson, 27 from Ray Allen and 20
from Sam Cassell - and led 104-99 with 1:11 left.
But they also had eight fourth quarter turnovers, failed to hold
a nine-point lead and couldn't even commit a foul late in the
game.
The Sixers were playing without center Theo Ratliff, who
has a fractured wrist and missed his first game of the season.
Iverson scored with 56 seconds left and was fouled.
Although he missed the bonus, teammate George Lynch got
the rebound and got the ball back to Iverson, who hit another
shot at 49 seconds, pulling Philadelphia to 104-103.
After the Bucks turned it over, Cassell fouled out and
Iverson sank both free throws for a 105-104 lead. The
Sixers then spread the floor and ran down the clock.
"They did an excellent job holding the ball and running the
clock out," said Glenn Robinson. "We had the game won.
We had a lead and we couldn't hold on. We gave it away."
basketballhistorian.com - Newspaper Clipping
