Miami Heat retire Alonzo Mourning's Jersey

Alonzo Mourning finally gets his due.
By: Jarred Powell

Alonzo Mourning watched his jersey get raised to the rafters in the Miami arena Monday night. This makes him, the first player in the organization's 21-year history to receive that honor. The ceremony was attended by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, Heat president Pat Riley, Jason Cooper, a second cousin who donated Mourning a kidney in 2003, Mourning's former Georgetown coach John Thompson, former Hoya Dikembe Mutombo, who played alongside Mourning with the Hoyas and Patrick Ewing, a longtime mentor. I have watched Alonzo Mourning for a long time. I'm a native of Washington DC. I have seen Mourning go from star, naive, country boy, to big time player NBA player. Not that it wasn't there all the time. I have also seen how he has matured. This is a player that if you recall was subpoenaed to appear in court for his alleged relationship with D.C. drug kingpin Rayful Edmond III while he was a freshman at Georgetown. he was cleared of any wrong doing,but nevertheless was guilty by association. he learned from that and grew to a man. A mans man is what some people would say. He brought every night and if it wasn't for the minutes that he played in the NBA Finals the NBA Finals in 2006, the Heat would have won the championship down the stretch. This is well deserved , but a trip to the NBA Hall of Fame is right around the corner. As a fan of yours since you were 19 years old. I'm proud of you and congratulations.

Jarred Powell
Sport Editor
TheBlackUrbanTimes