Alonzo Mourning Miami’s Six Million Dollar Man

This Alonzo Mourning feature story was written for Liquid Magazine the year Miami won the NBA Finals against Dallas.

NBA World Champion Alonzo Mourning has been touted as one of the most dominant big men ever to grace the hardwood. His role as a defensive weapon for his team and an offensive nightmare against his opponents has been the perfect complement to the hard driving style of the Miami Heat and helped lead the team to their first-ever championship. Case in point: In June during game six of the Finals, Zo held it down for the Heat with eight points, six rebounds and five blocked shots — all within fourteen minutes — helping the Heat clinch the title against Dallas right in their own backyard. His role in winning the championship should come as no surprise. He has been a major force in the league since the Charlotte Hornets picked him second out of Georgetown in the 1992 draft. Despite the tension that would eventually send Zo to Miami and Johnson to New York, Zo was instrumental in making Charlotte a 50-win team and earned the distinction of being one of four players to lead an NBA team in four major statistical categories: scoring (21.3 ppg), rebounding (9.9 rpg), blocked shots (2.92 per game) and field goal percentage (.519)

During his career Zo has been named seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He also earned first team All-NBA honors, first team All-Defensive honors, NBA Player of the Week six times and helped lead the United States to victory on the 2000 US Olympic team. In addition to playing for Charlotte and Miami, Zo had stints with New Jersey and Toronto but for reasons that perhaps only a higher authority can answer Miami kept calling him home, signing him for the second time as a free agent in 2005. Many would call this a brilliant move by Miami who won the championship with an arsenal of some of the coldest players in the league including Zo, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Jason Williams, Antoine Walker and Gary Payton.

Off the court, Zo has been called a remarkable fighter for beating ¬Focal Glomerusclerosis, a degenerative kidney disease, against staggering odds. Because this disease affects thousands of men, women and children each year, it’s amazing that he could sustain a wildly successful basketball career despite undergoing a kidney transplant that could easily have forced him into early retirement. He’s also known as an all-around good guy by sports aficionados and insiders of the game. But these days, Zo humbly wears the title of The Six Million Dollar Man for his role in raising more than $6 million for youth in underserved communities in South Florida, New Jersey and his hometown of Chesapeake, Virginia.

 

By all accounts, Zo is a baaadddd man.

 

Let’s be clear though, Zo is no White cat with artificial limbs like the Six Million Dollar Man from the long-running 1970s television series. The old version of the Six Million Dollar Man was astronaut turned superhuman crime fighter, Steve Austin (played by actor Lee Majors), who kicked much ass in the interest of protecting the world from evildoers. Sure, many comparisons can be made between the invincible Steve Austin and the invincible, Alonzo Mourning. But it’s pretty clear that Zo is much more than the sum of Steve Austin’s artificial parts. This Six Million Dollar Man who overcame tremendous adversity possesses a heart of gold and an undeniable sense of responsibility for the thousands of kids whose lives he impacts each year through his ten-year old charitable organization, Alonzo Mourning Charities (AMC). AMC is based in Miami where Zo, his wife, Tracy, owner of a bourgeoning clothing line, Honey Child, and founder of Honey Shine Foundation, a mentoring program for girls, and their kids Trey and Myka call home. Alonzo and Tracy are both short on flossin’ for the cameras and long on putting their money and resources where their mouths are. “My purpose here is to continue to use what God has given me to try and enhance other people’s lives because I have come through traumatic situations my whole life and I’m still standing to talk about it. Yet I’ve got a lot of work to do,” says Zo.

Raised by a dynamic foster mother, Fanny Threat, Zo understands the critical role he and others who perform on a world stage play, for kids who need positive leaders and mentors. Zo is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children. “Some kids who have lived in Miami all their lives have never even seen the beach. They haven’t seen the world,” Zo quietly admits. “God gave me this responsibility for a reason…because I can make a difference. Though I’m not perfect, it’s extremely important that I try to set the right example for these kids.”

Alonzo Mourning Charities is a thriving organization committed to its mission and Zo is hands on in AMC’s day-to-day operations, which is no easy task considering he is still playing basketball. With Zo and an astute board of directors at the helm, AMC’s long-term plan include partnering with corporate sponsors, building an endowment and developing a donor base to ensure that Zo’s vision and his legacy continue long after he hangs up his basketball shoes. “It is important to Zo and everyone at AMC that we have a deeper impact in the community, not just in South Florida, New Jersey and Virginia, but a national impact,” says Antonia Williams-Gary, Executive Director of AMC.

AMC’s efforts benefit numerous organizations including 100 Black Men of South Florida, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Chesapeake Care Clinic, Honey Shine Foundation and Overtown Youth Center, a state of the art community center designed as a safe haven where kids can learn, play and simply be kids. “In twenty years I want to look back to see these kids and hear stories of them getting their bachelor’s degrees and their PhDs. I want to know that they are coming back to help other kids in the community. We are here for the long haul. We’re here to change generations,” says Zo.

While this Six Million Dollar Man is considered one of the most generous athletes of our time, don’t get it twisted. Zo knows how to throw a good party. In July, Zo and AMC hosted the 10th annual Zo’s Summer Groove, a three-day weekend event that fosters economic development and brings thousands of tourists to Miami. The event is heavily supported by sponsors who believe in Zo’s vision and want to associate their brand with a positive image. Zo’s Summer Groove is complete with a golf tournament, star-studded comedy show, music concert, all-star basketball game, block party and the Nike Youth Basketball Clinics, sponsored by Boost Mobile. Zo’s bench of celebrity friends is deep with some of the top names in sports and entertainment including: Kenyon Martin, Smush Parker, Keyon Dooling, Drew Gooden, Fred Jones, Carmelo Anthony, Steve Harvey, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Dikembe Mutombo, Gloria Estefan, Ludacris, Nick Cannon and of course teammates Shaq and D. Wade to name but a few. Zo and his friends indeed know how to party with a purpose.

Zo, who plans to return to the Miami Heat this fall for his fourteenth season in the league, says the smiles on the faces of the kids who benefit from AMC’s support is enough for him. It is obvious, however, that his role as a youth advocate, community leader and philanthropist is providing more than smiles for these kids. And he is undoubtedly making his foster mother, Fanny, very proud.

Fore more information on Alonzo Mourning Charities, please visit: www.amcharities.org