And now turning to the world of basketball. . . . I see that Alonzo Mourning's career is over. I guess I find this poignant because Alonzo was really the first sports star I ever idolized, beginning when he was a junior in high school and I was in seventh grade. And now he's done. Man I feel old. But you've got to love the way Mourning went out:
After tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee in Miami's game against Atlanta on Wednesday night, the 37-year-old Heat center was placed on the stretcher, but he refused the ride.
"That's not the way I envisioned myself walking off the court for the last time in my career," he said. "I've been through so much in my life. If I had to crawl off the court I would have. Nobody was going to push me off on a stretcher off the court. That wasn't going to happen."
Mourning already has said there is "zero chance" of playing another season.
"We tried to help him up and he just said, 'It's over, it's over,' " Miami's Udonis Haslem said.
Mourning sat up, rose to his feet and limped to the Miami bench with the assistance of teammates. He received an ovation as he made the slow, painful walk to the bench.
At the very least Zo should think about a second career in pro wrestling. He's certainly got the requisite sense of drama.
--Jason Zengerle