Mourning ailing again

["Jonathan Brainin" <jbrainin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kidney Woes Derail Mourning's Season
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


Filed at 11:35 p.m. ET


MIAMI (AP) -- Alonzo Mourning's kidney condition has deteriorated and will
probably prevent him from playing this season, a source close to the Miami Heat
center said Thursday.

The Heat released a statement confirming that Mourning would be sidelined
indefinitely because doctors don't believe he's healthy enough to play.

Mourning is certain to miss the start of the season, said the source, who spoke
on condition of anonymity. The Heat opener is Oct. 30.

The 32-year-old Mourning was diagnosed in October 2000 with focal segmental
glomerulosclerosis, a career-threatening kidney disease. He played in just the
final 13 games that season but played in 75 games last season and made the
All-Star team for the seventh time.

The Heat said a timetable for his return hasn't been determined. Mourning's
publicist, Lisa Joseph, said doctors haven't told him he's out for the entire
season, and he hopes to play again eventually.

``He's not retiring,'' she said. ``There will be no announcement that he's
retiring.''

Joseph said she spoke Thursday with Mourning.

``His spirits are great,'' she said. ``He's fine. He's doing well. He's just
trying to get back healthy.''

Mourning was unavailable for comment.

``Alonzo wants to keep everything private,'' Heat spokesman Tim Donovan said.

Coach Pat Riley declined to comment but will hold a news conference Friday.

In the early stages of the disease, Mourning's symptoms included stiff, swollen
joints, mood swings, a poor appetite and fatigue. But last season the disease
was in remission, meaning his kidneys stopped deteriorating.

Medication improved his blood pressure, hemoglobin and cholesterol, all affected
by his ailment. He averaged 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 32.7 minutes per game,
missing just seven games.

Mourning has acknowledged that his prognosis is uncertain, and that a transplant
might eventually be necessary. Sean Elliott of the San Antonio Spurs contracted
a less serious form of focal glomerulosclerosis and required a transplant in
1999.

Still, the setback was unexpected. Just last month, Dr. Victor Richards said
Mourning's test results were encouraging.

``He has been very active and it seems he's in good condition now,'' Richards
said in an interview Aug. 15. ``Since I've been seeing him, he's feeling as good
as he ever felt. ... I'm optimistic he'll continue to feel well.''

Mourning had been seeing a physician every two weeks for checkups, and the
latest round of tests apparently revealed the change in his condition. Richards
and Dr. Gerald Appel, who have treated Mourning since his diagnosis, didn't
return calls seeking comment.

Even with Mourning healthy, the Heat went 36-46 last season, and Riley missed
the playoffs for the first time in his 20-year coaching career. There had been
speculation this summer that Riley might trade Mourning, who is to make $20.6
million this season in the final year of a seven-year contract.

In a recent interview, Mourning said he hates going to the doctor.

``I'm petrified,'' he said, ``because I'm afraid of what they're going to tell
me.''