Zo Long: Mourning the end of a great career

In all likelihood, Alonzo Mourning's 16-season NBA career is over.

Mourning came down wrong while trying to block a shot on transition defense Wednesday night, and you could tell by his writhing and pounding on the floor that it probably wasn't just a twisted ankle. The bottom line was a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.

And as someone who's dislocated a knee before, I can tell you that's about the worst kind of pain to have. Typical recovery period is three months, but for a 37-year old to recover and get back in playing shape within the confines of this season seems highly unlikely.

So with that, I want to thank Alonzo Mourning for a great career, one in which there were many highlights:

• Mourning would have been the #1 pick out of Georgetown, if it wasn't for some big ogre named Shaquille. With 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game, he would have been Rookie of the Year, too -- except Shaq was better.
  
  
• Zo was the top dog on a fierce '94-95 Charlotte team, one that won 50 games and finished second in the Atlantic Conference Central Division. But then he ran into the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan in the first round of the playoffs.
  
  
• Mourning amassed over 2,800 blocks, good for a career average of 2.8 per game. In his best seasons, Zo would get 3.5 a game, and in '98-98, he almost got four.
  
  
• Zo was never an MVP, but he was a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Despite six seasons in which he averaged 20 points or more, you could always tell that defense was most important. Especially when he bellered or scowled at an opponent after blocking a shot.
  
  
• Mourning got the Holy Grail of basketball when the Miami Heat won the NBA Championship in 2006. Zo was a role player, to be sure, averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in just over 20 minutes a game. But you know what? Role players get rings, too, and with Shaq missing over 40 games that season, the Heat probably couldn't have done it without him.
  
  
• Perhaps the most impressive feat at all was accomplished off the basketball court, when Mourning battled kidney disease and came back from a transplant surgery. No way would he allow himself to become the sad story of an NBA star whose career ended far too early. After missing the '02-03 season for the surgery and recovery period, Zo returned a different player. Less stamina, less strength, perhaps, but more hustle. Less flash, more heart. And while he would never again be a star, he got the NBA championship that is the envy of every player who's never won one.

If Zo can beat kidney disease, he may be man enough to speed through a recovery and help the Heat in the playoffs. I suspect not, but if so I will gladly suspend my eulogy at that time. But if this is it -- and Mourning has stated that this will be his last season -- we owe him thanks for a phenomenal career.

Atlanta 117, Miami 111 (AP, via Yahoo! sports)
Alonzo Mourning player profile (Yahoo! sports)
Alonzo Mourning (Wikipedia)

Separated at Birth: Mike Mussina and Mark Prior

ESPN.com is reporting in its Rumor Central section that the Yankees and Mets are among 11 teams eyeing Mark Prior (left). Which got me thinking: is New York big enough for two people who look like this? Mike Mussina (right) was unavailable for comment.

Is Dodgers' Kuroda the next Kei Igawa?

You may recall that amidst all the hype about Daisuke Matsuzaka last off season, the Yankees paid for what they thought was a consolation prize in the Dice-K sweepstakes.

Kei Igawa.

Between the posting fee and a five-year contract, Igawa turned out to be a $46 million dollar bust. When the dust had settled, Igawa 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.

Why the late-breaking news, though? As is the case with most Japanese imports, we don't know much about the Dodgers' new signee, Hirokee Kuroda; without having seen him play, we can only go on stats. And if stats is what we're going on, the Dodgers may have signed another Kei Igawa.

The similarities are startling, and if you had to choose one based on their Japanese league stats alone, it would have to be Igawa. In six plus seasons with the Hanshin Tigers, Igawa was 89-60 (.589 winning percentage) with a 3.15 ERA. He consistently struck out 170-200 batters per season, and in 2003, he won the Central League MVP award and the Sawamura Award, the Japanese equivalent to the Cy Young.

In 11 seasons with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, facing the same hitters in the same league, Kuroda was 103-89 (.536 winning percentage) with a 3.69 ERA. Kuroda averaged between 130 and 160 strikeouts per season.

It's worth pointing out, however, that the two pitchers pitch with different styles. Igawa is a lefty who uses more finesse than power, and it may have been his inability to locate the offspeed stuff that led to his demise here in the states. Kuroda, by contrast, is a right-handed power pitcher whose fastball reportedly peaks at 96 mph, and who also features a slider and a forkball. Also, his nickname in Japan is "Mr. Complete Game."

Igawa is 28, and since the Yankees have him under contract anyway, they may as well continue to work with him. And who knows, maybe he'll regain his Sawamura Award form and become a bargain. Kuroda, though, is 32, so it's more likely that what the Dodgers see this season is what they'll get for the length of the three-year, $35.2 million deal.

Japanese pitcher Kuroda, Dodgers agree to 3-year deal (ESPN)
Kei Igawa (Japanesebaseball.com ~ Wikipedia)
Hiroki Kuroda (Japanesebaseball.com ~ Wikipedia)

Romo plus girls equals trouble for 'Boys

With new girlfriend Jessica Simpson watching from a private suite, Tony Romo played terribly Sunday in the Cowboys' 10-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Romo was 13-36 with 214 yards and 3 INTs for a career-low 22.2 quarterback rating. (Ouch! That might hurt worse than his bruised thumb!) But more importantly, Romo was unable to piece together a much-needed scoring drive, despite several chances in the fourth quarter.

This blog will never turn into a gossip column, but Sunday's game had to feel like deja vu for Dallas fans: the last time Romo played this badly was also against the Eagles, and there was also a special someone rooting for him up in the box.

In December 2006 it was American Idol winner Carrie Underwood rooting for Romo, but the result was almost identical. Romo struggled (45.5 passer rating), the 'Boys lost, and the relationship -- well, it was never the same.

At 12-2, Dallas is still sitting pretty for home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and Romo's thumb should be healed in time for the games that count, which don't start until January.

And as for Romo's personal life, we're not here to speculate. But we suggest that owner Jerry Jones enact a permanent ban on dating the cheerleaders, if he hasn't already. They show up at every game, you know.

Romo lands another pop princess (AP, via si.com... photo also AP)