Second Is Better Than First (In Miami, at Least)

Brought to you by theheatblog.com

Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal have always been compared to one another. O’Neal went first in the 1992 NBA Draft, and Zo went second.

O’Neal won the Rookie of the Year award, Alonzo came in second. Then, when Shaquille O’Neal came to Miami, he was number one and Zo, once again, was second. 

But last night, all that was changed. Alonzo Mourning became the first Miami HEAT player to have his jersey retired by the franchise. That is one feat that O’Neal will never have.

A big reason for the is because every time he leaves a team, he talks bad about them. He leaves Orlando, “Penny Hardaway was terrible.”

He leaves Los Angeles, “Kobe is a drama King."

He leaves Miami, “The HEAT organization hated me, Ron Culp was the worst. Don’t get me started with Ricky Davis and Chris Quinn...”

Many fans in those towns don’t like him anymore so much and those organizations would be foolish to retire his number.

Sure, he’s a future Hall of Famer, and is one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, that doesn’t give you the right to bad-mouth your former teams.

Yet, people keep comparing O’Neal and Zo as if Alonzo is inferior to O’Neal… So let’s compare, shall we?

Alonzo Mourning: 

• - NBA Champion
• - All NBA First and Second Team
• - 2-time defensive player of the year
• - 7-time NBA all-star
• - Led the NBA in blocked shots (3.91 BPG) in 1999
• - Won Olympic Gold in 2000
• - J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2002

Shaquille O’Neal

• - 4-time NBA Champion
• - NBA MVP in 2000
• - NBA Rookie of the year
• - 3-time Finals MVP
• - 2-time NBA Scoring Champion
• - 3-time All-Star game MVP
• - 15-time All-Star
• - Won Olympic Gold in 1996

If you were to compare these two players, O’Neal’s resume seems like it overshadows all of Alonzo’s, but in reality, there is one award Zo has gotten that Shaquille O’Neal will never get: The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

This is an award given to the player, coach, or trainer who shows “Outstanding service and dedication to the community.” That is one award O’Neal will never get. 

Alonzo was drafted by the Hornets, then traded to the HEAT and then left Miami and went to New Jersey. After that, New Jersey sent him to Toronto where Mourning refused to play and had his contract bought out so he had the chance to come back to his true home, Miami.

Upon his return to Miami, Zo was not the Starting Center for the HEAT, he was in fact number two behind O’Neal. 

Every time I remember Alonzo, I will remember the Beowulf-like qualities he had. He was a warrior unlike any other. Not even the Big Shaqctus can be compared to Mourning.

O’Neal never had to go through a kidney transplant, he doesn’t have the slightest idea what it’s like to be number 2 all his career. But Last night, Alonzo was, and forever will be, number one. 

On behalf of all Miami HEAT fans out there, I would like to thank you, Alonzo Mourning. You will forever be remembered by not only your work on the hardwood, but for you sharable work you will always do.

Brought to you by theheatblog.com