Look up Block, Blocks, block, blocked, or blocks in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Block may refer to:

Administrative subdivisions[link]

• A city block, the smallest area that is surrounded by streets
• Block (country subdivision), term used in many South Asian countries

Objects[link]

• A large concrete masonry unit
• A solid piece of a hard substance, such as wood, upon which persons are beheaded, e.g.: The charges that led Sir Walter Raleigh to the block in 1618.
• Tower block, a high rise multi-unit building
• Block (sailing), a single or multiple pulley used on sailboats
• Cylinder block, the main part of an internal combustion engine
• Toy block, one of a set of wooden or plastic pieces of various shapes
• Unit block a type of standardized wooden toy block for children
• Freewheel, a set of rear sprockets that attaches to a hub on the rear wheel
• Wood block a small piece of slit drum made from a single piece of wood and used as a percussion instrument
• Hat block a wooden block carved into the shape of a hat by a craftsman known as a block shaper
• Postage stamp block, an attached group of postage stamps

Science[link]

• Block (periodic table)
• Block (extraction of petroleum), a sub-division of an underground reservoir
• Block (meteorology), large-scale patterns in the atmospheric pressure field
• Block (geology), is a geologic zone or geologic province

Sports[link]

• Blocking (American football), when a player obstructs another player's path
• Block (basketball), when a defensive player legally deflects a shot
• Blocking (martial arts), a defensive technique in the martial arts
• Starting blocks, devices used by sprinters to assist in preventing their feet from slipping as they break into a run

Transport[link]

• A way of controlling train movement in railway signalling

Technology[link]

• Block (data storage), the practice of storing electronic data in equally-sized units
• Block-level element in the HTML markup language
• Block (telecommunications), a unit of data transmission
• Block (programming), a group of declarations and statements treated as a unit
• Block (Internet), technical measures to restrict users' access to certain internet resources
• Boom Blox, a 2008 video game for the Wii console from EA, previously known as Blocks
• Blocks (C language extension), an extension to the C programming language designed to support parallel programming
• Non-blocking (disambiguation), for computers running multiple programs at once, it is important for no single task waiting for completion of an operation to indefinitely block the processing of any other task
• Unicode block, a named range of codepoints in Unicode
• Block elements, a class of Box-drawing characters
• Block Number (aircraft), a method of differentiating between groups of aircraft of the same type that have minor modifications

Mathematics[link]

• Aschbacher block of a finite group
• Block design, a kind of set system in combinatorial mathematics
• Block (permutation group theory)
• Block of a ring, a centrally primitive idempotent or the ideal it generates
• Block in modular representation theory
• In graph theory, a maximally 2-connected subgraph or a bridge with its endvertices
• Blocks are the elements of a block matrix

Music[link]

• Block (musician), also known as Jamie Block, a New York City based anti-folk musician
• Block Entertainment, a record label
• Blocks Recording Club, a record label
• Block musical form
• Wood block, a small piece of slit drum made from a single piece of wood and used as a percussion instrument

Film[link]

• Blocked, a 2006 horror film directed by James E. Roberts

Broadcasting[link]

• Program block, the result of a programming strategy in broadcasting

People[link]

• Francesca Lia Block (born 1962), American writer
• Herbert Lawrence Block, commonly known as Herblock, American political cartoonist
• Lawrence Block (born 1938), American crime writer
• Malú Block (1904–1989), born María Luisa Cabrera, Mexican artist
• Mark Block, American political strategist
• Walter Block (born 1941), American economist, author

See also[link]

• All pages beginning with "Block"
• All pages with titles containing "Block"
• Blocking (disambiguation)
• Blockade (disambiguation)
• Blockbuster (disambiguation)
• Bloc (disambiguation)

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Ken Block
Ken Block in 2008.
Nationality	American
Born	(1967-11-21) 21 November 1967 (age 44) Long Beach, California
2012 Rally America
Debut season	2005
Current team	Monster World Rally Team
Best finish	2nd Overall in Rally America in 2006 and 2008
Awards
2004[1] 2005[1] 2009	• One of the most influential people (#17) in Sports Business Journal • Ad Age's Marketing 50 • One of the Fast 50 in Fast Company Magazine • 40 Under 40 Awards, Sports Business Journal • Rally America's Rookie of the Year • Gymkhana 2 was 2009's #4 most viewed viral video

Ken Block (born November 21, 1967, in Long Beach, California)^[2] is a professional rally driver with the Monster World Rally Team. Block is also one of the co-founders and recently appointed Chief Brand Officer of DC Shoes.^[1] Block has also competed in many action sports events including skateboarding, snowboarding, and motocross.

Rallying[link]

2005[link]

In 2005, Ken Block began his national rallying career with the Vermont SportsCar team.^[3] Vermont SportsCar prepared a 2005 Subaru WRX STi for Block to compete. His first event of the rallying season was Sno*Drift, where he ended up finishing seventh overall and fifth in the Group N class.^[4] During the 2005 season, Block had five top five finishes and placed third overall in the Group N class and fourth overall in the Rally America National Championship.^[3] At the end of his first rallying year, Ken Block had won the Rally America Rookie of the Year award.^[5]

2006[link]

In 2006, Ken Block along with his DC rally teammate Travis Pastrana signed a new sponsorship deal with Subaru.^[3] Through this deal with Subaru, the teammates became known as "Subaru Rally Team USA."^[3] With the new rally season, Block also got a brand new Vermont SportsCar prepped 2006 Subaru WRX STi.^[3] He competed in the first ever X Games rally event at X Games XII.^[3] In the competition, Block ended up finishing third to take the bronze.^[3] He went on to compete in the 2006 Rally America National Championship, where he finished second overall.^[3]

2007[link]

In 2007, Ken Block competed in the X Games XIII rally event, where he placed second overall and won a silver medal.^[5] In the 2007 Rally America National Championship, Block finished third overall.^[5] During this season, Block also entered in a few rounds of the World Rally Championship; Rally Mexico and Rally New Zealand.^[4] In Rally New Zealand, Block recorded two top-five stage times in the Group N class.^[4] At the end of 2007, Block had achieved 19 podiums and 8 overall victories in rally events.^[1]

2008[link]

In 2008, Block was provided with a brand new rally prepped 2008 Subaru WRX STi to compete. Block decided to compete in the Rallye Baie-des Chaleurs of the Canadian Rally Championship to gain some experience with his new 2008 rally car and prepare for the World Rally Championships later this year.^[6] Block gained his first Canadian rally win at the event.^[6] This was only the second event for the new car.^[6] Block and his co-driver were unable to get any championship points at the event due to not having a Canadian competition license.^[6] Block competed in the Rally New York USA competition and finished in first place.^[7] In the X Games XIV rally competition, Block finished tied for third place with Dave Mirra.^[8] This occurrence was due to both competitors having issues with their car. Block, who made it to the semi-finals of the event, had a radiator problem after landing the car awkwardly on a jump. With both bronze place competitors in damaged cars unable to compete, the medals were awarded to both of them.^[8]

Block competed in the 2008 Rally America National championship, which concluded on October 17, 2008. In the event, he finished second overall with a strong victory in the last event. In the Lake Superior Performance Rally stage, Block finished over one minute ahead of his next closest competitor and secured the second overall position.^[9] Next up for Block this rally season is three World Rally Championship events.^[4]

2009[link]

Block appeared in a segment of motoring show Top Gear.^[10]

2010[link]

Ken Block testing Ford Fiesta for the 2010 Rally America season

Block driving a Ford Focus RS WRC at the 2010 Rallye de France

On January 6, 2010 the Monster World Rally Team announced Ken as their driver for selected rounds of the World Rally Championship, in which he will be campaigning the Monster/Ford Racing Focus RS WRC 08. His car will be prepared and run by the North of England based M-Sport, who also prepare the official Ford WRC cars. He will be simultaneously running in his sixth season of the Rally America Championship in an open class Ford Fiesta, as well as his fifth X-games. Ken will also be the first ever American driver to campaign for the World Rally Championship. On February 27, Block won the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood (Rally America) for the 5th consecutive time. This broke the record held by John Buffum.^[11] Ken is currently being trained by former Ford factory driver Markko Märtin. At the Spain rally, he won his first 2 points in World Rally Championship.

2011[link]

On March 23, Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were taken to hospital, having rolled their Ford Fiesta RS WRC during the shakedown stage of the 2011 Rally de Portugal in Faro, Portugal.^[12] A representative of the Monster World Rally team later stated that both men were fine.^[13]

Complete Rally America results[link]

(key)

Complete WRC results[link]

* Season in progress.

PWRC results[link]

Other motorsport activities[link]

On October 15, 2009, it was reported that Block was close to a deal to join the World Rally Championship in a new Ford team. Long time co-driver Alex Gelsomino is also reportedly involved in the deal. Former Subaru WRC driver Chris Atkinson has been reported to be lined up as Block's team-mate in the all-new Monster Energy Drink Ford World Rally Team.^[14]

In 2005, Ken Block along with his DC Shoes associates participated in the Gumball 3000 Rally. For the event they sent out three modified 2004 Subaru WRX STi's sponsored by DC Shoes.^[15][16]

In 2006, Ken Block competed in the One Lap of America competition along with Brian Scotto. They were teamed up in a 2006 Subaru WRX STi and finished forty-fifth overall.^[17]

In 2006, for the Discovery Channel show Stunt Junkies, Ken Block jumped his Subaru WRX STi rally car 171 feet (52 m) and a max height of 25 feet (7.6 m).^[3] The whole episode was dedicated to Ken Block attempting this stunt.

In 2007, Ken Block joined the DC Shoes Snowboarding team at New Zealand's Snow Park.^[3] Block did massive jumps and assisted in snowboarding tricks while driving his rally car on the mountain alongside the snowboarders. The session made the cover of the December 2007 issue of Snowboarder Magazine and closed out the MTN.LAB 1.5 DVD.^[3]

In 2009, for the BBC show Top Gear, Ken took James May out for Gymkhana-style driving at Block's stunt course at Inyokern Airport, an operational California airport, also starring Ricky Carmichael, whom Ken describes as 'a good friend'.

In 2010, for the BBC show Top Gear, Ken took the feature car from the previous episode (a Reliant Robin) for a lap of the Top Gear test track. He rolled the car and was unable to complete a lap but was unhurt.

On January 6, 2010, the announcement is made as Ken joins up with Ford and begins his WRC career driving both a Ford Fiesta and Focus RS WRC.

On August 24, 2010, Block released the first of a three part Gymkhana 3 video release featuring his new Ford Fiesta.^[18]

Ken Block also holds the world record for the world's fastest snow cat, a modified Subaru STI called a Trax STI.^{[citation needed]}

On September 14, 2010, Block's third Gymkhana video, featuring a Ford Fiesta, was released on YouTube.^[19] The video got more than seven million views in its first week.

On August 16, 2011, the fourth Gymkhana video, The Hollywood Megamercial was released on YouTube, featuring Block driving around the Universal Studios backlot.^[20]

Involvement In Colin McRae: Dirt 2 and Dirt 3[link]

Ken Block is featured as a driver in Codemasters Colin McRae: Dirt 2, along with his Subaru Rally Team USA Impreza.
In Dirt 3 he is seen as a driver and Gymkhana teacher, his Monster World Rally Team vehicles are available in the game.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ken Block

• Ken Block's Official site
• Monster World Rally Team
• Rally Results and News
• Subaru Rally Team USA
• Rally America Website
• Ken Block Official Merchandise Store
• Ken Block Interview
• Gymkhana racing improved by Ken Block, Video, ~4min
• dirt2game.com

Serge Ibaka

Ibaka (Left) in action for the Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 9 – Oklahoma City Thunder
Power forward
Personal information
Born	(1989-09-18) September 18, 1989 (age 22) Brazzaville, People's Republic of the Congo
Nationality	Congolese/Spanish
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics
Pro career	2007–present
Career history
2007–2008	CB L'Hospitalet (Spain)
2008–2009	Ricoh Manresa (Spain)
2009–present	Oklahoma City Thunder
2011	Real Madrid (Spain)
Career highlights and awards
NBA All-Defensive First Team (2012) NBA blocks leader (2012)
Stats at NBA.com
Medals Medal record Competitor for  Spain Men's Basketball FIBA European Championship Gold 2011 Lithuania National Team

Serge Jonas Ibaka Ngobila^[1][2] (born September 18, 1989), commonly referred to as Serge Ibaka, is a Congolese-Spanish professional basketball player, playing the power forward position for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the NBA. Ibaka was drafted by the Thunder's former incarnation, the Seattle SuperSonics with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He is referred to as Air Congo by his teammates.^[3] Serge is the third youngest among eighteen siblings.^[4] Although born in the Republic of the Congo, Ibaka represents Spain in international competition.

Early life[link]

Ibaka was born in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. Both his mother and his father were basketball players. His father played at the Republic of Congo and with the Congolese national team, and his mother played for the Democratic Republic of Congo. He started playing basketball at a very young age with his first club, Avenir du Rail, using the sport as an escape amongst his mother's untimely death and his father's imprisonment during the Second Congo War.^[5]

Ibaka moved to Spain as a teenager and soon found himself playing with several junior basketball clubs, most notably CB L'Hospitalet, with which he won several tournaments.

NBA career[link]

Transition to the NBA[link]

He was selected by the Seattle Supersonics with the 24th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He became the first player from the Republic of Congo to be selected in the draft, although the Oklahoma City Thunder (the team that inherited the Sonics' place in the NBA) agreed to keep him in Europe. He then signed a three year contract with Ricoh Manresa from the ACB League in Spain, keeping the option to leave for the NBA after each season. In the ACB, he averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1 block in 16 minutes per game.

In July 2009, the Oklahoma City Thunder paid the buyout, and signed him to a two year contract with two more optional seasons.

Ibaka, who spoke no English when he first arrived in the NBA, depended on the help of summer league teammate Moses Ehambe to translate for him.^[6] After a lengthy, dedicated year of learning English in addition to the NBA game, Ibaka now speaks a total of five languages: Lingala (native language), French, Catalan, English and Spanish.^[7]

Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–present)[link]

Although coming to the NBA as a raw talent, Ibaka has managed to become a starter in the Thunder rotation. Ibaka is often used for his energy in the paint, whether on defense or rebounding. In his first NBA season, Ibaka played 18.1 minutes per game in 73 games, averaging 6.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. His blocks average led all rookies in the 2009–2010 season, and he ranked number 20 overall. In the first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers, he played in 6 games, averaging 25.5 minutes, 7.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. His 7 blocks in game two in Los Angeles was a record (youngest player to have 7 blocks in playoff game).

On February 19, 2011, Serge Ibaka participated in the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.^[8] He began the contest with a dunk from the free-throw line. In the second round, Ibaka grabbed a stuffed animal from the rim with his mouth and dunked in one motion.

During 2011 NBA lockout he signed a two-month contract with Real Madrid in Spain with an option to return to the NBA at the end of the lockout.^[9][10] Over 6 games in the Euroleague, he averaged 5.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2 blocks in 15 minutes per game.^[11]

After the lockout, Ibaka returned to the NBA after playing in Spain. On February 19, 2012, he recorded his first career triple-double against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 14 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and getting a career-high 11 blocks. Ibaka became the first player in franchise history to record a triple-double with double-digit blocks.^[12] He played all 66 games in the shortened season as a starter, averaging the most blocks in the league, 3.6 per game. In voting for the Defensive Player of the Year, he finished second, in front of Orlando's Dwight Howard, who had won the award each of the previous three seasons, but behind Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks.^[13]

Spanish national team[link]

Ibaka in action for the Spain national basketball team

Internationally, Ibaka plays for the Spain national basketball team as he was granted Spanish citizenship on July 15, 2011.^[14] His team won the gold medal in the Eurobasket 2011, beating France in the final by a score of 98–85.

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

See also[link]

• List of National Basketball Association players with 10 or more blocks in a game

References[link]

External links[link]

• Highlights from a Spanish junior tournament on YouTube
• Serge Ibaka at Adidas Nations on YouTube
• Serge Ibaka wins the 2008 ACB Concurso de mates (Dunk contest)
• NBADraft.net Profile
• DraftExpress Profile

Alonzo Mourning

No. 33
Center
Personal information
Born	(1970-02-08) February 8, 1970 (age 42) Chesapeake, Virginia
High school	Indian River High School
Listed height	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight	261 lb (118 kg)
Career information
College	Georgetown (1988–1992)
NBA Draft	1992 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Charlotte Hornets
Pro career	1992–2008
Career history
1992–1995	Charlotte Hornets
1995–2002	Miami Heat
2003–2004	New Jersey Nets
2005–2008	Miami Heat
Career highlights and awards
NBA Champion (2006) 7× NBA All-Star (1994–1997, 2000–2002) 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1999–2000) All-NBA First Team (1999) All-NBA Second Team (2000) 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1999–2000) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1993) J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2002) Big East Conference Player of the Year (1992) Consensus NCAA All-American First Team (1992) Consensus NCAA All-American Second Team (1990) #33 Retired by the Miami Heat
Career statistics
Points	14,311 (17.1 ppg)
Rebounds	7,137 (8.5 rpg)
Blocks	2,356 (2.8 bpg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Medals Men’s basketball Competitor for  United States Summer Olympics Gold 2000 Sydney United States FIBA World Championships Bronze 1990 Argentina United States Gold 1994 Canada United States Goodwill Games Silver 1990 Seattle United States

Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. (born February 8, 1970) is a former American professional basketball player, who played most of his 15-year NBA career for the Miami Heat.

Nicknamed "Zo", Mourning played at center. His tenacity on defense twice earned him NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and perennially placed him on the NBA All-Defensive Team. He made a comeback after undergoing a kidney transplant and later won his only NBA Championship with the Heat. He has also played for the Charlotte Hornets and New Jersey Nets. On March 30, 2009, Mourning became the first Miami Heat player to have his number retired.^[1]

Basketball career[link]

Early career[link]

During his time at Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, he led the team to 51 straight victories and a state title his junior year (1987). As a senior he averaged 25 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocked shots a game. He was named Player of the Year by USA Today, Parade, Gatorade, and Naismith. Mourning played college basketball for the Georgetown University Hoyas. He led the nation in blocked shots his freshman year and was an All American his last year there.

Charlotte Hornets[link]

Mourning was selected second overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, behind Shaquille O'Neal. Mourning was named to the league's all-rookie team in 1993 after averaging 21.0 pts, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.47 blocks. He finished second to Shaquille O'Neal in rookie of the year voting. He posted the highest scoring average of any rookie in Hornets history. Mourning and O'Neal were the first NBA rookies since David Robinson in 1989–90 to average 20 or more points and 10-plus rebounds in their first seasons. Mourning shattered Charlotte's blocked-shots records, becoming the Hornets' all-time career leader in the 49th game of the season. The greatest moment of Mourning's rookie season came on May 5, 1993 in Game 4 of a first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics. His 20-footer at the buzzer gave the Hornets a 104–103 victory in the game and a three-games-to-one victory in the series.

In the 1994–95 season, Mourning and teammate Larry Johnson led the Hornets to a 50-win season and took them to the playoffs. Mourning ranked first on the team in scoring (21.3 ppg), rebounding (9.9 rpg), blocked shots (2.92 per game), and field goal percentage (.519).

Miami Heat[link]

Friction with Johnson and contract issues forced a change, so after three years in Charlotte, he was traded to Miami Heat, where he played for the Heat for the next seven seasons, including highlights such as signing a $105 million contract with the Miami Heat in 1996.^[2] He was the centerpiece of the Pat Riley-coached Heat, averaging close to 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, and dominating the paint with his intimidating shot-blocking. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award twice during this period and was named into the All-NBA First Team after leading the Heat in scoring (20.1 ppg), field-goal percentage (.511), rebounds (11.0), blocked shots (3.9) during the 1998–99 NBA season. He and Tim Hardaway led the Heat into the 1997 playoffs, where the rivalry between the Heat and the New York Knicks intensified. The Heat and Knicks faced off in the conference semifinals that year and the Knicks led 3 games to 1, but the Heat were able to overcome the deficit and win the series to advance to their first conference finals. The series was marked by a brawl in the fifth game in which multiple suspensions were handed down.

In the next round, with the Heat down 3–0 to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, Mourning guaranteed a victory in Game 4.^{[citation needed]} The Heat won the Game 87–80 but lost the series in five games. The next season, Miami would be eliminated in the first round by the Knicks, a series in which Mourning was suspended for the 5th and deciding game due to an on-court fight with ex-teammate Larry Johnson, and Knicks Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy hung onto Mourning's leg in an attempt to break it up. Miami would also be eliminated by the Knicks in the playoffs the following two seasons.

In 2000, Miami underwent an overhaul to attempt to put together the pieces to win a championship, and expectations leading up to the season were high. However, prior the start of the 2000–01 season, Mourning was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a disease of the kidneys, that had caused him to miss the first five months of that season. Even after the diagnosis, Mourning returned and played in the 2002 NBA All-Star Game. Because his condition worsened, Mourning did not play during the entire 2002–03 season and his expiring contract was not renewed by the rebuilding Heat.

New Jersey Nets[link]

As a free agent, in 2003 he signed a four-year deal with the New Jersey Nets. But on November 25, 2003 Mourning retired from the NBA due to complications from his kidney disease. On December 19 of that year he underwent a successful kidney transplant. In 2004, he started practicing with the Nets again, and made the team's regular season roster during the 2004–05 season. However, he did not play a significant role with the Nets and openly complained to the media that he wanted out of New Jersey, especially after the team traded away Kenyon Martin.^[3] Mourning was traded to the Toronto Raptors on December 17, 2004. Mourning never reported to the Raptors and was bought out of his contract, at a remaining 9 million dollars, on February 11, 2005. Raptors team officials later said that he did not meet the medical conditions to play for the team.^[4][5] Mourning then finished the season with the Miami Heat being paid a second salary, the veteran's minimum.^[6]

Back with the Heat[link]

After being unhappy at the prospect of playing for a losing franchise,^{[citation needed]} Mourning re-signed with the Heat on March 1, 2005. His role was reduced as a backup because of superstar Shaquille O'Neal, although he was called upon as a starter due to O'Neal missing stretches due to injury. O'Neal and Mourning even played together on the court at times, with Mourning playing power forward. Because of physical limitations, his minutes were reduced, but was still a steady contributor. Mourning's tenacious defense, steady offense, and all around hustle helped the Heat gain and maintain the second-best record in the NBA's Eastern conference during the 2005–06 season; his intensity had earned him the nickname "The Ultimate Warrior" amongst Miami Heat fans.^{[citation needed]} Mourning finished the regular season ranking third in blocked shots at 2.66 per game, despite only playing 20 minutes per contest.

The Miami Heat and Mourning finally won the NBA Championship in the 2006 NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4 games to 2. Although he was used as a reserve center behind Shaquille O'Neal during the Finals, he contributed 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the decisive Game 6 of the series and was a strong force throughout.

After winning the championship, Mourning announced that he would return to the Heat in 2006–07 to defend their title, despite receiving offers of more money from other teams, including the San Antonio Spurs. In 2007, Mourning announced he would return for one more year with the Heat and his 15th season. "It will definitely be my last year", Mourning said. After starting the season on a solid note averaging 6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.75 blocks in just over 16 played per 24 games,^[7] Mourning tore his patellar tendon in his right knee^[8] on December 19, 2007, during the first quarter of a loss in Atlanta.^[9][10] The injury, which occurred on the fourth anniversary of his successful kidney transplant, was said^[who?] to be career-threatening, but rumors persisted^[who?] about a return come the 2008–09 season, and Mourning himself said that this wasn't the way he wanted to end his career considering all he had been through already.

Mourning has averaged the most blocks in the NBA per 48 minutes with 5.46.

During the 2007–08 season, he became the Heat's all-time leader in points scored.

Retirement[link]

Mourning announced his retirement from the NBA on January 22, 2009. In his press conference he said "I'm 38 years old and I feel like I have physically done all I can for this game."^{[citation needed]}

On February 28, 2009, the Miami Heat announced they would retire Mourning's number 33 jersey, making him the first Heat player to be so honored.^[11]

The jersey retirement ceremony occurred on March 30, 2009, when the Heat hosted the Orlando Magic. During the extended halftime ceremony, Mourning was introduced by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, former Georgetown University basketball coach John Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing, current Heat players Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem and Heat Head Coach Pat Riley.

In May 2009, he was named to the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, which honors athletes, coaches and administrators who contributed to sports in southeastern Virginia.

On June 26, 2009, Mourning announced that he is returning to the Heat as the Vice President of Player Programs and Development. He will also mentor young players.^[12]

In April 2010, Mourning was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding high school, collegiate, and professional career as well as his commitment to volunteer service in the communities in which he has lived and worked throughout his life. [2]

Career highlights[link]

• NBA Champion: 2006
• All-NBA First Team: 1999
• All-NBA Second Team: 2000
• 2-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year: 1999, 2000
• 2-time NBA All-Defensive First Team: 1999, 2000
• 7-time NBA All-Star: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002
• Heat Franchise 2nd Leading Scorer with 9,459 points
• Led NBA in blocked shots: 3.91 bpg in 1999
• NBA All-Rookie 1st Team in 1993
• Won bronze at the 1990 FIBA World Championship with the US national team^[13]
• Won gold at the 1994 FIBA World Championship^[14] and the 2000 Olympic Games with the US national team

Kidney transplant[link]

On November 25, 2003, Mourning's cousin and a retired U. S. Marine, Jason Cooper, was visiting Mourning's gravely ill grandmother in the hospital. Mourning's father was present and informed Cooper that Mourning was retiring that very same day from the NBA because of a life-threatening kidney disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, the same problem that Sean Elliott had in 1999. Cooper asked if there was anything he could do, and began to contemplate donating one of his kidneys to his estranged cousin, whom he had not seen in 25 years and whom he only knew through basketball. Cooper was tested for compatibility, along with many other family members and friends (including fellow NBA center and good friend Patrick Ewing); during his grandmother's funeral, Mourning received the news that Jason Cooper was a match.

Mourning received Cooper's left kidney on December 19, 2003.

Charitable work[link]

In 1997, Mourning established Alonzo Mourning Charities Inc. to aid in the development of children and families living in at-risk situations and provides support and services that enhance the lives of youth of promise.

After being diagnosed with focal glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), Mourning launched Zo's Fund for Life, a campaign which seeks to raise funds for research, education, and testing to fight focal glomerulosclerosis. Funds are allocated toward research for a cure, education for doctors and the general public, testing for early detection and a fund for those not able to afford medication.

In 2007, Mourning along with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Mia Hamm, Jeff Gordon, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, and Cal Ripken, Jr. founded Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization, which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community.^[15]

In 2003 he has also founded the overtown Youth Center for underprivileged kids, located in Miami, Florida. The program aims to inspire, empower, and enrich these children while teaching them to become positive contributing citizens.

In 2009, the Miami-Dade school board named a new high school in North Miami, Florida in his honor, Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High Biscayne Bay Campus.

Personal life[link]

Mourning and his wife Tracy have three children: a son named Alonzo III ("Trey"), a daughter named Myka Sydney, and a second son named Alijah (born September 18, 2009).^[16]

In July 2011 Mourning was sued by Miami, Florida lawyer Spencer Aronfeld on behalf of Alberto Candoleria for crashing his car into another car and then leaving the scene of the accident. The Florida Highway Patrol later charged Mourning with leaving the scene of a car accident. The accident allegedly occurred after he left Chris Bosh's wedding in Miami Beach after 3:00 A.M. Candoleria had just been in an accident when Mourning struck his car. He did not know if he was in his car when Mourning hit him as he claimed to have amnesia.^{[17] [18] [19]}

Mourning lives in Coral Gables.^[20]

NBA career statistics[link]

Regular season[link]

Playoffs[link]

See also[link]

• List of National Basketball Association career blocks leaders
• List of National Basketball Association career playoff blocks leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career blocks leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career free throw scoring leaders
• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds

References[link]

External links[link]

• Alonzo Mourning historical page at NBA.com
• Alonzo Mourning at Basketball-Reference.com
• Alonzo Mourning at DatabaseBasketball.com
• Athletes for Hope
• Alonzo Mourning Charities