How do you show real strength? NBA legend Alonzo Mourning feels that strength comes through care. It comes through nurturing. It comes from uplifting someone. It comes through leadership. It comes through in so many ways.
Alonzo and his wife, Tracy showed another way of caring by setting up the Mourning Family Foundation. They look to inspire others through advocacy, education, and enrichment services and allows donors with varied interests in children’s issues the benefit of giving to several charities from their one contribution. Since 1997, Mourning Family Foundation has raised over $20 million for various programs that aid in the development of children and their families, particularly those in socioeconomically challenged communities.
I was able to talk with Alonzo Mourning about how he shows real strength. From playing with his children to devoting time giving back to his community, the moments that have strengthened and shaped him.
Art Eddy: How do you show care to display real strength?
Alonzo Mourning: The work that I am doing is just to help people understand that the definition of strength isn’t the physical aspect of strength or being aggressive. Our fathers and grandfathers have told us to just suck it up and be a man. I think the true definition of strength comes through care. It comes through nurturing. It comes from uplifting someone. It comes through leadership. It comes through in so many ways.
I think that times have changed. The mentality of people has changed. I think of me growing up and not getting as many hugs and kisses from my father. Now with my own children I am hugging and kissing them. There is an evolution of how that has changed and how we look at strength.
AE: What is your take on the evolution of what a man is supposed to be from your time as a teenager to now as an adult?
AM: Because our kids have got to get it a lot sooner than we did is much more of a challenge. Because our kids are exposed to so much more, it is a lot more challenging to be a parent. You got so many other things teaching our kids. You have got to monitor that in so many ways. There are just a lot of challenges that go into that.
We are trying to make sure our kids grow up the right way. There are so many single parents out there. You talk about strength. Try and raise two or three kids on your own. I don’t see how they do it, especially if you don’t have the financial wherewithal. It is tough to have to work and then raise your child on your own, or two or three or whatever. Many of these kids because of your lack of steadiness of influence and you are only one person. You got to factor in fatigue. On top of all that you got to provide for your child. Something is going to get lost there. That is a true sign of strength. Being a single mom or dad is tough.
AE: What was the transition like for you from college to the NBA? What was the toughest challenge you faced your rookie year?
AM: The travel. The travel was overwhelming to tell you the truth. You are playing four games in five nights. It was overwhelming. It was all in different cities. Getting on and off the plane. Staying in different hotels and different climates. You were making sure that you were eating right all the time.
It was no joke. It was a shock to my body. It really was initially. I was a kid at that time. I was 22 years old. It let me know that this is the big leagues. This is why it is the big leagues. You got to perform at a high level every night. Every night it is someone different. I guess me averaging 20 points a game under those conditions spoke volumes of who I was and why I was ready to be a part of it.
AE: In 2006 you won an NBA Championship with the Miami Heat. You guys won even though you lost the first two games in that series. It was towards the end of your career. Did doubt start creeping in your mind after the Game 2 loss?
AM: Yeah, it is human to have some doubts after that. You are reading certain things. You are listening to people that are questioning whether you can do it or not. It also adds fuel to you. It really does. It motivates you. It puts you in a position to defy all odds. Overcome and not succumb to everyone else’s opinion.
We conjured up enough strength. We really did in ourselves and within our own group. We made it happen. Under the leadership at that time of Dwyane Wade who was playing out of this world. That is where it started.
AE: Besides the NBA Championship what about your NBA career do you take the most pride in?
AM: When I look back at my career obviously winning the Championship was great, but it was just the comradery. Just spending time with the guys. That is something that I treasure more than anything. Outside of that it was just being able to take care of my family. Working and playing the game that I love at a very high level and leaving my mark on the game. Obviously I was compensated well for it and I was able to take care of my family.
AE: Now switching to fatherhood, what are some of the morals you look to pass on to your children as they grow up?
AM: I came from a very giving family. I am the product of so many other people’s contributions. The reason why I am speaking with you today is because someone helped to contribute to my development as a person as well as a player. We run a huge foundation here down in South Florida. It is the Mourning Family Foundation. We provide mentoring, educated through an after school program, and follow them all the way up to the age of 25.
We are a very caring family. We are a very nurturing family. We understand the importance of giving. So I teach my kids the importance of giving. Give back and understand how blessed we are. There are a lot of people out there that are a lot less fortunate than we are. It is so important for us to help our kids understand that. It is not just about them. Regardless of how bad you think you got it, there are people out there who have it much worse.
AE: What is the biggest thing that has changed in your opinion from the time that you were a kid to now as your children grow up?
AM: I think the biggest thing that has changed now is technology. It has advanced so much that kids are dependent on that. We are so dependent on 
that. I think it takes away from a lot kid’s activities outside. That is disappointing to me. You have more and more kids that are in the house on the computers instead of being outside and active.
It is so discouraging. It really is. Kids want to stay inside. Back then for me we didn’t have 24 hour television. We only had a couple stations. It wasn’t really that entertaining to watch. You were outside entertaining yourself. You were climbing trees. You were running around. You were racing. You were playing sports. Now everybody is inside. You got over 100 channels. You have all these computers and games. It is hard to get kids outside anymore.
We live in South Florida, but kids don’t want to be outside. It is too hot. I don’t care how hot it was. You couldn’t get us in the house. We were outside playing. (Both laugh.) That just doesn’t happen anymore. It is just unfortunate.
AE: What advice do you have for new dads out there?
AM: One piece of advice that I always share with parents is never stop showing your love for your child. One day they are going to be out of the house. Always hug and kiss your kids. I just picked up my son from the airport. He is 18 years old. He is a freshman at Georgetown. I picked him up from the airport and I hugged him and I kissed him. Pretty soon they are gone. It is just a matter of you taking advantage of this opportunity and showing them how much you love them now. One day they will be out of the house.
Life of Dad Quick Five
AE: What is your favorite family movie you guys like to watch together?
AM: “Christmas Story.” That movie is hilarious. You can watch that over and over again.
AE: Do you guys have a favorite song that you all like to sing and dance to as a family?
AM: No we don’t. We don’t have a favorite song. We are a very soulful family. We like soul music, really good soul music.
AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.
AM: The beach. We are tropical people. The beach is the perfect family vacation. We spent some time in the Caribbean. We spent time in Jamaica. That is the perfect vacation.
AE: Who was your toughest guy to guard during your playing days?
AM: In college there really wasn’t one in particular. In the pros it was Hakeem Olajuwon. He was a tough cover. He was tough for me. He was very unpredictable.
AE: Did you have a favorite pair of kicks to play in?
AM: Back in the day the (Converse) Weapons were the shoe. Then I went to Nike Air Force. Those are the best, the Air Force Ones.
Follow Alonzo Mourning through his foundation’s Twitter handle @MourningFamily