Political Draft: 25 Athletes Who Need To Run For Office

Alonzo Mourning

Alonzo Mourning has one of my favorite names on Earth. He is a retired NBA center and former Georgetown Hoya. After a stellar NCAA career, he graduated with a degree in Sociology, and then played for the Charlotte Hornets, New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat until 2008. During that time, Mourning also played for the U.S. Olympic team.

But right in the middle of his career, in 2000, he found out he had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) during a routine doctor’s visit. FSGS causes scar tissues to grow on the kidneys. When that happens, they can no longer filter your blood like they’re supposed to. If it’s caught early enough, there are treatments, but it can still cause kidney failure. That’s what happened to Mourning, and he ended up having a life-saving kidney transplant. He went back to the NBA the very next season.

Since then, he’s been an active spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation. They raise money to diagnose, treat, and research all kinds of kidney diseases. In addition he and his wife back the the Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Scholarship Fund at Georgetown, to provide grants for “student-athletes with financial aid need and who are majoring in science or medical research.” Oh and he’s also one of the founders of Athletes for Hope.

His current day job is the Heat’s Vice President of Player Programs and Development. Mourning recently pitched for the Dove Men+Care product line campaign, telling Slam Online,

"We’re exemplifying what real strength is all about…. There’s so many different ways of showing your masculinity other than being aggressive and taking an aggressive approach…. I make an extreme emphasis on the characteristics of passion and love and caring and all those particular things—those words define strength."

A love for science and male sensitivity sounds like the perfect remedy right now. How about running for office in Florida, Mr. Mourning? Please?