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CNN Live Today

Interview With Oscar Dixon

Aired December 19, 2003 - 10:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Former New Jersey nets star Alonzo Mourning is due to undergo a kidney transplant today. This is less than a month after his health forced him to retire from the NBA. The former all-star will receive the kidney from an unidentified family member after receiving dozens of offers from prospective donors. The 33-year-old Mourning was an NBA All-Star seven times.
Joining us to talk more about the transplant and Alonzo Mourning, Oscar Dixon, "USA Today"'s pro basketball editor. Oscar, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

OSCAR DIXON, "USA TODAY": No problem. Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: We have known that Alonzo Mourning has been ill for about three years now. But it is amazing how quickly this has unfolded since he announced his retirement from the NBA and Nets.

DIXON: It was a sense of urgency from his doctor in terms of -- they said he needed a transplant within months or he would be going on dialysis as his health deteriorated. When he came back -- he took last season off and thought he would be able to come back and contribute with limited play in New Jersey.

KAGAN: And he has had the benefit of celebrity in dealing with this disease. Thousands of people are on a waiting list for a donor. When he announced that he needed a transplant perfect strangers came out of the woodworks and announced that they would give their kidney to somebody they didn't know. But we're hearing at least "The New York Times" is reporting it's a cousin who will be giving the organ today.

DIXON: We can't confirm that it's a cousin but is it definitely a family member. As far as kidney transplants go, he did not find a perfect match. If they found a perfect match and it was not a biological family member, then he could have gotten the surgery done.

With it being a family member, obviously you do not have to go on a waiting list. So I think that's why you see the rapid progression of someone being able to -- from having to have a transplant today.

KAGAN: The other benefit of celebrity, it brings the spotlight and calls attention to the very, very dire situation of people who are waiting for organ transplants and it raises the awareness so there is that. That does help those on the waiting list.

DIXON: I think in this case one of the things that Alonzo is going to bring into question is his celebrity as you point out. But because he's a foster child, well, people will question where his -- where this biological family member came out of the woodwork from.

But Alonzo has been very private about his biological family because he's a foster child. So you're right, if he wasn't a celebrity, if it wasn't Alonzo Mourning, I think had this come up and he was just an ordinary citizen this would not be an issue.

KAGAN: Now, just a sports note, the Nets had to eat his contract, $23 million, four years. They weren't able to get insurance on that. Even though he is retired, Alonzo Mourning says he might try to come back to the NBA. We saw Sean Elliott come back after being an organ donor.

DIXON: Exactly. And one of the things -- he is not a former Net. He is still on their roster, he is just on injured reserve which is the same status he had in Miami.

So he tried to play with an unhealthy kidney. If this turns out well, as you point out, Sean Elliott has proved you can do it. So if this kidney transplant is successful and his doctors give him a green light I'm sure people can look to see that Alonzo will try to attempt some type of come back.

KAGAN: I know there's lots of people -- a lot of people who are rooting for Zo, not just his family members but he has a lot of fans. One of the best. One of the big talents in the NBA.

DIXON: He's one of the good guys. His charity is down there, Alonozo'S Summer Grove. He's benefited homeless children. And he is one of the better -- the good guys in the league. So I think his fans and other people are just aware of the situation are pulling for him. Good holiday story. I hope everything turns out well for him.

KAGAN: Yes, we say, Go, Zo.

Oscar, thank you for that. Appreciate it.

DIXON: No problem.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired December 19, 2003 - 10:35   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Former New Jersey nets star Alonzo Mourning is due to undergo a kidney transplant today. This is less than a month after his health forced him to retire from the NBA. The former all-star will receive the kidney from an unidentified family member after receiving dozens of offers from prospective donors. The 33-year-old Mourning was an NBA All-Star seven times.
Joining us to talk more about the transplant and Alonzo Mourning, Oscar Dixon, "USA Today"'s pro basketball editor. Oscar, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

OSCAR DIXON, "USA TODAY": No problem. Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: We have known that Alonzo Mourning has been ill for about three years now. But it is amazing how quickly this has unfolded since he announced his retirement from the NBA and Nets.

DIXON: It was a sense of urgency from his doctor in terms of -- they said he needed a transplant within months or he would be going on dialysis as his health deteriorated. When he came back -- he took last season off and thought he would be able to come back and contribute with limited play in New Jersey.

KAGAN: And he has had the benefit of celebrity in dealing with this disease. Thousands of people are on a waiting list for a donor. When he announced that he needed a transplant perfect strangers came out of the woodworks and announced that they would give their kidney to somebody they didn't know. But we're hearing at least "The New York Times" is reporting it's a cousin who will be giving the organ today.

DIXON: We can't confirm that it's a cousin but is it definitely a family member. As far as kidney transplants go, he did not find a perfect match. If they found a perfect match and it was not a biological family member, then he could have gotten the surgery done.

With it being a family member, obviously you do not have to go on a waiting list. So I think that's why you see the rapid progression of someone being able to -- from having to have a transplant today.

KAGAN: The other benefit of celebrity, it brings the spotlight and calls attention to the very, very dire situation of people who are waiting for organ transplants and it raises the awareness so there is that. That does help those on the waiting list.

DIXON: I think in this case one of the things that Alonzo is going to bring into question is his celebrity as you point out. But because he's a foster child, well, people will question where his -- where this biological family member came out of the woodwork from.

But Alonzo has been very private about his biological family because he's a foster child. So you're right, if he wasn't a celebrity, if it wasn't Alonzo Mourning, I think had this come up and he was just an ordinary citizen this would not be an issue.

KAGAN: Now, just a sports note, the Nets had to eat his contract, $23 million, four years. They weren't able to get insurance on that. Even though he is retired, Alonzo Mourning says he might try to come back to the NBA. We saw Sean Elliott come back after being an organ donor.

DIXON: Exactly. And one of the things -- he is not a former Net. He is still on their roster, he is just on injured reserve which is the same status he had in Miami.

So he tried to play with an unhealthy kidney. If this turns out well, as you point out, Sean Elliott has proved you can do it. So if this kidney transplant is successful and his doctors give him a green light I'm sure people can look to see that Alonzo will try to attempt some type of come back.

KAGAN: I know there's lots of people -- a lot of people who are rooting for Zo, not just his family members but he has a lot of fans. One of the best. One of the big talents in the NBA.

DIXON: He's one of the good guys. His charity is down there, Alonozo'S Summer Grove. He's benefited homeless children. And he is one of the better -- the good guys in the league. So I think his fans and other people are just aware of the situation are pulling for him. Good holiday story. I hope everything turns out well for him.

KAGAN: Yes, we say, Go, Zo.

Oscar, thank you for that. Appreciate it.

DIXON: No problem.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com