Kidney Disease

It could be far worse, John Thompson was saying, if Alonzo Mourning were to "sit back and waste his life worrying. " That is why, once Thompson - who coached Mourning at Georgetown - had a private conversation with Mourning's doctor, he felt comfortable seeing Mourning return to the Miami Heat. Mourning missed the first 69 games of the season with a kidney disease. He scored 20 points and took 16 rebounds in an intense, 83-81 victory over the 76ers last night in his eighth, and finest, appearance.

Allen Iverson was an incredible burst of energy flashing through American Airlines Arena, the 76ers' incredible 6-foot whippet at times mesmerizing not only the sellout crowd of 20,098, but even the Miami Heat. At the same time, the Heat's hulking Alonzo Mourning - a profile in courage - was waging a dual war: himself vs. a kidney disease that stole the first 69 games of his season and still threatens his career and health; himself vs. the game, unfurling his finest performance since his return.

Sixers center Theo Ratliff earned some extra cash yesterday, but that was hardly his primary focus when he learned he had been one of the seven reserves selected by the Eastern Conference coaches for the Feb. 11 All-Star Game in Washington. It is believed that Ratliff's contract includes a $1 million bonus for making the All-Star team, and that he can earn another $1 million based on the Sixers' final victory total. Commissioner David Stern will name replacements for East starters Grant Hill, of Orlando, and Alonzo Mourning, of Miami, but Sixers coach Larry Brown - as the East coach - will select the replacement starters.

Miami's Alonzo Mourning, who leads all Eastern Conference centers in voting for the NBA All-Star Game, hasn't ruled out playing in the game despite being sidelined with a kidney disease. "For some miraculous reason if I'm able to play, I will play," Mourning said last night. "But it doesn't look like I'll be able to play. " Speaking to Miami's WAMI, Mourning said, "I feel good. The doctors say I'm progressing fine. " Mourning, diagnosed with a kidney disease in early October, is in the middle of a six-month treatment program and is taking medications to stop his kidneys from leaking proteins.

Alonzo Mourning was on the sideline watching the University of Miami's football team pummel Virginia Tech at the Orange Bowl two Saturdays ago. The Miami Heat's 6-10 center, out for the season as he battles a kidney disease, was on the bench in street clothes that same evening, watching his team lose to the 76ers. But that is all Mourning can do, watch and be supportive. And no one knows better than Heat coach and president Pat Riley that the players and staff have to focus on the job at hand, somehow finding a balance with their feelings for Mourning.

This is one time Alonzo Mourning can't help himself with his massive defensive ability. He can't block this shot. He can't intimidate kidney disease. He can't simply send it back where it came from. But cooler, more patient heads can dispel Shaquille O'Neal's recent, emotion-driven theory that Mourning's case of focal glomerulosclerosis was necessarily brought on by chronic use of anti-inflammatories. Mourning, the Miami Heat center and the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year the last two seasons, has been declared out for the season after the kidney condition was detected in a routine preseason physical examination.

The new tattoo high on Matt Geiger's right arm, just below the shoulder, reads "The Time Is Now. " The 76ers' backup center, starting his second season in succession on the injured list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, says "They're just words. " He declines to say whether they have a special meaning. The message, though, could be that Geiger is eager to start contributing the way he believes he can. He missed the first 17 games of last season, then never really found his niche, struggling with inconsistency and a lack of conditioning.

Alonzo Mourning walked into the AmericanAirlines Arena conference room, grinning widely, looking healthy and happy. His facial expression and demeanor belied the news that followed. The Miami Heat announced yesterday that Mourning, the team's All-Star center and one of the NBA's top players, who just helped the United States win gold at the Olympics, will miss this season to concentrate on his battle with a kidney disease that eventually requires a transplant or dialysis in about half the documented cases.

Kidney cancer isn't one of the biggies. No pink lapel ribbons, as for breast cancer. No U.S. postage stamps, like prostate cancer. Not even a national awareness day - the Great American Smokeout - like lung cancer. Raising awareness about this disease is one reason that Brad Shelly, a survivor for 10 years, is riding his bike 400 miles across northern Pennsylvania. He pushes off today. "Kidney cancer is not well-known. Occurrence is relatively low, which means very little funds are available for kidney cancer research," he said.

Figuratively, the void left this month by the death of longtime District Justice Michael J. Manto can never be filled, those who knew him say. But professionally, the vacancy in the Lower Bucks County court created by Manto's passing will be filled by someone appointed by Gov. Ridge. Under state law, the governor has 90 days from May 14 - the date of Manto's death - to submit to the Senate his choice to fill the seat. The Senate then has 25 work days to accept or reject the nomination.