MIAMI (WSVN) — Alonzo Mourning and Queen Latifah surprised many South Florida families with a Thanksgiving meal.

The former Miami Heat all-star went door-to-door in Miami, Thursday, delivering 20 families a Thanksgiving meal.

Publix donated the meals that were able to be given out to those families in need. “With the state of our economy, you have individuals that are out of work, that have lost their homes and a lot of them don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” said Mourning.

Joining Mourning in handed out food was Queen Latifah. “Coach called me up and said this is what we are doing and I know how much he cares about the community, how much he does so this is a blessing for us really, to be able to do this,” said Latifah.

The families were selected through Mourning’s Overtown Youth Center.

Jacqueline Haggins, a recipient of a Thanksgiving meal to give to her eight kids, was speechless. “I really can’t get the words out,” said Haggins.

Warnisha Hall, one of Haggin’s daughters, was also surprised to see Mourning and Latifah at her door. “I was shocked, because I didn’t know she was coming,” said Hall.

Mourning and volunteers have been giving out meals for families in Miami since Tuesday, and has made it an annual event for the past 11 years.

(Copyright 2011 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

MIAMI (WSVN) — The Miami Heat is showing its support for Habitat for Humanity by sending some major ambassadors from their team to help build a pair of homes in South Florida.

Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning and Heat president Pat Riley rolled up their sleeves to help build affordable homes for low income families. On Friday, crews focused on framing and window reinforcement on two Habitat homes located at 18th Avenue and Northwest 63rd Street. One of the homes belongs to Latoya. She said, “This is a wonderful experience, as far as you get to meet new people, you get to participate in the construction of your home, and it’s just an unexplainable feeling.”

Miami Heat president Pat Riley said he is no stranger to using his hands to build things. “I used to build tables, coffee tables, end tables,” he said. 

Both Mourning and Riley put in sweat equity for two families who have finally realized their dream of home ownership. “It’s a special moment, anytime we have the opportunity to help change someone else’s life for the better,” said Mourning, “and I’m a strong believer that the reason why God blesses us is to bless others.”

Both homes are expected to be completed within the next three months.

(Copyright 2011 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Qualifier: players will be classified under one position even if they played at more than one.

Alonzo Mourning(notes):

Two-time Defensive Player of the Year Alonzo Mourning was the face of the Miami Heat from 1995 to 2002. Mourning holds Heat franchise records for rebounds (4,807), blocks (1,625) and games played (593) and he was also Miami’s all-time leading scorer with 9,459 points before Dwyane Wade(notes) established a new high. The acquisition of Mourning as well as that of Tim Hardaway jump-started a young Heat franchise and catapulted it into the upper-echelon of the NBA. Mourning’s Heat won four straight division titles and established a franchise record with 61 wins in a single season. He finished his career in 2008 with totals of 14,311 points, 7,137 rebounds and 2,356 blocks.

Shaquille O’Neal(notes):

Perennial All-Star center Shaquille O’Neal lifted the Heat to their first and only NBA Championship in 2006. The Heat acquired O’Neal in 2004 and enjoyed the last two 20 point per game seasons of his career. Shaq averaged 19.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 205 games and earned his last two All-NBA First Team selections in Miami. He retired after the 2010-11 campaign with final tallies of 28,596 points, 13,099 rebounds, 3,026 assists and 2,732 blocks.

Rony Seikaly:

The first draft pick in team history, Rony Seikaly was a double-double machine for the Heat from 1988 to 1994. Before Mourning overtook him, Seikaly owned Miami’s all-time rebounding and shot-blocking records with 4,544 and 610 respectively. He won the Most Improved Player award in 1989-90 in the first of five straight double-double campaigns, playing a huge role in Miami’s quick rise from 15 wins in year one to a playoff berth in year four. Seikaly averaged 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game over the Heat’s first six seasons as a franchise.

Kevin Willis:

Former All-Star center Kevin Willis spent parts of two seasons with Miami in the mid-1990s. Willis bridged the gap from Seikaly to Mourning in the paint for the Heat. He played the last double-double season of his career in Miami and averaged 14.2 points and 10.0 rebounds overall in 112 games. One of the longest-tenured players in NBA history, Willis played 1,424 games from 1984 to 2007 and amassed 17,253 points and 11,901 rebounds.

Jermaine O’Neal(notes):

Current Boston Celtics center Jermaine O’Neal had a brief run with the Heat before joining his current franchise. O’Neal was a six-time All-Star for the Indiana Pacers, then briefly played for the Toronto Raptors before joining the Heat in a midseason trade in 2009. He recorded 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 97 games with Miami. O’Neal ranks seventh among active players in blocks with 1,659 through 886 games.

Sources:

Miami Heat Franchise Index, Basketball-Reference.com

More from this contributor:

Miami Heat top five power forwards

Miami Heat top five small forwards

Miami Heat top five shooting guards

Miami Heat top five point guards

Los Angeles Lakers top five centers

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‘Zo claims total innocence in the matter, but the Florida Highway Patrol doesn’t seem to agree, and they’ve charged the Miami Heat exec with leaving the scene of a car accident. From the Herald: “Former Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, a second-degree misdemeanor, for his part in a traffic crash last week, the Florida Highway Patrol said Monday. He also was cited for failure to leave his driving and contact information, FHP said. ‘Our investigation is complete,’ FHP spokesman Sgt. Thomas Pikul said … The announcement doesn’t close the case. The charges against Mourning will move into court, where Mourning can plead or fight the charges. He also remains one of several people named in a civil suit filed on behalf of the man whose car he hit.”

MIAMI — —

Miami Heat executive Alonzo Mourning was cited on Monday by the Florida Highway Patrol for leaving the scene of a crash, a misdemeanor, earlier this month.

The retired basketball star was driving west at 3:07 a.m. July 17 on State Road 112 at Biscayne Boulevard in Miami. The road was obstructed by a previous crash between an Audi A4 and a Chevrolet Impala that Mourning came upon with his wife Tracy, according to a Highway Patrol report.

The report said the car driven by Mourning, 41, of Coral Gables, struck the Audi that had been driven by William Candalerio, 21, of North Miami. Mourning’s 2010 Porsche Panamera S had an estimated $10,000 in damage.

Candalerio’s car had an estimated $11,000 in total damage: $6,000 from the first crash with the Chevy, and $5,000 from Mourning’s Porsche, Sgt. Thomas Pikul of the Highway Patrol said.

Mourning got out of his car and checked on Candalerio and the driver of the Chevy, the report states. He left the scene, notified the Highway Patrol about the incident and was told to return to the crash site, according to the agency.

Alcohol was not a factor in either crash, investigators said.

In addition to the misdemeanor charge, Mourning was cited for leaving the scene without giving information, which could mean a fine and points on his license, Pikul said. He will receive a notice to appear in court before a hearing officer.

Candalerio was cited for careless driving in the first crash, an infraction that can bring a fine or enrollment in traffic school. Pikul said he can also request a court hearing.

A personal injury lawyer for Candalerio announced last week that he was suing Mourning for negligence.

“On behalf of Mr. Candalerio, we are doing our own investigation and accident reconstruction as to what happened,” attorney Spencer Aronfeld said. “The charge against him is irrelevant and inadmissible in a civil lawsuit.”

Aronfeld said he is seeking witnesses to the incident.

“We’re not trying to destroy Mr. Mourning’s reputation,” Aronfeld said. “We respect him and recognize he is an important part of South Florida’s community.”

The Chevy driver, Sony Desir, of North Miami Beach, was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital and released the same morning, Pikul said, and he was not cited in the crash with Candalerio.

Neither Candalerio nor Mourning was treated for crash injuries by responders to the scene, Pikul said.

Aronfeld said Candalerio, a student, was treated at Aventura Hospital and has returned to classes and his job at a book store.

An attorney for Mourning could not immediately be reached for comment.

ltrischitta@tribune.com or 954-356-4233