Mourning Not Recognized, Yet

The fanfare that accompanied Alonzo Mourning’s arrival in Miami failed to reach the sandwich shop where he had lunch prior to his first game with the Heat.

“A couple of people asked me if I played basketball,” Mourning said with a smile. “I said, ‘Sometimes.’ “

Not everyone in Miami has Heat fever, but it’s spreading. A capacity crowd of 15,200 cheered as Mourning and coach Pat Riley made successful debuts Saturday night with the Heat, who beat Cleveland 85-71.

The final 2,000 tickets were sold after Riley swung a six-player trade Friday to acquire Mourning from the Charlotte Hornets. The new coach and new center received standing ovations when introduced before the game.

“These nights just make you feel alive,” Riley said.

Mourning played 33 minutes even though he knew only a few plays. The two-time All-Star scored 15 points and blocked five shots, but he also had six turnovers, committed five fouls and shot an air ball.

“I’m a little disappointed in the way I played,” he said. “But it’s going to come.”

Mourning made an immediate impact on the Heat’s defense, which tied a team record by allowing only 71 points - 24 in the second half. Cleveland’s centers scored eight points.

“They are going to be a good team with Mourning in there,” Cavaliers forward Tyrone Hill said. “They’re a whole lot tougher.”

They’re watching

Because there has been a marked increase of, shall we say, physicality, to the Heat’s game since Riley took over, the league is alert.

“If we have a problem … then the coach is held accountable,” NBA sheriff Rod Thorn said in more or less of a warning.

The problem is something like this: Riley has a team rule that his players will be fined $1,500 for helping an opposing player up off the floor.

Glen Rice reached out to fallen Minnesota guard Jerome Allen in a preseason game and remembered just in time, snatching the hand back from a perplexed Allen.

“I would have loved to help him up,” Rice said. “But it ain’t worth that much money.”

The world according to Rodman

Dennis Rodman, the Chicago Bulls forward with the funky hair, blew two chances to address the world last week.

Reporters from Japan, Poland, France and Croatia attended the Bulls’ tip-off luncheon Wednesday and were at the team’s practice the following day. Rodman took the opportunity to, among other things, rip Bulls center Luc Longley.

“In the preseason, you saw me get mad,” Rodman said. “People on this team are going to have to have the same attitude, like Luc Longley and guys who don’t have the fire.

“I don’t give a damn if Luc turns around and punches me in the face. If that’s what it is going to take to get him going, go right ahead. Hit me.”

Rodman, a product of Dallas South Oak Cliff, then said he and people from Chicago have kindred spirits.

“I am a throwback and a lot of people in Chicago are throwbacks,” Rodman said. “They work their butts off just to get a little bit and make themselves happy and proud.

“I think people see I am not a fake, a glitter-type guy. I am a guy who puts his heart and soul on the floor. I am a guy who likes to go out and break an arm and get his nose busted to win a basketball game.”

Not-so-great beginning

Bullets prized rookie Rasheed Wallace has already been fined three times - once by the league for clubbing the Bulls’ Luc Longley in the back of the head with a basketball during a preseason game. And twice by the Bullets.

Wallace was fined last week after failing to appear at the team’s luncheon, and not calling to tell anyone he couldn’t make it. Wallace later said he didn’t go to the luncheon because he didn’t have a ride. Team owner Abe Pollin unexpectedly attended the luncheon, magnifying Wallace’s faux pas.

Bullets coach Jim Lynam revealed that he also had fined Wallace earlier for being late to practice.

Geiger appeals fine

Center Matt Geiger, whose vicious chop across the elbows and shoulders apparently has caused Magic center Shaquille O’Neal to miss the first two months of the season, is appealing the $27,073.17 fine handed down by the league.

Rod Thorn said the one-game suspension without pay for Geiger, who was traded Friday from to Charlotte from Miami, was a result of O’Neal’s injury. But the video clearly shows that O’Neal was not injured by the Geiger chop.

Instead, Shaq caught his right thumb in his baggy uniform seconds after he was hit by Geiger, causing the ligament damage and fracture. Geiger, the video shows, only made contact with O’Neal between the elbows and shoulders.

Just what they need

Guard Hersey Hawkins is still puzzled that the Sonics traded for him, especially since they already seem to be loaded with players who do what he does best: shoot 3-pointers.

“They brought me here to help out, to hit the outside shot and play defense and do whatever it takes to make this team better,” Hawkins said. “That’s what I hope to do.”