Mourning

What do you think of the Heat trading for Shaq?
Mourning: "I think it's going to create a positive attitude towards the Heat and the organization, and generate new life for the team. Regardless of where Shaq decided to go, he was going to improve that organization immensely. I'm excited for Mickey Arison and Pat Riley, because myself and Tim Hardaway couldn't get it done while we were here, during our tenure, and this puts them back in the hunt. And it's not just Shaq, it's the talent around him. I think they'll put the right pieces in place around [Shaq]. It's going to be great; it'll provide increased revenue, with parking and attendance, as well as the businesses around here."

How did Zo's Summer Groove start and what does it stand for to you now?
Mourning: "Well, it's in its eighth year and it started with a dream of wanting to do a charity event that benefitted children. I wanted the funds to go towards uplifting and enhancing the lives of young people; all facets of their lives. I had an idea in my heart, but it developed through participating in Magic Johnson's event in Los Angeles. When you're doing good things, they just become contagious and that's why I started the event and it's just grown since then. I've been fortunate to surround myself with great people and a great staff, and all of the organizations around Miami and the South Florida area, including city officials, are really embracing it. It makes it that much easier. Right now, where it stands, we should raise over $3 million for local charities, including The Children's Home Society of Florida and 100 Black Men of South Florida, which provides mentorships for kids."

The game will be shown on NBA TV. What does this mean to you?
Mourning: "Oh man, it's really great. I think [the game will] be more competitive. I'm looking forward to a very entertaining game. We have a lot of great players that are participating, and it's going to be like a mini All-Star Game.

Mourning's annual summer event raises millions of dollars for South Florida charities. (Jesse D. Garrabrant NBAE/Getty Images)

"I've just been blessed to attract the entertainers that I have over the years, with everybody from Lenny Kravitz to Hootie and the Blowfish to Gladys Knight to Brian McKnight to Usher. By having these people, and comedians like Sinbad and Cedric (the Entertainer), it's been huge. We have Bill Cosby speaking at the dinner, and Charles Barkley is speaking as well. We feel blessed from that standpoint. Because of the support from entertainers and corporate sponsors, it's really helped us make progress towards helping and improving the lives of youngsters."

Was there any hesitation on your part with booking Bill Cosby given his recent controversial comments to the media?
Mourning: "No, there was no hesitation on our part at all. He's a positive role model, especially for minorities. What he's done over the years, philanthropically as well as from a business standpoint, is truly remarkable, and having him speak is something we look forward to. We're just happy to have him this year, regardless of his controversial comments of late. He still has a lot of good things to say.

"Many might not know it, but he has a foundation where he helps put kids through [college]. My wife was a recipient of that; he put her through Howard University, and with me at Georgetown, that's obviously how we were able to meet and maintain a relationship."

Are there any acts or events you're most looking forward to?
Mourning: "Having Dave Chapelle this year is huge for us. He's got to be the hottest comedian in the country right now. His show's doing amazingly well, and I've seen his standup; he's hilarious. I'm looking forward to a great show. Also, one of my favorite parts of the weekend is the 'rap session' we host, where a panel of all different people from all different walks of life share our lives' experiences. I think it's great because very often these kids don't realize that we've been through the same experiences they have, and we get to discuss it on a very personal level."

While any number of players have contributed over the years, is there anyone in particular who deserves special thanks?
Mourning: "Charles Barkley has come down for about three straight years, and he's purchased [an automobile] in support of the foundation each of those three years. One year he paid one-hundred-grand, which was way over the price of the vehicle, so that was a huge lift. Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo also have made significant contributions over the years, and we've been able to use the funds they help generate to improve the foundations and beneficiaries."

--Interviewed by Randy Kim, NBA.com