Obama Praises Alonzo Mourning's “Warrior's Heart”

A longtime allegiance to the Chicago Bulls didn't stop President Barack Obama from showering praise on Miami Heat legend Alonzo Mourning during an appearance in South Florida Thursday.

"Now, the truth is I was a big fan of Alonzo's before I had a chance to meet him, and that's despite being a Bulls' fan," the president said during a fundraiser at Mourning's Pinecrest home. "And the reason is, is because he had a warrior's heart and he always fought for what he believed in, and he was always a team player." 

Obama, who made a brief fundraising swing through Miami Thursday evening following a speech in Orlando, called Mourning and his wife Tracy "great friends," saying he has "grown to love" the entire family.

"It only is the Heat lucky, but all of south Florida is lucky to have them in their community and doing such great work," he said, according to prepared remarks issued by the White House.

Obama dedicated much of the rest of his remarks at the fundraiser to discussing the need to expand economic opportunities for women and working families, a theme he also focused on during a stop in Orlando Thursday.

Tickets for the reception and dinner, held to raise money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, ranged from $16,200 a person to $32,400 a couple.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, of California, was also on hand for the event. Several members of Florida's congressional delegation, including Democratic Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Joe Garcia, Lois Frankel and Corrine Brown, were expected to attend.

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