armchairgm
all sports, all you
+ Add Friends
You are not logged-in.
Sign Up - Log In
Main Page
Sports
Write
Articles
Hot Links
Images
Meet People
Fun
Explore
MLB - NFL - NBA - NHL - College Basketball - College Football - Soccer - Nascar - Other
Article - Locker Room Discussion
All Articles - New Articles - Today's Articles
Submit a Link - Approve Links
Picture Game - Ratings - Polls - Pick Game - Quiz Game - Spring Silliness
Random Page - Random Image - Random Fan

About the Author

Trizz
Got summer hating on me cuz I'm hotter than the sun, got spring hating on me cuz I am never sprung, winter hating on me cuz I'm colder than yall and i will never i will never i will never fall...im being hated by the seasons so f*** yall hating on me for no reason

More By Trizz

So What If He Doesn't Participate
16 votes, 30 comments
Trizz's 10 Bold Predictions: Midseason Check Up
15 votes, 10 comments
BCS Olympic Teams?
4 votes, 8 comments
View All

Other recent voters

If you like the article, vote for it.
Edit
Page history Discuss pageWhat links here

Greg Oden Caught.......Playing Basketball GASP

by Trizz
created March 28, 2008, last edited June 03, 2008
18
Vote

IMAGE:GregOden.jpg

The Portland Trailblazers were flabbergasted to hear that No. 1 pick Greg Oden was playing a pick up game at a fitness center in Oregon. Oden is in the sixth month of his rehabilitation from microfracture surgery on his right knee. He is on schedule to return in time for training camp in October. Oden has been cleared to participate in light drills at practice and the team wants to control his running and jumping. Coach Nate McMillan made it clear that as valuable as he is, the last thing he wants to see him doing is playing basketball.

Oden was very limited during workouts at the Blazers facility so he went to another workout center where he would be free to do what he wished. Oden played in two pick up games, where he dominated and one of the players posted their account of the games on the internet and then a friend told a friend who told a friend and it eventually got to the Oregonian and then to McMillan. McMillan told reporters "Right now, these young guys don't know their value," McMillan said. "That's part of growing up and maturing. In a couple of years he will understand how stupid that was. I understand it, because I've done it.

So what do you think, I thought McMillan's quote was pretty foolish, like I had said about the NCAA, it has gotten to the point where these people are more like assets than humans. Its not like he was riding a motorcycle without a helmet, or in a strip club he was working out trying to get ready for the season. Not to mention until proven otherwise he's only 19 and will heal faster than most. The Blazers should be ecstatic that he looked as good as he did so soon.


Enable Comment Auto-Refresher
PSU ROCKSVarsity Captain
197 days ago
Score 0+-
i think there worry way to much. All he knows is what he heard, what if he was just jogging around and doing little shots not jumping around and slam dunking over other guys. It all depends on what he actually did and not what they think he did.
Permalink | Reply
JuTMSY4Legend
197 days ago
Score 1+-
You mean this part right?

"Right now, these young guys don't know their value"

I think you might be misinterpreting the term value...yes, Oden is an asset to the team, but if he completely blows out his knee (or whatever), he's done...

I know they're, not even close in talent level, etc...but look at Aaron Boone...or Carl Pavano...

His value, to himself, is also huge and McMillan, at least to some extent, is also looking out for the kid...
Permalink | Reply
Cougar2000All-American
197 days ago
Score 0+-
I think that Micheal Wilbon uttered that quote on PTI this afternoon. There are some sports teams that put clauses in contracts to hopefully stop this stuff from going on. Ron Gant was let go by the Braves when he got hurt riding a motorcycle. Then you have the aformentioned Winslow. Good points, JuTMSY4!
Permalink
LASportsblogAAA-er
195 days ago
Score 0+-
To add to Cougar's point, I thought it was the "Jay Williams Clause" about motor sports and "extracurriculars" that aren't team approved - like non-rehab pick up basketball.
Permalink
JuTMSY4Legend
197 days ago
Score 2+-
and what's the difference between tearing your ACL playing pickup basketball or while riding a motorcycle (like Kellen Winslow Jr)
Permalink | Reply
Too Manny StilesVarsity Captain
197 days ago
Score 1+-
This reminds me of the time I asked John Amaechi to join our pickup game. He was shooting at a basket and I wanrted to dunk on him. He explained he couldn't because "he was under contract".

What would happen if he joined us and I hurt him?

Oden is under contract to his employer. He should not only know better but he should be punished/fined/forced to do something embarassing in front of the team/whatever...

I'm sorry, but playing pickup ball isn't going to help him in any manner- scrubs at the gym are more likely to injure him. Even if it's something as stupid as an eye poke... or a broken finger, WHY risk it?

And beyond "value" he is a multi-million dollar investment and no longer a "19 year old kid"...

If he wants to be an NBA player, he should act like it.
Permalink | Reply
J-DawgVarsity Captain
197 days ago
Score 0+-
You could always fry him next week Manny, that would be the ultimate embarassment.
Permalink
Too Manny StilesVarsity Captain
197 days ago
Score 0+-
I considered him but it really isn't a fryable offense. he should just KNOW better. I bet he never does it again!
Permalink
Steel TownAll-American
197 days ago
Score 7+-
Usually I speak out for the athletes in similar situations, such as riding without a helmet. I feel that when these guys are off the clock they should be allowed to do whatever they want, just like you and I. BUT, in this instance it is like he called in sick and his boss caught him at the baseball game. If you aren't healthy enough to play for your team you damn well better not be playing pick-up ball. Those scrubs at the gym don't pay your paycheck and they sure as hell aren't going to be the ones who lose if he gets hurt worse.
Permalink | Reply
JuTMSY4Legend
197 days ago
Score 1+-
that's an excellent anecdote, more plusses if i could...
Permalink
Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
197 days ago
Score -1+-
So he shot a few hoops with some dudes in a gym. And one of them decided to post this historic sporting event to end all sporting events on the Internet. And of course, it is 100% accurate and irrefutable. Big deal.
Permalink | Reply
Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
196 days ago
Score 0+-
Obviously there are a few misinformed idiots here that really believe every single word reported on the Internet concerning Greg Oden.
Permalink
DRE-LOAAA-er
197 days ago
Score 3+-
We can always assume that athletes should know better. But lets keep in mind that Greg Oden is 19 years old. In this instance, it may be possible that he didn't know better. As a 19 year old, you're still maturing and growing as an athlete and a HUMAN BEING!!. Greg Oden hasn't played in an NBA game yet and while he should definitely have had an idea of how valuable he is, neither he nor any of us cannot fully assess his value until he has actually played in an NBA game. Yes, he shouldn't have played in a pickup game. It was a ill-advised move. But it sure as heck beats riding a motorcycle while injured {Jayson Williams, Big Ben} or skiing and then lying about it, {Vlad Radmanovic} or getting injured so many times that you end up faking injuries {Carl fricking Pavano.} And to see that Greg Oden is willing to put in extra work, ill-advised as it was, is a good sign of his work ethic. So let's just write this down as a silly, immature move, give the kid a break and move on. We've seen far worse.
Permalink | Reply
Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer
197 days ago
Score 1+-
Right on.
Permalink
Too Manny StilesVarsity Captain
195 days ago
Score 0+-
He's 53 years old. He should know better.
Permalink
Add your Comment
ArmchairGM welcomes all comments. If you don't want to be anonymous, Register or Login. It's free
Categories: Opinions | Opinions by User Trizz | March 28, 2008 | March 2008

Don't Miss

A quick chat with Former Gopher Shelton Benjamin
Ode to an Evening of Fall Ball
Phillies - Dodgers Preview: A Totally Biased View
ALCS Breakdown: Assumptions vs. Realities a.k.a. Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
2008 American League Championship Series Preview

In the News

The Boston Red Sox took Game 1 of the ALCS in a pitcher's duel between Daisuke Matsuzaka and James Shields, who both made it past the 7th inning. Matsuzaka pitched a gem, surrendering no runs, 4 hits, and 9 strikeouts in 7 sharp innings. He also had a no-hitter heading into the 7th inning, only to be diminished by Carl Crawford as he singled to right field. The final score of the ballgame was 2-0.

Comments of the Day

4 Interesting topic.In order to initiate the discussion, why don&...
1 Making predictions are fun, there is no skill involved. Like pl...
1 """Making predictions are fun, there is no skill...
1 I wouldn"t if I were you either (or any other Rays or Saw...
1 This only makes me pine for a viewing of ""Visio...

Take a Poll

Who was/were the biggest name(s) from the Beijing Olympics (other than Michael Phelps)?
Usain Bolt Nastia Liukin US men's volleyball US men's basketball Brian Clay

New Articles

Phils Take 2, Head to LA With Momentum...and Cheesesteaks!
A late night movie treat
NFL Contraction?
SF Giants 2008 Review Part 2 of 3
Dallas Cowboys what is wrong??

Retrieved from "http://www.armchairgm.com/Article:Greg_Oden_Caught.......Playing_Basketball_GASP"

This page was last modified 17:52, 28 March 2008. Content is available under the GFDL.

Main Page About Special Pages Help Terms of Use Advertise