Hide and Seek

Here's something to ask:

What happened to Greg Oden?

I was over at my uncle's house yesterday and he brought it up. Oden's not playing in the summer league. He's not living in Portland. You never hear about him anymore.

According to his blog, last updated eleven days ago, he's back in Ohio working out on his own time and going to class. That's right: going to class.

He wants to be a dentist, see.

The Finals and the draft diverted the attention of the press away from Oden's progress, and so it's generally assumed that Oden will be 100% by the time of the season opener. I'm worried because during the season the updates were constant:

- "Greg Oden is now walking!"
- "Greg Oden is now spending time on the exercise bike!"
- "Greg Oden has a mohawk!"

No more. You would think that, if Oden was healthy, the Blazers would propagate the news to the press. Pritchard would be all over it. Instead, you have rumors that Oden has re-injured his leg, and that he may never play an NBA game, leading people to make completely ridiculous claims such as this. The media is going nuts over Bayless and Rudy, for good reason, but the smokescreen is working.

You know what? Maybe it's not ridiculous. Another injury wouldn't surprise me. I'm already assuming that he will be out with injuries for the majority of his career. Anything we get out of him is a bonus, as far as I'm concerned. He's by far the biggest question mark on our roster, and the only reason why Lakers supporters aren't worried that we will be taking ten championships in a row.

Isn't it funny? Just last year, Greg Oden was supposed to be the reason why the Blazers would win another championship.

Now? He may be the reason we don't.

TJH