The poetry in motion performed on the court, field and ice kids emulate in the streets. The well built physiques ladies gush over and grown men desire. Bo Jackson’s perfectly blended combination of speed and power on the football field and baseball diamond. Penny Hardaway’s all-time great potential in Orlando. Sometimes though, these things are only meant to last for a short period. While we predict career greatness, the body is the final author.
Scouts marveled at Greg Oden once. After leading Ohio State to the 2007 national college championship game, his place among the likes of Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal was unfairly set in stone, regardless of a certain National Freshman of the Year on the board as well. Concerning Oden, one draft site said, “One of those dominant centers that surfaces in the high school ranks every 10 or so years. Has the size and NBA ready body that few his age possess.”
Sadly, few Oden’s age will go through the alarming rate of physical setbacks he’s toiled through. Yet another was added to the disturbing list on Monday. The 7-footer had a second microfracture surgery to his left knee on Monday. This after going through a simple cleaning of debris in the knee until further damage was discovered. Oden’s left kneecap has been fractured as well. If that doesn’t make you cringe, his right knee has undergone the microfracture procedure as well.
An athlete battling through injuries is nothing new, yet Oden’s story is one witnessed few times. The magnitude is heightened given the weight of the basketball world placed on his 285-pound frame as the top draft pick. Oden would erase memories of past picks (see LaRue Martin and Sam Bowie) gone awry and blazing a promising trail contrasting from the famed “Jail blazers” only a few years earlier.
There have been suspect draft picks before. Michael Olowokandi in 1998, Kwame Brown in 2001 and Darko over Melo in 2003 come to mind. The suspicion with the Oden pick comes as the man right beneath him on the ’07 board goes through an MVP-caliber season and potential Hall of Fame career. Oden will forever be linked to Kevin Durant. Chad Buchanan, Portland’s acting General Manager (was Director of College Scouting before) says hindsight makes it easy to say they would pick differently and there are no regrets.
Portland no doubt regrets the roller coaster Oden, the franchise and fans have gone through. While they may have gotten caught up with the “you can’t teach size” mantra, their belief was a trio of Brandon Roy (another career riddled by injury), LaMarcus Aldridge and Oden would no doubt be formidable in the west for years to come. While I’m sure Roy and Durant would find a way to share the rock, big men with skills will always be given precedent.
While the promising Rip City trio has been whittled down to just one (Aldridge), at 24-years of age Oden’s career is left to even more questions and almost one-hundred percent doubt from outsiders. He hasn’t played a game since December 5, 2009. He’s played 82 career games with averages of 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. There are promising highlights like the 24 points, 15 rebounds against Milwaukee in January of 2009 or his 17 points, 12 boards and six blocks against New York in February of the same year. But fate can be so cruel.
Most will look at the $23 million Oden has earned during his career and say he’s made out pretty good. But I refuse to believe the monetary gain is a soothing comfort for the young man. If the ultimatum is riches or a healthy career, my hopeful belief in the purity of sport just knows Oden would choose the latter. I would hope we all would. Sports fans love stories of athletes overcoming the worst. Oden’s comeback is my hope for next season’s feel good story.
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