Canzano questions Oden's desire to play

[tlongII]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...sf/2009/03/blazers_willing_to_gut_it_out.html

Our favorite columnist is stirring it up again...

I am giving Greg Oden the benefit of the doubt when it comes to his absence on the court, and his soft-spoken voice, and the rash of injuries that have, so far, plagued his young career.

But he knows the questions are out there.

Said Oden, who suffered a chipped bone in his left knee before the All-Star break: "Believe me, if I could play pain-free, I'd play. Even if I had the chance to get to 85 percent and be comfortable, I'd play. I'm not even 85 percent."

He did not play again on Sunday.

Without Oden, the Blazers gave San Antonio a 102-84 back-alley whipping at the Rose Garden. And after the game, teammate Jerryd Bayless had a pack of ice attached to each knee. LaMarcus Aldridge had a giant tub of ice water in front of his locker for his feet and ankles. And there was athletic tape strewn in front of Rudy Fernandez's locker.

Those guys dressed, and talked about the game.

Meanwhile, Oden stood down the hall, visiting with the children and families of his teammates. And this is where I found him, and looked him in the eyes, and asked him, "Do you want to play?"

 

[MrJayremmie]

Fair question, imo.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I almost wonder if Nate's post game comments after last night's game -- speculating that it will be awhile yet before Greg is back -- wasn't an attempt to 'Phil Jackson' Greg a little bit; using the media as a tool to motivate.

As far as this article goes, Canzano gives a pretty even handed treatment of the subject (which is saying something for him) and asks the questions that most of us have been wondering about for the past couple of weeks: Is this more of a mental thing or a physical thing? Only Greg has the answer to that question.

 

[maxiep]

I question Canzano's desire to write.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The self-aggrandizement of that asshole never ceases to amaze me. It's like him and Quick are in competition to be the most narcissistic nobodies in the universe. "I looked him in the eyes"? Give me a motherfucking break. I bet while Canzano was typing that he was recreating the scene with Ennio Morricone music playing in the background.

If we agree to have a whip-round and pay Oden's fines, do you think he could be persuaded to get medieval on Canzano's ass? Just for the good of mankind?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I question Canzano's desire to write.

I SERIOUSLY question my desire to read anything he does write.

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

"I looked him in the eyes"

Yeah, I wonder how big a ladder he had to use to look Greg in the eye.

Gramps...

 

[wastro]

McMillan said that Greg didn't look good running. KP has said that the swelling didn't come down as fast as they would have liked. What part of that is mental?

 

[Reep]

That may be the one of the best pieces I've seen from Canzano. You guys should read it if you haven't.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

BeerBoy questions Crapzano's desire to be a quality journalist and a quality sports radio talk show host.

 

[Nikolokolus]

McMillan said that Greg didn't look good running. KP has said that the swelling didn't come down as fast as they would have liked. What part of that is mental?

It's the difference between playing 'hurt' and playing 'injured.' Pain is just a sensory response and having it doesn't necessarily mean your body is in any danger of breaking down, an injury is a structural defect and playing on an injury means there is a possibility of further damaging the body part. The question seems to be is Greg willing to play with 'pain' (However, I'm not ruling out that he might be injuured).

 

[Minstrel]

It's the difference between playing 'hurt' and playing 'injured.' Pain is just a sensory response and having it doesn't necessarily mean your body is in any danger of breaking down, an injury is a structural defect and playing on an injury means there is a possibility of further damaging the body part. The question seems to be is Greg willing to play with 'pain' (However, I'm not ruling out that he might be injuured).

Pain in the foot or leg can often change the way a player moves and runs, which can lead to bigger problems. I'm not a doctor, but I've read this quite a few times when teams discuss why they didn't let a player play even though doctors decided he wasn't likely to further damage the injured area by playing. If you start moving unnaturally, which is a common automatic response to playing in pain, you can put stress on other parts of your body, including your back, and end up with a different and potentially worse problem.

I assume this is the issue. My guess is that the team told Oden, "You can play at any time, there's no further danger to your knee. But wait til you're not in significant pain." That would be consistent with ruling him day-to-day and with Oden saying "It's up to me."

 

[Nikolokolus]

Pain in the foot or leg can often change the way a player moves and runs, which can lead to bigger problems. I'm not a doctor, but I've read this quite a few times when teams discuss why they didn't let a player play even though doctors decided he wasn't likely to further damage the injured area by playing. If you start moving unnaturally, which is a common automatic response to playing in pain, you can put stress on other parts of your body, including your back, and end up with a different and potentially worse problem.

I assume this is the issue. My guess is that the team told Oden, "You can play at any time, there's no further danger to your knee. But wait til you're not in significant pain." That would be consistent with ruling him day-to-day and with Oden saying "It's up to me."

Excellent point.

 

[OddEnormous]

I question Canzano's desire to write.

 

[OddEnormous]

Fair question, imo.

IMO, It's danjerous businez to queschun a playar whoz hurt.

U have no ideea whuts acktullay the problem or the eckstent of tha injury.

It's nought eggsaktly fair to the player.

 

[boatsandstars]

IMO, It's danjerous businez to queschun a playar whoz hurt.

U have no ideea whuts acktullay the problem or the eckstent of tha injury.

It's nought eggsaktly fair to the player.

This reads like a Canzano story before it hits the Editor's desk.

 

[STOMP]

I question Canzano's desire to write.

I SERIOUSLY question my desire to read anything he does write.

I always appreciate when the OP alerts me that it's a JC or Quick link (thanks tlongII) because I want to avoid clicking their links. Clicking their links equates to approving of their lazy salacious work... I want the O to take a new course and hire better writers.

Imagine the sinking feeling in your stomach if you were a Blazer player and you saw Canzano coming in the back halls of the RG... why would you ever want to talk to that douchebag?

STOMP

 

[HailBlazers]

Believe me, if I could play pain-free, I'd play. Even if I had the chance to get to 85 percent and be comfortable, I'd play.

looked him in the eyes, and asked him, "Do you want to play?"

Did zano not read his own writing?

Fair question, imo.

Fair Question huh? If canzano wanted to ask a fair question he should of said, hey Greg you big pussy, are you lying when you say that you would play if you could?

Then G.O proceeds to flick bald face pussy across the room with his finger

 

[free_lafrentz]

Did zano not read his own writing?

Fair Question huh? If canzano wanted to ask a fair question he should of said, hey Greg you big pussy, are you lying when you say that you would play if you could?

Then G.O proceeds to flick bald face pussy across the room with his finger

 

[OddEnormous]

This reads like a Canzano story before it hits the Editor's desk.

yernited > spuds

 

[Boob-No-More]

Meanwhile, Oden stood down the hall, visiting with the children and families of his teammates. And this is where I found him, and looked him in the balls, and asked him, "Do you want to play?"

There, fixed his typo. Crapzano really needs to get a better editor.

BNM

 

[Blazer Freak]

As much as I hate reading Canzano and Quick's pieces, this one isn't too bad. All this talk about GO really is getting old. I've just taken the mindset of he'll be back when he's back, and I'm just thankful we have Joel, who is more than enough of a stop gap till Oden gets back.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Fair Question huh? If canzano wanted to ask a fair question he should of said, hey Greg you big pussy, are you lying when you say that you would play if you could?

Then G.O proceeds to flick bald face pussy across the room with his finger

 

[Ghost Pepper]

I for one think if and when Greg comes back he comes off the bench! Joel has gotten us here at the center spot and I don't think enough has been said about Joel! Outside of the hype of GO, any honest Blazer fan knows Joel has won the center spot hands down.

Is that fair to say?

 

[Ed O]

It's not uncommon for players to miss games, and it's not that uncommon for young players to "grow out of" being injury prone.

Let's just look at Joel, shall we?

00-01: 33
01-02: 71
02-03: 32
03-04: 17
04-05: 76
05-06: 56
06-07: 43
07-08: 77

Even with another injury-free year this year, Przybilla isn't exactly A.C. Green, but he was injured a LOT in his career and has made adjustments to stay healthier.

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

I for one think if and when Greg comes back he comes off the bench! Joel has gotten us here at the center spot and I don't think enough has been said about Joel! Outside of the hype of GO, any honest Blazer fan knows Joel has won the center spot hands down.

Is that fair to say?

I don't think so. Joel makes almost no impact on the floor on the offensive side. Greg not only draws double teams and fouls, but he's a very good offensive rebounder.

Joel's better at staying on the floor, but that's about it as far as I'm concerned. I'd like to see Oden start and play as many minutes as he can because he's simply a superior player.

Ed O.

 

[HailBlazers]

It's not uncommon for players to miss games, and it's not that uncommon for young players to "grow out of" being injury prone.

Let's just look at Joel, shall we?

00-01: 33
01-02: 71
02-03: 32
03-04: 17
04-05: 76
05-06: 56
06-07: 43
07-08: 77

Even with another injury-free year this year, Przybilla isn't exactly A.C. Green, but he was injured a LOT in his career and has made adjustments to stay healthier.

Ed O.

Brilliant Post. The game of giants is not easy one bit. Only time will tell /Thread

 

[Ghost Pepper]

I'd need to see Greg have more than a handful of good games before I'd replace Joel with him. Our offense still can't get the ball to Greg and he looks lost to much to be a starter. That's the way I see it.

 

[Spud147]

His job is to get people talking about the Blazers and it works for him. He does make some valid comments, I just think it's way too early to ask these questions given we're 48 games into Greg's NBA career.

I just think some of the media and fans expectations are out of wack. He's basically a rookie who's still a kid and coming off one of the most serious surgeries you could have as a pro-athlete. I'm not worried about his future with the Blazers. I just hope he doesn't read the message boards, read John Canzano's column, or listen to sports radio.

Before you even ask... yes, I drank the Blazers kool-aid.

 

[MARIS61]

I question Canzano's right to use the phrase "we" when expressing his retarded opinions and desires.

"Naive persons like myself" would be much more accurate, and eliminates any confusion that "I" or "you" might ever agree with him.

If he knew anything at all about sports he'd realize the danger really large athletes face when dealing with injuries below the waist. They carry a lot of weight on those legs and most are abnormally developed to begin with.