Does Greg Oden Really Look Old? Is It a Bad Thing?

[¹²³]

I keep reading it in all sort of places, but I just don't get this "old" talk.

Here are some quotes from random articles I was reading today:

I love the awkward, old-man vibe Greg Oden gives off. I remember seeing him in Lexington, Kentucky, when BYU was there for the NCAA Tournament two years ago. As aged as Oden looks on TV, just about double it in person. It’s wild to think he’s not even old enough to drink.

Link

Greg Oden looks old, walks old, runs old. He's not baby Shaq, because when Shaq was his age he was a once-a-century combination of mass and quickness. For all the hype about Oden, he's not going to be that kind of player. And there's something about the way he moves that makes me wonder if he's not going to be some version of hurt all the time, but as the late-great Sam Mitchell would say, "I ain't no doctor."; But for this team? He' s perfect. Giant. Doesn't need the ball.

Link

I bet there is a ton more references out there, but what do you guys think?

 

[ToddMacCulloch11]

I don't know about how he moves, but just going by his face, something about him looks older than 20.

 

[¹²³]

I don't know about how he moves, but just going by his face, something about him looks older than 20.

I understand that he looks older than his age, but that probably won't have an effect on his game.

There is other players with that same physical characteristics, but Oden must be something really out of the ordinary, since every sports writer feel the need to point it out over and over again.

I don't think people still have doubts about his real age, so I see this as an attempt to do some humor or a genuine amazement that strikes them when they see him in person.

 

[drexlersdad]

everyone made these same jokes abot lebron.

 

[Денг Гордон]

 

[¹²³]

everyone made these same jokes abot lebron.

Thanks. I forgot about the LeBron jokes. So I think looking old is a good thing after all.

 

[Денг Гордон]

Lebron doesn't really look old. Oden on the other hand looks old.

 

[blue32]

IDK man, they both seem older than they actually are for sure. It's probably the genetic manipulations taking place in their body..

 

[CutTheCheck]

this is a bad example... Oden looks like a twenty year old in this pic.

He has some extra wrinkles on his forehead. OH NO!

If he had no facial hair, and had a bald head, he would look a lot younger IMO. Or with a mohawk like he used to...

 

[DaRizzle]

^who is that next to Oden? His son?

 

[Minstrel]

Oden looks like a man who knows the world is going to end soon. I just hope he wants to win a few championships before the end.

 

[NJNetz]

Oden is the definition of ugly.

Lebron is decent-looking at best. Way better than Greggy though.

 

[¹²³]

Do you think being ugly might hurt Oden's marketing capabilities?

 

[number 10]

Do you think being ugly might hurt Oden's marketing capabilities?

I don't know, personally I think chameleons are pretty cute.

BOOM.


But seriously, athletes returning from serious injuries and old people all look tired, slow, sluggish, slothful, whatever. We need to wait until the end of the season before starting to worry about his athleticism. Even if this is it, he's a rebounding machine, and hopefully polish up his offensive game.

 

[THE HCP]

He's young at heart though!

 

[CutTheCheck]

Do you think being ugly might hurt Oden's marketing capabilities?

No way. Pat Ewing, David Robinson, etc... they were all very marketable... and very good... and big men....

 

[RISE WITH IT]

haha! HCP, your avatar is classic.

 

[DaRizzle]

He needs to make a thread on the Celtics board posting that pic. That shit has to be funny even for a Celtic fan.

 

[¹²³]

No way. Pat Ewing, David Robinson, etc... they were all very marketable... and very good... and big men....

I think as long as you don't have a grotesque look, it's all good.

 

[MrJayremmie]

Gawd! Gregory is attractive! He is very marketable, imo.

 

[Petey]

Might hurt endorsements.

-Petey

 

[julius]

Might hurt endorsements.

-Petey

As long as the Blazers win titles, I don't care if he ever endorses anything.

 

[¹²³]

Gawd! Gregory is attractive! He is very marketable, imo.

<object width="415" height="347"><param name="wmode" value="opaque" /><param name="movie" value="http://uncutvideo.aol.com/v3.0010/en-US/uc_videoplayer.swf" /><param name="FlashVars" value="aID=18c3e36c2b2bdd87fa48808e23621c2f7&site=http://uncutvideo.aol.com/"/><embed src="http://uncutvideo.aol.com/v3.0010/en-US/uc_videoplayer.swf" wmode="opaque" FlashVars="aID=18c3e36c2b2bdd87fa48808e23621c2f7&site=http://uncutvideo.aol.com/" width="415" height="347" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>

 

[BatumKaboom]

Wow is this new to you guys? You just figured out that he looks old?