Oden, are you ready?

[Boise Blazer]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2009/09/as_oden_goes_so_go_the_blazers.html

But if you're like me, you want to hear from Greg Oden most of all today.

I want to hear motivation in his voice. I want him to be upbeat. I want to listen closely today, on the eve of the first practice of the rest of his life, and hear a guy who is tickled at the possibilities.

The season has already started, but it won't really take off without Oden.

You know initally I read this and thought, "Damn Canzano, already?" But upon reflection I mostly agree. The media is what Oden let get to him the most last year and is what put him further into his funk at times. So I really want to see how he interacts with them today. Its not all on Oden .. but it could be if he is ready. He can have the largest impact the quickest.

So Oden, are you ready?

 

[mgb]

I want to see not hear.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Remove Canzano from the byline and ends up sounding like a pretty generic article ... Beyond that it's mostly on target I think; the Blazers go as Oden goes, hopefully he's more mentally prepared for those expectations this season.

 

[mook]

During the final days of last Blazers season, in Houston, I found myself walking alongside the rookie center for a few minutes in the corridor of the Toyota Center. We made small talk and I asked him what he thought of playing in the NBA playoffs.

"Too long," he said. "Maybe it should best-of-five in the first round?"

It made me want to shake some life into him. But it was an honest answer, and you get that with Oden, especially as he was about to play in game No. 61 of a season that lasted twice as long as any season he'd played before.

Note to Oden: Stop giving honest answers to Canzano. Anything you say can and will be used completely out of context to paint as negative a picture as possible. The correct answer to that question is, "I like the playoffs." And let it go at that. The shorter and more cliche the answer, the safer you are.

 

[PapaG]

Note to Oden: Stop giving honest answers to Canzano. Anything you say can and will be used completely out of context to paint as negative a picture as possible. The correct answer to that question is, "I like the playoffs." And let it go at that. The shorter and more cliche the answer, the safer you are.

So, it's Canzano's fault for reporting Oden's honest answer? I didn't read it as a negative other than Oden was probably exhausted after a very difficult season for him.

 

[mook]

I read that as fitting into a storyline that's building that Oden is lethargic and a massive disappointment. Canzano describes him as lifeless.

If for any reason he has a slow start to the season the Olowakandi comparisons will come next.

If I were him (or Oden or Roy or anyone else on that team) I'd realize that no good can come to my career by talking to Canzano in anything but brief cliche.

 

[PapaG]

I read that as fitting into a storyline that's building that Oden is lethargic and a massive disappointment. Canzano describes him as lifeless.
If for any reason he has a slow start to the season the Olowakandi comparisons will come next.

If I were him (or Oden or Roy or anyone else on that team) I'd realize that no good can come to my career by talking to Canzano in anything but brief cliche.

Oden looked listless and disinterested at times against Houston. I don't get the Canzano bashing in this instance.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

Note to Oden: Stop giving honest answers to Canzano. Anything you say can and will be used completely out of context to paint as negative a picture as possible. The correct answer to that question is, "I like the playoffs." And let it go at that. The shorter and more cliche the answer, the safer you are.

You know, I agree with this for all players. Professional athletes are often 'coached' on how to deal with the media and in how to give generic answers. Make it sound like you're saying something when you really aren't. Unfortunately, honesty often gets you in trouble, unless you're a larger than life personality like Shaq or Manny. Very few seem to get away with it. There are some people in the media that you can trust, but when dealing with Portland's local media and assclowns like Canzano, it's best to keep it boring and safe. That way you can focus on basketball and not on how Canzano will turn your words in his next column.

 

[STOMP]

You know, I agree with this for all players. Professional athletes are often 'coached' on how to deal with the media and in how to give generic answers. Make it sound like you're saying something when you really aren't. Unfortunately, honesty often gets you in trouble, unless you're a larger than life personality like Shaq or Manny. Very few seem to get away with it. There are some people in the media that you can trust, but when dealing with Portland's local media and assclowns like Canzano, it's best to keep it boring and safe. That way you can focus on basketball and not on how Canzano will turn your words in his next column.

the Bull Durham scene where Nuke is getting coached up on dealing with the media by Crash springs to mind. Greg should keep his quotes as bland as Clyde did and do his speaking on the court... thats the smart approach. There is no need to attempt to satisfy jock sniffing rumorama tools like JC.

STOMP

 

[PapaG]

In other words, Oden should just lie.

Quick question. If Oden actually does think the season is too long, and the playoffs are too long, would you rather know this information or not know it? I'd prefer to know it, and I don't see how Canzano can be blamed for merely reporting what Oden said.

 

[Eastoff]

Note to Oden: Stop giving honest answers to Canzano. Anything you say can and will be used completely out of context to paint as negative a picture as possible. The correct answer to that question is, "I like turtles." And let it go at that. The shorter and more cliche the answer, the safer you are.

fixed

 

[Eastoff]

In other words, Oden should just lie.

Quick question. If Oden actually does think the season is too long, and the playoffs are too long, would you rather know this information or not know it? I'd prefer to know it, and I don't see how Canzano can be blamed for merely reporting what Oden said.

I don't think the public needs to know, but the staff does.

 

[Eastoff]

Oden looked listless and disinterested at times against Houston. I don't get the Canzano bashing in this instance.

you mean a guy who is a perfectionist and kept getting into foul trouble, started to be distracted...

 

[PapaG]

you mean a guy who is a perfectionist and kept getting into foul trouble, started to be distracted...

Yeah, that's another way to look at it. Observation is subjective, and I'm not saying Oden was listless and disinterested, just that he appeared to be (to me) at times during that series.

 

[THE HCP]

If he wants a great exciting interview, go find Channing. Greg is chill and low key. Not very outgoing with the media. Rather see then hear like somebody said earlier!

 

[Shooter]

I want to see not hear.

Amen to that.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Yeah, that's another way to look at it. Observation is subjective, and I'm not saying Oden was listless and disinterested, just that he appeared to be (to me) at times during that series.

Fair enough. I sometimes got the same impression. I think what people are questioning is his dragging this back up now.

I'm more skeptical of Oden than most people here...but even I think he deserves a fair chance to prove the doubters wrong. If a month into the season he is looking out of shape and unmotivated - he deserves to get verbally flayed. I do not, however, consider that inevitable.

 

[LOTBfan]

Fair enough. I sometimes got the same impression. I think what people are questioning is his dragging this back up now.

I'm more skeptical of Oden than most people here...but even I think he deserves a fair chance to prove the doubters wrong. If a month into the season he is looking out of shape and unmotivated - he deserves to get verbally flayed. I do not, however, consider that inevitable.

Guess that depends on your POV, I am more of a prove you are making progress this is what you did how are you going to fix it kind of guy, than a forget what happened, what have you got for me now sort of person.

I personally want to make sure he understands what people saw last year, so he can remember that if he finds himself slipping back into that this year. Sounds from his Conzano interview that he recognizes the impact it had last year though, and is ready to forge ahead.