The Life of Oden

[Shooter]

It occurs to me that Greg Oden has one of the strangest NBA existences we've ever seen. Imagine his typical day . . .

Gets up, watches cartoons for awhile, does a little bit of stretching, calls his Mom, does some more stretching, maybe heads for the weight room, eats lunch, goes back home, plays a video game, calls his buddy back in Ohio, takes a nap, goes out for dinner and a movie, or maybe heads to the Rose Garden to watch a Blazer game from behind the bench.

And for all this, he gets paid millions of dollars. This life he leads, by the way, has been going on for years now. He must be the highest-paid player to almost never "play" in NBA history.

There are 4-year-olds running around who were born when Oden's NBA career began. George Bush was president, and the economy was pretty good. No one had ever heard of Bernie Madoff. Facebook was relatively unknown. Brett Favre was still a great quarterback.

The best part? Oden is probably going to sign another contract with Portland and continue this life of ease for another 3 or 4 years. He'll buy an even bigger house, and get an even fancier wardrobe, and spend every morning watching cartoons on his big sofa while the rest of the team is back east on a grueling road trip.

It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it.

 

[magnifier661]

Hardly. I don't know how long you've been paying attention to the NBA, but Vince Carter was getting paid 17 million doing the same thing. How about Yao Ming? Um our own very own Miles, getting 13 mil for 3 years? Oden is getting what 6 mil? The nature of the Beast in the NBA. I have no doubt Oden wants to be on the floor.

 

[e_blazer]

Yeah, we should heap scorn on the kid because he asked to have this happen to him. He probably enjoys the initial pain when the injuries happen, not to mention the post-op pain from surgery and, afterward, the grueling daily rehab grind. Yeah, sounds sweet.

 

[mook]

I wouldn't trade the last three years of my life for his. Can you imagine what it's like to constantly have your body let you down? To be unable to walk down a street without somebody asking about your knee? To be the number one draft pick and have the media wrapped around your finger one minute, and the next your are "Sam Bowie Redux"? Not to mention the whole humiliation of having half the planet seeing you photograph your dick to impress a chick.

I'm generally not that sympathetic when a pro athlete has a "poor me" attitude. And I don't think Oden really does. But if there's one millionaire in this league I feel sorry for, it's Greg Oden. He's tried to do everything right at every stage, and has just been punched in the balls repeatedly every time it seems like all that work is finally paying off.

If you want to describe the life of Oden, it's Charlie Brown running up to kick the football and Lucy pulls it away. Then as he's laying on the ground everybody is laughing at him. And he has to get back up and try again, because it's what he's supposed to do and they're only going to laugh more if he doesn't.

Sounds like a really fun life.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Shooter complaining about the income distribution brought about by capitalism? I smell class warfare! Obviously he's been brainwashed by our socialist Muslim Kenyan president.

 

[magnifier661]

I agree with Mook

 

[blue32]

Shooter complaining about the income distribution brought about by capitalism? I smell class warfare! Obviously he's been brainwashed by our socialist Muslim Kenyan president.

bwahahahahahahahahahaha....

 

[Nikolokolus]

Shooter, you forgot the part where he straps dynamite to his knees twice a year ... it's a tougher gig than you're portraying.

 

[Shooter]

Shooter complaining about the income distribution brought about by capitalism?

Nope--but nice try. Thank God for capitalism, which allows all of us to get rich by the sweat of our brows, if we work hard enough. Oden is one of the lucky few who doesn't have to work hard, but still gets rich!

I smell class warfare! Obviously he's been brainwashed by our socialist Muslim Kenyan president.

Under the socialist system that Obama would like to install, Oden wouldn't be making even a quarter of what he's making now. There would be a "salary cap" installed on all of us.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Injurynami!

 

[magnifier661]

Under the socialist system that Obama would like to install, Oden wouldn't be making even a quarter of what he's making now. There would be a "salary cap" installed on all of us.

Still waiting for this "change" the American People were promised under his term.

 

[Shooter]

Not to mention the whole humiliation of having half the planet seeing you photograph your dick to impress a chick.

Yeah, that whole "dick photograph" thing was all the media's fault. Let's not blame Oden for taking a picture of his cock and sending it to a girl--because that was a really smart thing to do!!!!

If there's one millionaire in this league I feel sorry for, it's Greg Oden. He's tried to do everything right at every stage, and has just been punched in the balls repeatedly every time it seems like all that work is finally paying off.

He's definitely had a run of bad luck. On the other hand, he's getting rich for doing nothing but sit on the bench, year after year. There are lots of people who are barely getting by while working their butts off, and yet Oden is collecting millions for watching cartoons all day. That's a pretty sweet deal, no matter how you slice it.

 

[magnifier661]

Shooter obviously Oden does have it easy right now, but this same complaint could be directed towards so many other players in the league. It is what we call being the nature of the Beast. If a player can't play, then he can't play. Looking at it like "blue collar" life. Say that you are working for this company and they lure you in because you have all this talent. They offer you this sweet deal of 200k for 3 years; being some manager of, lets say, inventory control. After 1 year they find out you just aren't working for them. Maybe you went through a divorce or had some accident that couldn't allow you to work like you should.

Would you?

A.) Call up management and offer to return part of your salary?

B.) Try to heal up and prove yourself so you can work on keeping this salary?

C.) Sit on your lazy ass and laugh at the money come pouring in?

I think Oden wants to come back and prove his worth. I think he wants an extension, or another contract that still pays him millions. You think him just sitting around watching cartoons is going to give him that? I think not. When Oden is ready to prove himself, I think he will be up to the task. If he doesn't, then he won't get a good contract. He will not be able to rake in millions watching cartoons.

 

[andalusian]

Our boy Cho seems to think Oden does well:

http://www.blazersedge.com/2011/3/1...cho-talks-brandon-roy-gerald-wallace-lamarcus

Greg Oden's progress

Greg is coming along well. He is doing some weight-bearing exercises now. He's working hard. He's lost some weight. He's in good spirits. His recovery -- if you talk to the surgeon who did his microfracture he also really feels his recovery is coming along well.

How would Oden change this team?

When I was on the outside looking in, watching Greg play before he got hurt, it was kind of scary to see him at that level. He was really playing well. He would add a whole new dimension to our team and we certainly hope he's back.

 

[Shooter]

I don't know how long you've been paying attention to the NBA, but Vince Carter was getting paid 17 million doing the same thing. How about Yao Ming? Um our own very own Miles, getting 13 mil for 3 years?

All of those players actually had "careers" before their injuries happened. Oden didn't. And I don't believe any of them (correct me if I'm wrong) ever had a stretch of 4 years where they sat on the bench as much as Oden has. He has to be setting some kind of record.

 

[magnifier661]

All of those players actually had "careers" before their injuries happened. Oden didn't. And I don't believe any of them (correct me if I'm wrong) ever had a stretch of 4 years where they sat on the bench as much as Oden has. He has to be setting some kind of record.

Okay how about Candiman or Kwami? Would you rather us complain that we drafted a top pick and they were healthy with piss poor contribution to the team? A rookie is guaranteed a contract depending on draft order. That guarantee must be paid regardless. You could argue that Oden lost quite a bit of money because of injuries. Do you think the Blazers would hold off on the extension if Oden came in without injury? I think Durant already signed his extension. Already Durant will probably make max, while Oden is lucky to get 10 mil. That means these injuries actually cost Oden 7 mil per season. Let's not even get into sponsors, etc.

 

[Shooter]

Shooter obviously Oden does have it easy right now, but this same complaint could be directed towards so many other players in the league. It is what we call being the nature of the Beast. If a player can't play, then he can't play.

I get that--but Oden is unique in that he has spent most of the first 4 years of his career sitting on the bench. I can't remember any other player who has done that, but correct me if I'm wrong. I also understand that injuries happen, and that Oden has been extremely unlucky in that regard. But, all the same, it's worth pointing out that despite all these injuries, he's getting amazingly rich for mostly sitting around at home.

Looking at it like "blue collar" life. Say that you are working for this company and they lure you in because you have all this talent. They offer you this sweet deal of 200k for 3 years . . .

First of all, nobody in a "blue collar" job gets that kind of money.

After 1 year they find out you just aren't working for them. Maybe you went through a divorce or had some accident that couldn't allow you to work like you should.

Would you?

A.) Call up management and offer to return part of your salary?

B.) Try to heal up and prove yourself so you can work on keeping this salary?

C.) Sit on your lazy ass and laugh at the money come pouring in?

None of the above. In the corporate world, they would void my contract because I'm not performing, and kick me out on the street.

When Oden is ready to prove himself, I think he will be up to the task. If he doesn't, then he won't get a good contract. He will not be able to rake in millions watching cartoons.

Wrong! Somebody (and it's probably Portland) is going to offer him a contract this summer before he plays a single NBA game. He's out all of this year, and won't make his latest comeback until next season. Portland has to offer him a deal before the season starts, or let somebody else make an offer. His next contract is going to be all about his "potential," just like this one was. And I suspect he's going to continue to have injury problem the rest of his careeer and spend most of it sitting on the bench getting rich, just like he is now.

 

[magnifier661]

Durant's contract:
2011/12: $13,604,000
2012/13: $15,032,420
2013/14: $16,460,480
2014/15: $17,889,260
2015/16: $19,317,680

Will Oden make this type of money? Seriously doubt it. This is what Oden lost. Durant has an Endorsement value: $21,650,000; Oden Endorsement value now: $1,500,000. This injury probably cost Oden roughly 30 mil per year. Yeah he's still a millionare, but saying he has it easy I certainly disagree with.

 

[Shooter]

Already Durant will probably make max, while Oden is lucky to get 10 mil.

$10 million for sitting on the bench another 4 years? We should all be so lucky!!!

 

[magnifier661]

The job is a reference Shooter and a contract is guaranteed. We right them all the time at my company. Yeah if someone isn't performing, you can release them, but the contract will state how much of that contract will or is guaranteed. Also, companies must purchase insurances for contracts, just in case they unfortunately pass in an untimely accident or health problem. Because that money is usually guaranteed to the spouse. So if you got a contract like that, you are guaranteed that money until the contract runs out. Been that way since I worked corporate America.

 

[magnifier661]

$10 million for sitting on the bench another 4 years? We should all be so lucky!!!

Right?!?!?! Now you're getting it. Oden already lost millions for these injuries.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I wouldn't trade the last three years of my life for his. Can you imagine what it's like to constantly have your body let you down? To be unable to walk down a street without somebody asking about your knee? To be the number one draft pick and have the media wrapped around your finger one minute, and the next your are "Sam Bowie Redux"? Not to mention the whole humiliation of having half the planet seeing you photograph your dick to impress a chick.

I'm generally not that sympathetic when a pro athlete has a "poor me" attitude. And I don't think Oden really does. But if there's one millionaire in this league I feel sorry for, it's Greg Oden. He's tried to do everything right at every stage, and has just been punched in the balls repeatedly every time it seems like all that work is finally paying off.

If you want to describe the life of Oden, it's Charlie Brown running up to kick the football and Lucy pulls it away. Then as he's laying on the ground everybody is laughing at him. And he has to get back up and try again, because it's what he's supposed to do and they're only going to laugh more if he doesn't.

Sounds like a really fun life.

Really? I would trade in a heartbeat. Not going as far as shooter saying it's been easy, but I could live with whatever public scrutiny there is for being paid millions to rehab and watch basketball. I'll even go further and say I would have handled it a lot better than Oden and at least shown some dedication and passion for the Trailblazer organization. But of course I'm not some 7 foot athletic freak, so my standards are different than Oden's.

Also I would probably change places with Mills this year . . . so it shows where my standards are.

 

[andalusian]

I get that--but Oden is unique in that he has spent most of the first 4 years of his career sitting on the bench. I can't remember any other player who has done that, but correct me if I'm wrong. I also understand that injuries happen, and that Oden has been extremely unlucky in that regard. But, all the same, it's worth pointing out that despite all these injuries, he's getting amazingly rich for mostly sitting around at home.

We should also point out that the sun is hot, that water is wet and that grass is green, unless it is brown.

None of the above. In the corporate world, they would void my contract because I'm not performing, and kick me out on the street.

Not if you have the kind of contract NBA players have. See most CEOs that are fired with a golden parachute. It's the way the contract works - it is not Oden's fault that this is the CBA. It is what it is.

Wrong! Somebody (and it's probably Portland) is going to offer him a contract this summer before he plays a single NBA game. He's out all of this year, and won't make his latest comeback until next season. Portland has to offer him a deal before the season starts, or let somebody else make an offer. His next contract is going to be all about his "potential," just like this one was. And I suspect he's going to continue to have injury problem the rest of his careeer and spend most of it sitting on the bench getting rich, just like he is now.

I am not sure what the issue is - the kid has done everything they asked him to - does it suck that he is injured? Sure. Is there anything else to do about it? They have to make a risk/reward assessment and make a decision. It might be good, it might not.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Nope--but nice try. Thank God for capitalism, which allows all of us to get rich by the sweat of our brows,

Especially those of us who sweat pure cocaine. Oh, and those of us with incredibly wealthy parents. We sweat too: mostly the meat sweats from the poor people we roast and consume.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Durant's contract:
2011/12: $13,604,000
2012/13: $15,032,420
2013/14: $16,460,480
2014/15: $17,889,260
2015/16: $19,317,680

Will Oden make this type of money? Seriously doubt it. This is what Oden lost. Durant has an Endorsement value: $21,650,000; Oden Endorsement value now: $1,500,000. This injury probably cost Oden roughly 30 mil per year. Yeah he's still a millionare, but saying he has it easy I certainly disagree with.

When you say Oden has lost that much money, you are assuming Oden, if he was able to play, would have reached Durant's level. For Durant, in his career, he has become a perinial all star, an Olympic team star and leads the entire league in scoring (besides showing he is incredibly passionate about the game). I don't think one can fairly say Oden has lost 20 million in endorsement.

And if Oden isn't as good as advertised and he gets another contract (which he will) one could even argue that his injuries have delayed seeing what kind of player he really is and might even have made him more money.

Basically we don't know if he is Candiman, Curry or Ewing and have to extend him to find out.

 

[STOMP]

We should also point out that the sun is hot, that water is wet and that grass is green, unless someone is constantly pissing on it

fixed in bold

maybe thats why the grass on the other side of the fence seems so green?

STOMP

 

[Minstrel]

Oh, is it that time of the month for another of Shooter's moralizing rants? I had lost track of time (which is a moral failing of mine that Shooter can use for material in a future month--always looking out for you, big guy!).

 

[mook]

Really? I would trade in a heartbeat. Not going as far as shooter saying it's been easy, but I could live with whatever public scrutiny there is for being paid millions to rehab and watch basketball. I'll even go further and say I would have handled it a lot better than Oden and at least shown some dedication and passion for the Trailblazer organization. But of course I'm not some 7 foot athletic freak, so my standards are different than Oden's.

Also I would probably change places with Mills this year . . . so it shows where my standards are.

Well, I've had a really fantastic run over the past three years, so maybe that has something to do with it.

There are definitely times in my life where I would've gladly swapped to live the life of Oden or even Mills.

Actually, I bet Mills has had a much, much happier life over the past 3 years than Oden. Health, the joy of making an NBA team, playing in the Olympics. The guy has a "I'm just lucky as hell to be here!" vibe to him. Which is a great attitude to have in life, no matter who you are.

 

[maxiep]

I think what makes it doubly hard on GO is he KNOWS he can play. It's not like he's Kwame Brown with people waiting for his potential to come through. If he's even at 80% (which is I think the best we've seen him as a Blazer) he's a game-changing force.

It would kill me if I for some reason was unable to do my job, and had to watch people less talented than me doing my job knowing I could help my company. Getting a paycheck would make me feel even more guilty. I know I wouldn't feel a part of my company, even if they included me in events.

I absolutely feel sorry for Greg and wish him nothing but the best.

 

[PapaG]

I blame it all on Brandon Roy being unpatriotic.