Let’s get this out straight-away here: I don’t give a crap about basketball. I just find it dull to watch and I’ve never really cared for it in the least. There, I said it and now it’s out of the way. Over the past two years though, it’s been really difficult to maintain the level of disdain and indifference for the NBA that I’ve become accustomed to. Why? Two words, baby: Greg Oden. Oden is the kind of fellow that apparently can bring a down and out sports town like Portland together. He gives us hope. Well, at least he did. When you live in a city with only one pro sports team you take it where you can get it – and Greg Oden and the Trailblazers are all we have.
Then he got injured. Out for the whole 2007 season. But there’s always next year, right? Turns out the answer to that might well be “NO” because “next year” just started last night and guess what? Greg Oden is out of commission again. To paraphrase ESPN: “Sixteen months of waiting … for less than 13 minutes of play.” Beautiful.
So this must be some kind of record, right? The most money for the least playing time? The most hope for the biggest letdown? Twice? That’s one expensive benchwarmer – a total of 13 minutes of play time. Hell, I’m a 6ft. white guy that hasn’t touched a basketball in years – give me half Oden’s money, I’ll give you a full 26 minutes!
If Portland sports weren’t a joke before, they sure as shit are now.
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