So Trail Blazers C Greg Oden had his 239th knee surgery yesterday? Wow, there’s a shock, eh? Even worse, he’s going to…wait for it…miss the entire season. Didn’t see that one coming, did you?
Don’t get me wrong; I really do feel sorry for Oden. In four-plus seasons, he’s been healthy enough to play all of 82 games. He’s 24, yet he evidently has the knees of a 60-year-old. I doubt he’s enjoying being known more for his medical misadventures than his considerable basketball talents…not that Blazers fans have seen evidence of those talents recently. With Brandon Roy having retired at 27 due to bad knees, Oden’s troubles have been nothing if not salt in the collective wound.
(Paging Sam Bowie….)
The question now becomes what happens next? Is Oden’s basketball career over? Is his career as a Blazer over? There’s no doubt among Blazer fans, and Oregonian columnist John Canzano has come out and said what no one at One Center Court will- Oden’s done.
Perhaps it is time for Oden to consider his options. Perhaps it’s time to get on with his life’s work, which evidently will be off the basketball court. When your body refuses to cooperate in the way that Oden’s has, the time comes when you have to own up to reality and the limits your body has placed upon you.
It’s not like the kid’s suffering, though. He’s played the equivalent of one full NBA season over four-plus years, and he’s made $20.8 million. Greg Oden may never play another NBA minute, but if he’s smart, he’s set for life financially. Not bad for being all of 24.
We should all suffer so much.