StarTribune.com

Greg Oden returns, dominates

Posted on March 28th, 2008 – 11:37 AM
By Michael Rand

oden.jpgGreg Oden made his triumphant return to the court recently. Unfortunately for Greg and the Blazers, it was a pick-up game at a fitness club. Whoops. It started as an Internet rumor, and by gosh the Interwebs were right. The Oregonian confirmed it with real sources and everything:

The Trail Blazers on Thursday were alerted to an internet rumor that Greg Oden had participated in a pickup basketball game at a 24 Hour Fitness facility in Tualatin on Wednesday night. Turns out, the rumor was true. And naturally, the Blazers were none too pleased.

“We heard about that, and I talked to him today,” coach Nate McMillan said. “I let him know he can’t do that.”

Oden is in the sixth month of his rehabilitation from microfracture surgery on his right knee, and is on schedule — if not ahead — to return to the court in time for the start of training camp in October. Oden has been cleared to participate in light drills during practices, but the team wants to control his running and jumping to controlled environments.

Oden apparently took part in two pickup games on Wednesday night, after which one of the participants came home and posted his account on the internet. By Wednesday morning, word had gotten back to the Blazers, who were in Oakland, Calif., for Thursday’s game against Golden State. McMillan said he then called Oden in Portland.“Young guys,” McMillan said, shaking his head. “Right now, these young guys don’t know their value. That’s part of growing up and maturing. In a couple of years he will understand how stupid that was. I understand it, because I’ve done it. You are a pro, you want to walk into a building like that and feel good about yourself, you know, play with some guys. You don’t move hard, you know, just shoot some jump shots … yeah, I’ve done it. But we just have to remind him, especially in his situation, where he is coming off an injury. That … that, you just can’t do that.”

By the way, these image generators are going to be the death of us. Hours of fun. Or at least minutes.

14 Responses to "Greg Oden returns, dominates"

Brandon says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

I was actually more concerned that we’d hear about him sneaking into a dental office to perform a root canal without a license.

jama says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Pump ‘N’ Munch?

I prefer the “Cum N Go”

Joker says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

I agree jama, you really don’t want to munch after you’ve pumped…

Sassbottom says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

jama, I think you mean the Kum ‘n Go. Back in my Iowa State days we called it (can I say this on a family blog?) Ejaculate and Evacuate.

THAT’S NOT A DIRTY WORD, RAND!

And by the way, thanks for stealing my custom-sign discovery and sharing it with the DOZENS of people who read this blog regularly.

jama says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:55 pm

Sass

You’re right it is the Kum ‘n Go, but it should be changed.

Dave MN says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

Does 13 people put us into the “dozens”?

Dave MN says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

An acceptable substitute for Kum ‘n’ Go, would be the “Splash and Dash”

Stu says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Back in my Iowa State days

With that as an opening, does anyone mind if I post a picture of former Iowa State head coach Larry Eustachy? Good, I didn’t think so.
My question is: what kind of beer is he holding in his hand?

jama says:

March 28th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

Sass

Isn’t the Ejaculate ‘n Evacuate a cousin of the Pull and Pray?

Sassbottom says:

March 28th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Stu: He’s holding a Natty Lite. You stay classy, Ames.

jama: Way to take it too far. Nice. Now Rand “The First Amendment is Overrated” Ball will return to his censoring ways. We won’t be able to make lurid references to Tony Danza or Alabama Hotpockets or anything.

Jon says:

March 28th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

Seen in Colorado:

The “Jug & Loaf”

I don’t know why that made me laugh for twenty miles down the road, but it did.

jama says:

March 28th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

Jon

Is it the “Jug & Loaf” or the “Loaf and Jug”? I thought it was the “Loaf and Jug” which always made me think of Jon Daily for some reason.

Stu says:

March 28th, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Man, I do not remember Natty Lite cans looking like that. That stands to reason, I guess.

jama says:

March 28th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

Oh wait, Daily makes me think of “Loaf and Chug”, I’ll get that right one of these days.