The Oden Situation (UPDATED)
posted: 9/10/2007 at 9:40 PM
I know you've had a lot of questions for me, as they've been filling up my e-mail box, and my cell phone was ringing off the hook all afternoon and evening. It's a little strange, because I knew this was coming, I just didn't know when the release would be made public. Now you know that Greg Oden will be undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday.
It's been termed "exploratory" surgery, and that's exactly what it is. Let me rewind a bit and tell you what I know. I haven't posted a blog in several days, and this is the reason. I was waiting for this to hit, and now that it has, we can talk about it.
Last Thursday, after the team's morning running session, Oden complained of some pain in his right knee. I saw him sitting out of the team's pick-up games, and learned a while later that there was some swelling as well. Taking the same precautions they would with any player, management decided the best way to check this out would be to have an MRI on the knee. As the release says, there was some concern about some cartilage problems. The MRI was inconclusive enough that they have decided, with advice from team doctors, to go in a take a closer look.
That's basically it. There just isn't anything more to report at this time. There also isn't any reason to think this is more serious at this time. I can also tell you that it isn't believed that any of this was a pre-existing problem. His knees checked out 100-percent healthy after his pre-draft workout in Portland. No one really knows at this point why there was pain and swelling. That's what this next step is all about.
It doesn't make much sense at this time to speculate. All the questions you have, and we have, will be answered very soon. As you know, these are things you just can't control. You just do the best with the information you have, and go from there. I know it's unsettling, but he's got the best possible doctors on the case. We'll continue to update you when there's anything more.
(ADDITION)
I wanted to comment directly in the blog to some of the comments I'm seeing. First of all, I was at the softball game last Wednesday, and played in it. We played three innings, and it was not an overly competitive event. I'm not even sure anyone broke a sweat. It was fun, and meant to be that way. No one slid into a base, dove for a fly, or got hurt. To suggest Greg injured himself this way is a huge stretch and borders on ridiculous. He batted twice, jogged the bases, and didn't even play in the field. I understand the questions, but silly rumors like this tend to take on lives of their own, and I want to answer this before you go any further. We're all looking for answers, but don't look to this light-hearted softball game.
By the way, you can check out Greg's thoughts on the situation, as written by him. Casey at Oregonlive.com lifted a section from Greg's blog. Check it out by clicking
here.
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MB,
Thanks for the update. I was wondering why you hadn't posted anything recent or answer any of the comments.
Tell Oden we're sending positive thoughts.
Thanks again!
As much as I want to see Greg out there in a Blazer uniform on the court, I realize that we don't want to rush this. Let's diagnose, treat and allow Greg to heal effectively. I've waited 30 years for another championship. I can wait a little longer. Greg will be in Portland for a long time. Allow Kevin to do the right thing. -Calblazer
ack, I guess I will just live on edge the next few days. To put it in perspective, just look at Mr. Everett from the bills. Our hopes and prayers should be going to that man first and foremost, its just such a tragedy. After that, lets send Oden our positive thoughts and hope for a speedy and full recovery.
Where's that Brandon Roy Interview that got pulled??? It was there, then it's gone and never came back.......
I think I speak for alot of fans when I say I knew this was coming. I've had a feeling since summer league. I'm not too knowledgable about exploratory knee surgery but it sounds like best case scenario he misses training camp. Worst case scenario there is ligament damage and he's out the season. Too say this is a disappointment is a massive understatement. I'm pissed.
WOW.....im speechless just WOW.
J NSJDNFJDNFJ DAMMIT!!!!!
Barret thanks buddy...Ive never really commented you but I love what you bring to the table from a announcement standpoint. Portland could not ask for a better set of announcers with you and Rice. Priceless. You have fantastic blogs.
On the Oden case...The thing everyone can keep positive is that he is a 7ft beast and he is going to have knee issues no matter what. Another positive thing is that it didnt happen "All of a sudden" meaning that he landed on it awkwardly and cringed in pain. By reading your well informed blog it seems like this is not as big as it sounds, but Im not going to assume anything. Thanks MB if you got anything else please let us know...I'll be tuning in.
Have a nice night.
Greg has our prayers and support. We have many good years to look forward to, no need to rush things or panic. To Greg: Do what is needed for you! Portland is happy to have you, and we will be behind you every step of the way!
He's having his knee scoped. It's no big deal. He'll be back in a month or less. I don't understand why everyone loses it over something so meaningless.
Wednesday - Oden and the Blazers running around playing a sport they aren't highly skilled playing... softball... on what has been called the "worst" sports field surface a couple of European soccer teams have EVER played on... the terrible turf at PGE Park.
Thursday - Oden's knee swollen and painful.
You do know Oden hurt his knee in the softball game, don't you?
What were you guys thinking?
Bringing the Blazers kids out to hurt themselves playing a game they have little to no experience playing, on one of the most legendary bad artificial stadium surfaces around?
Adam brings up a good point about the softball game. I was stunned that nobody got hurt out there, and now maybe it turns out they did. The Blazers should have been aware of the turf situation at PGE. That stuff they have on the field there will ruin careers.
So now with Oden out for a while and Joel still not reporting to the practice facility while even Raef and Darius have, it looks like we're left with only one choice.
That's right, somebody needs to make an international call to Lithuania and then convince Sergio to give up his number.
playing softball? if that's the case i'm speechless. i've also heard comments about the field conditions at PGE park and they're embarressingly bad. i can see the headline now "PORTLAND MOST PRIZED ROOKIE OF ALL TIME INJURES KNEE IN A SOFTBALL GAME ORGANIZED BY THE STAFF". i hope this isn't true. please somebody tell me this didn't happen playing softball! i'm going to go pray for greg right now. he's a fine young man and hopefully this is much to do about nothing. thanks for the info mike.
Who are you to say these MEN have no experience playing softball...first of all every player on that team is a world class athlete....remember it is the NBA. And second I think making the NBA qualifies these MEN to make there own decisions especially when it comes to leisure and free time. The bottom line is that every blazers fan should be sending out thoughts n prayers to Mr. Oden. I'm sure he will have a full recovery from what sounds like this minor injury. Thank you MB for all of your time and information... Go Blazers... P.S. These are men we are talking about...not kids...
Oden updated his blog with info, go check it!~Nathan Begley
Folks. Thanks for the comments. I've added a graph to the blog above, attempting to answer your questions. Feel free to respond.
MB
MB, thank you for addressing this.
Blazer fans need to keep in mind this is an exploratory procedure, until diagnosed differently.
Dont let the media blow it out of proportion.
We can count on MB and KP to tell us what is happening when it happens.
sbrooks. these guys r world class b-ball players. that doesn't mean they can play any sport. softball has very different mechanics and if you're not used to it, u "could" get hurt. also they can't do whatever they want like you said. they get payed millions for dollars to do what they do and that includes taking care of themselves. i even remember our highschool coaches telling us to stay away from certain activities and even certain foods. with that said i am not critizing anybody. i think the intention to build commaradery amongst everyone was great. i just think that given the precedent with that particular field we could have done it somewhere else or maybe something else entirely. unfortunately with a player the size of greg there is too much at risk and many things could go wrong like in this case. these things can happen to anyone though and nobody is in any position to judge. this is just a case of bad luck. i just hope greg isn't feeling to much pain and that this is just a "minor" scare.
Thanks for the update.
I also recommend that people read Greg Oden's blog to see what he thinks may have caused the problem (getting up from the couch . . .).
Best wishes to you, Greg, and I hope the surgery finds little wrong, corrects it, and you have a full, complete, and speedy recovery.
While I and many Blazer fans had (have) sky-high expectations for Greg and the Blazers, let's just take a collective deep breath and see what happens Thursday and beyond.
Mike, is there anyway you can persuade the Blazers to post their press releases through the Blazer Web-site? I appreciate you spreading the word, but I do like hearing directly from the source rather than getting a reporter's spin on the press release. (No, I'm not bad-mouthing you or others for waiting for the "official" release and adding some comments, but I do like hearing directly from the source [whoever that Blazer source may be] and it seems like it would be so easy to post on the Web-site).
I do hope that everyone exercises some patience with Greg's recovery (everyone includes Greg himself as well as Blazer staff, and fans). I know I wanted to see him on the floor soon (even to the point of watching the pre-camp clips), but it is much more important that he recover fully rather than getting into some macho "play-through-the-pain" early recovery that may threaten his whole career.
Again, it (the knee injury/surgery) may be no big deal, so let's just see what happens and be patient for a full recovery.
Wasn't softball, can't believe folks are bringing that up. He's a growing boy, don't forget it. I have sons aged 17, 20, 22, and 23 and they still have growing issues. I expect it to be something minor, he'll be back soon, before Thanksgiving - and then we give thanks then!
I think many are trying to find something to take out the frustration associated with this development on. However, suggesting the organization is at fault for allowing Oden to play in a light-hearted softball game is almost as imaginative as it is unproductive. The organization is not at fault, here, unless your argument is that they should have picked Durant (something only a few were in favor of but many will claim to have been should things not work out with Oden).
mrblazer, if i recall, the two of us were part of that vocal Durant minority. however, given the adjunct moves Kevin Pritchard & Staff made on draft day, which none of us were privy to beforehand, i believe i might have changed my mind:
Durant/ZBo/OKFreeAgents vs. Oden/Frye/Fernandez/Jones/TopFreeAgents is pretty much a no-brainer.
mike, there is a link to archives above but it is empty.
can we access old blogs somehow via this site? i'd love to see some of the old debates before the draft.
p.s., oden should be fine, but no matter what he is still the right pick for this franchise, which is built on a TEAM-FIRST concept that worked far better and with more flexibility around Greg than it did around Kevin. I'm leaving a lot of other reasons out, but that's the bottom line in my view.
I just want to say I've been a fan for 25 yrs and had some great times and some not so great times but the draft party this year had to be one of the best we have to remember we have alot of other young talent on this roster greg is not the only one he will be fine just keep praying for him and trusting in god and everthing will be o.k. god bless mb and the rest of the blazer staff
MB,
I'm sorry, but I don't see a graph. What is it about, knee surgeries?
Thanks!
"I'm sorry, but I don't see a graph." mgb
I took it as graft (the ADDITION above).
graft
v.intr.
1. To make a graft.
2. To be or become joined.
From; http://www.thefreedictionary.com/grafted
I think you meant "Paragraph" and I saw it. Chill out fans! Oden is gonna be fine. Medical procedures and the therapy that ensues have come a long way since the days of Bowie and Walton. Greg has a soar knee. He'll be back in no time.
I wish Greg well, and he needs to know that the team does not depend on him alone. We have a healtheir Joel, a better LaMarcus, a talented Channing, and an experienced Raef to do what's necessary down low until Greg can join them. The absolutely stelllar guards, along with Travis, Martell, and the great bench folks, will work to make this a team show, not a one-horse outfit. Basketball is a team game, and there are no stars big enough to single-handedly carry an NBA team on their backs. Chill out, dudes!
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