Greg Oden Needs to Loosen Up
Smile, Greg!On one hand, Greg Oden is the one guy that everyone would love to kick it with. We’ve seen a handful of photos around the web in which Oden is wearing a “McLovin” tee, grinding with a smoking chick, playing pong, and talking politics. But on the other hand, the 63-year old, 20-year old rookie has been so uptight about his performance this preseason that the burden is weighing him down.
“He is taking it too serious right now,” said Brandon Roy. “And when you take things too seriously, you are too tense. And you can see it with Greg. He is like, ‘ARRRGGGH!’ with every little mistake he makes. I felt the same way my first year; I just hid it a little better.”
Here’s another example. When Oregon Live award-winning blogger Jason Quick mentioned to Oden that he thought Oden had been “underwhelming” so far this preseason, the 7-footer looked hurt and angry by the comment. GO’s reaction to Quick’s comment is emblematic of a larger issue. While his coaches and teammates want him to showcase more of the personality that he displayed on the ESPY’s (acting like a total goofball in those Elton John glasses as he played the piano alongside Justin Timberlake), he continues to deadpan when he’s doing his day job.
It seems that many of the NBA’s biggest personalities play best when they act like themselves on the court. When Gilbert Arenas throws his hands up before a three drops in, he’s at his best. When Shaq has that wry grin on his face, you know he just abused someone in the post. Maybe Oden will come into his own on the court when he stops worrying so much about his performance and acts a bit more like himself.
Source: Oregon Live
October 20th, 2008 at 11:29 am
evan says:
He hasn’t been the same since Bob Barker left The Price is Right.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Sounds like a mid-life crisis. It’s easy to be bitter when you’re that old.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Good one Evan but I think he’s been upset since Johnny Carson left the Tonight Show.
October 20th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Michorizo says:
Maybe he just needs to get laid.
October 20th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
YOUNGFED says:
BITCHAZZNESS AT IT’S FINEST.
October 20th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Tyrone says:
Ain’t nobody can doubt y’all that Oden’s gonna be beastin’ opponents down low. Them reporters just makin’ a story outta nuttin - Oden’s gonna be rockin and pimpin this year.
True thugs never lie.
Tyrone
October 20th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
gangsta of love says:
“He hasn’t been the same since Bob Barker left The Price is Right.” Comedic gold. Well done sir.
October 20th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
jayslay says:
how about he prolly doesn’t care cuz its preseason…..plus he’s a rookie he gon be fine…so i guess i agree with tyrone but im no thug lol…
im no thug,but i also never lie
jayslay
October 20th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
dukesman2000 says:
I would be tense too, especially knowing that the Kwame Brown and Olawakondi bug is inevitable.
October 20th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Jah says:
Sounds like some self-conciousness. We’re all self-concious at some level and it must be tough to be a 20 year old with immense pressure.
My advice? Get some braces, let the hair grow out, hit the weight room and try to be better than you were the day before big G.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
CitizenB says:
Stop scheduling practice when Matlock is on!!!
October 20th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
E$ says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrt4v6EIKfo
October 20th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Tony says:
Could it be that the Blazers banned him from EVER playing Dance, Dance, Revolution again?