GO was on the new Heart & Hustle Show with Rashad Floyd this past Saturday on 95.5. I'm listening to the podcast right now. Grab it here. The Oden interview starts around the 18:00 mark. No summary yet. Just listened to about 10 seconds of it before I posted it here.
"I want to be ready. I want to be dominant. I want to be everything that everybody thought I was going to be when they drafted me. I didn't have the best of years, but it was my rookie year. I was coming off injury, but I am not going to use that as an excuse 'cause I should have been better. So that's what I'm working for for this coming year." Yeah. I'm pumped. Great link, Soda. Oh, and why isn't this radio dude on during the week? He's better than the MSP and BFT.
I'd like to see Rashad get involved on the Ducks pre- and post- game shows in the Fall. He'd obviously bring a good perspective as a former collegiate football player (played with PSU). And it would get him more exposure that would hopefully spin into a higher-profile time slot on 95.5. Right now, Saturdays at 11 a.m.? That's a bad slot. I wouldn't have had a clue about this interview except that they were pimping it on the MSP this morning.
That show rocked, raw but well put together in alot of ways. The background music often added to interviews rather then distracting. Guy certainly loves GO. Everything Greg said in this interview were things I thought was the case. He was disappointed in his season said that the papers DID get to him at the begining of last season and he got upset about it and down on himself. He insinuated in his comments to Blake Griffin to "not lose your love of the game", I think and I'm speculating here, that GO lost his love of the game when Quick and others were really being hard on him. He learned to define himself and not listen to the haters/doubters. He knows all the work he is putting in with Banyo (who only ever says good things about GO), Brian Grant and the OSU strength training coach in the weight room. He wants to dominate next season, he wants to be the best and knows he can be if works hard enough. He is looking forward to Team USA scrimmages but even more so to next season. He would rather average 5 points a game and not miss a game then average 24points and miss half the season. I thought that was a great answer and telling. He actually said quite a few things that sounded like he has really matured in the past year. Which isn't surprising he's only 21. The thing is GO will eventually be a top 3 center in the league and has the physical gifts to be the best. He believes this about himself as well and has realized he has to play for the love of the game and he has to define himself. We'll see next season but that interview sounded pretty damn money.
No probs. There was actually even a bit more then that. If you get the chance listen to the interview and the "Freestyle" questions part of the interview. Well worth listening to and got me really stoked for next season. I really feel like GO has turned a corner mentally and I expect big things from him next season. I can't wait!
The best thing he can do for his mental health is never read or listen to the Portland sports media. The second best thing: never read the 'fans' on these message boards!
